If English is your biggest challenge while settling in Canada, try starting a little bit every day with a mobile app. The free language learning app Duolingo features daily repetition of short lessons, making it less burdensome even amidst a busy immigrant life.
How much can I learn for free?
You can access the full course content in the free version of Duolingo. However, advertisements appear between lessons, and there is a limit to the hearts (lives) that are deducted for every mistake; if you run out of hearts, you must take a break before continuing. The official Duolingo help explains that the paid Super Duolingo only adds conveniences such as ad removal, unlimited hearts, personalized review for weaknesses, and offline lessons, while the lesson content itself is identical to the free version.
How to Get Started Right Away with Immigrant Life
- Setting a small daily goal of 10 minutes and doing it at the same time every day is the secret to longevity. As consecutive study days (streaks) accumulate, it becomes a habit.
- Turn on the volume and do not skip listening and speaking practice. Reading the answers out loud reduces your fear of pronunciation.
- Start at your level with the placement test, and try solving the problems you got wrong again in the review lessons.
- Note down expressions for everyday scenes such as hospitals, banks, and schools separately, and try using them in real-life situations.
Things to know
It is difficult to become fluent with an app alone. The app is a tool for building a foundation of vocabulary and sentence structure, and its effectiveness increases when combined with real conversations, English broadcasts, and local library programs. Please check the pricing and terms within the app and decide on a paid subscription only when absolutely necessary. Prices may vary by region and time.
source: Duolingo Official Help — Super Duolingo Guide (Same lesson content as the free version, differences in ads, hearts, and personalized reviews) |
