Jehlum Pandit
Nov 3 · 2 min read

CRITIQUING A DESIGN: DUOLINGO

Duolingo is a free language — learning website and an application. It includes around 22 languages the user can learn. There is also a premium version one can take benefit of. All one needs to do to start learning is set up a profile by using your email ID, choose the language one wants to learn, and set a goal for the frequency of learning.

Duolingo also has different levels or modules, from Basic Learner to learning Phrases. It sends reminders to the users to continue learning.

I will be critiquing Duolingo’s design based on four criteria:

  • Ease of Use
  • Utility
  • Innovative
  • Honest

How innovative is Duolingo?

Duolingo is immensely intriguing and fairly innovative. Their mission to spread education far and wide, is noble, and it is a huge plus that the service is free. The application encourages the user to learn by involving games, and challenges. The app also sends reminders to keep up the daily learning. There are different kinds of questions — from multiple choice questions, to spoken phrases that the user is asked to interpret and write, to some phrases that test the user’s spoken ability. While this is an amazing feature, this does not guarantee holistic learning, considering the phrases the user required to speak are limited, and a tad uncommon.

How useful is it?

Duolingo is used by millions of users worldwide, and the numbers are only growing. It houses around 22 languages. People use it, and love it. Hence, I think it is quite useful. One aspect the app could use work on is use better examples. The phrases Duolingo uses for the users to practice on, are not phrases people would use frequently when speaking a new language, maybe in a new place they are traveling to. They could add phrases people would use more, for example, “Where is the restroom?”, “How can I reach the bus station?”.

Is it easy to use?

Duolingo has a beautiful interface, with a little bird as their icon, that pops up every time a user completes a level. It is fairly easy to use. It barely takes any time and effort to set up an account, and start learning, with the user just being required to choose the language, and their desired frequency of learning. It even sends reminders accordingly.

How honest is it?

I am a fan of Duolingo’s mission of maximising the reach of education, and making it free. As far as I know, Duolingo has no issue pertaining to their user’s privacy, or data, or any fishy activity. Duolingo has a noble cause, and it pursues the same in an honest manner.

Jehlum Pandit

Written by

Aspiring Product Manager. Check out my website at: http://rebrand.ly/jehlum11

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