Last week an interesting item popped up on TechCrunch, noting that language learning platform Duolingo hit a $2.4 billion valuation. Another inflated tech valuation you may say, but having been using it now for a streak of 168 days using the paid version for 10 bucks per month, I can see not only the value but also the phenomenal market it is operating in.
Duolingo fills a gap in language training and the ongoing pandemic lockdown has given everyone the opportunity to up their skills or learn something completely new. My wife is taking Spanish, my older daughter has so many German friends now that she felt she had no choice to start learning that language and I have jumped into learning Hebrew. And so we’re not only family, but now also friends on Duolingo which so has added a social component and an ability to built networks around shared interests. What’s more, you are competing on a daily basis with others and you can move up or down the ranks based on the number of lessons you complete and review/repeat on a weekly basis. We have become obsessed with moving up and are totally paranoid about being relegated to a lower tier, this is gamification at its best. Being in the ‘Diamond League’ is an accomplishment I guess, but you have to work hard to stay there.
I cannot recall taking a course that has so motivated me in coming back and really learning what I am supposed to be learning on a daily basis. Of course, there’s a few odd things. In the league rankings I am for instance competing with someone in Japan whose been learning English. It would make more sense for me to compete and network with people that have also started learning Hebrew this year. The other thing is that the app keeps pulling you back into previous lessons as acquired skills are ‘broken’ after a while. The latter leads to a repetition level that is truly insane, but on the other hand it is quite useful in particular with more difficult languages.
So there you have it. A great edtech solution to learn something new and have fun while you’re doing it. Next year when we are all travelling again hopefully, we can start using all the acquired language skills. I can’t wait.