Ah, English—the so-called “universal language,” the tongue of Shakespeare and TikTok alike.
Whether you’re dreaming of working abroad, binge-watching your favorite shows without subtitles, or just leveling up your English skills, you’ve probably thought, Hey, maybe Duolingo can help me with that.
I’m a polyglot and self-professed language nerd, and I decided to dive into Duolingo’s English course to see if it’s worth the hype.
Spoiler alert: I was surprised by how much I “relearned.” Yes, I even stumbled upon a few things I vaguely remember learning in primary school.
So let’s explore what learning English with Duolingo is really like—warts and all.
PROs
- Free to use
- Gamified and fun
- Short lessons
- Engaging design
- Multiple skills at once
CONs
- Can’t redo specific lessons
- Limited grammar explanations
- Repetitive exercises
- Not enough for fluency
- Speech recognition glitches
Why Should You Learn English With Duolingo?
Let’s face it: English is everywhere. It’s the go-to for international business, the unofficial language of the internet, and the key to deciphering Adele lyrics (you know you want to).
But here’s the catch: English isn’t exactly easy. Between “they’re,” “their,” and “there,” and whatever’s happening with “read” (is it “reed” or “red”?), it’s enough to make anyone cry. I know, I’ve been there. In primary school, later in life when I wanted to up my English skills, and again when I focused on mastering Business English.
Enter Duolingo. With its flashy gamified approach, free version, and that cute-but-slightly-pushy mascot, Duo the Owl, it’s tempting to think this app could solve all your English woes.
I’ve successfully learned Spanish, French, Turkish, and Italian with Duolingo, so I’m positive it can teach you English too—if you don’t just chase winning in the Leagues but actually put in time and effort.
Target Audience: Who Should Learn English on Duolingo?
Duolingo is accessible, free-ish, and perfect for anyone dipping their toes into learning English. Whether you’re a total beginner or someone looking to brush up on forgotten grammar rules, Duo has something to offer.
Teens and Adults
For teens and adults, Duolingo is a fantastic way to kickstart English learning without committing to expensive courses.
High schoolers can use it to improve their grades (and get some extra practice in!), and adults might find it handy for casual travel prep or workplace conversations.
However, if you’re aiming to perfect your professional English or prepare for advanced-level certifications, you might hit a ceiling with Duolingo.
Kids
I love that I can use Duolingo for my kids, too—that family plan surely doesn’t go to waste.
My eldest can read and write, so when I created his profile and entered his age, Duolingo automatically tailored the content, ensuring it’s age-appropriate.
My youngest just turned four, and Duolingo ABC is ideal for him. The app—wholly free—is designed for kids 3-8 years old to learn English through games, interactive activities, and adorable animations. They learn the alphabet, phonics, and basic vocabulary in a fun, bite-sized way.
It’s not a full language course, but it’s a great start for getting little ones familiar with English.
My Experience with Duolingo’s English Course
As a seasoned polyglot and language app reviewer, I dove into Duolingo’s English course to test its strengths and weaknesses. I’m fluent in English, but I was surprised by how engaging the process was.
The course feels approachable for beginners, yet oddly nostalgic for those who’ve already mastered the language.
One thing that stood out was how interactive the lessons were. Duolingo doesn’t just teach—you play, match, and occasionally chuckle (or cringe) at Duo’s passive-aggressive reminders.
But while it’s entertaining, I couldn’t help but notice the grammar explanations seemed to have gone AWOL.
The fix is simple: supplement your Duolingo lessons with other resources to round out your learning and fill in the gaps. Think grammar guides, other language apps like Babbel, or even trusty YouTube tutorials.
How to Get Started on Duolingo: The Registration Process
Setting up Duolingo is so easy, I bet even my cat could do it.
On the home screen, you can choose between “Start” or “I already have an account.”
If you have an account, you’ll be prompted to sign in, and then you can change the language you want to learn by clicking on the flag icon (top right) and selecting English.
But if you choose “Start,” select English as the target language under “What language do you want to learn?” (It’s the first option—feeling special yet?)
From there, Duo popped up, looking as cheerful as ever. And after a few questions like “How much English do you know?” and “What’s your daily goal?” I was on my way.
I picked “total newbie” to see the course from the ground up. Within minutes, I was knee-deep in my first lesson and then onto navigating Duolingo’s learning path and earning gems like a seasoned gamer—uhm, learner.
Learning English on Duolingo: What to Expect
If you’ve used Duolingo before, you know the drill: interactive lessons with a mix of matching exercises, translations, listening practice, and the occasional “tap to speak” feature that may or may not detect what you’re saying accurately.
The English course is designed to gradually build up your skills. You’ll start with basics like ordering in a café.
As you progress, things get trickier—hello, verb conjugations and past tenses!
The English Lessons on Duolingo
Let’s talk about the lessons themselves. They’re short, sweet, and slightly repetitive. For instance, you’ll match words to pictures, translate sentences, and type what you hear. It’s a good mix, but after a while, you might find yourself wishing for a bit more variety.
One gripe I have? The app doesn’t really teach grammar; it just kind of… throws it at you. For example, you’ll encounter “I have a cat” and “She has a dog” without much explanation about why “have” suddenly became “has.” It’s a bit like learning to swim by being tossed in the deep end—sink or swim, baby.
You can access some explanations in the “Notes” section. I like the Notes more because it gives me an overview of what I’ll learn in each Section.
The First Duolingo English Lesson
You can complete your Duolingo English lessons on the app (available on the App Store or Google Play) or the website.
In the first lesson of Level 1 Section 1, I had 15 exercises in which I learned vocabulary like “coffee,” “tea,” and “please.”
The first few exercises followed the same pattern: I had to pair the German with the right English words, and there were visuals to help.
Then the app checked my understanding, and I had to match the German with the English. No visual help this time!
By exercise 8, I’d learned 4 English words, and it was time for a listening exercise.
There was also a matching pair exercise:
And a few translation ones:
After I completed the lesson, I got a “congratulations” message—with my score and fireworks.
How Duolingo’s Lessons Compare to Real English
Here’s the thing about Duolingo: it’s amazing for introducing you to the basics. You’ll learn vocabulary, phrases, and even a bit of grammar.
But real English? That’s a whole other beast.
Duolingo won’t teach you how to navigate the confusing world of idioms (“break a leg,” anyone?) or prepare you for understanding native speakers who talk faster than auctioneers. And, while the app focuses on proper grammar use, real-life English is often much more casual, nuanced, full of slang, and sometimes outright illogical.
That said, Duolingo is an excellent starting point. It gives you the tools, but you’ll need to combine them with other resources—like real-world practice, language exchange, or even YouTube tutorials—to truly master English.
How Much English Can You Learn with Duolingo?
So, can Duolingo help you become fluent in English?
Short answer: not really.
Long answer: it depends on your goals.
If you’re aiming for conversational skills or want to build a solid vocabulary foundation, Duolingo is a great start.
But if you’re dreaming of writing essays or debating philosophy in English? You’ll need more than Duo.
The app covers around 5,000+ words and introduces basic grammar, but true fluency requires immersion, practice, and maybe a few (okay, many!) awkward chats with native speakers.
Duolingo’s Motivation Tactics to Keep You Learning English
This is where Duolingo shines: keeping you hooked.
Between streaks, gems, daily quests, and leagues, you’ll feel like you’re playing Candy Crush but with a side of language learning.
The Streak feature is particularly addictive—I may or may not have panicked about losing mine once… or twice (thank you, Streak Freeze).
But does all this gamification actually help you learn? Honestly, it’s debatable.
While it’s fun to compete in the Diamond League, it’s also easy to get so caught up in earning points that you forget to focus on, you know, the language.
But if you use Duolingo as a language-learning tool (instead of an addictive game), you can learn a lot of English.
Pros Learning English With Duolingo: What I Like
- Free to use: The free version of Duolingo lets you learn without paying a cent (though ads and limited hearts are part of the deal). It’s perfect if you’re on a tight budget or just testing the waters.
- Gamified and fun: Streaks, gems, and leagues make learning feel like a game, keeping you motivated even on your laziest days.
- Short lessons: Each lesson takes about 5 minutes, so you can squeeze them in during a coffee break or while waiting in line.
- Engaging design: From cute animations to Duo’s quirky humor, the app knows how to hold your attention.
- Multiple skills at once: Duolingo combines reading, listening, writing, and speaking practice in every lesson. It’s well-rounded, even if some areas (like speaking) are less polished.
- Beginner-friendly: If you’re completely new to English, Duolingo’s bite-sized approach is relatable and unintimidating.
- Trackable progress: The learning path and daily reminders make it easy to see how far you’ve come and encourage you to keep going.
Cons Learning English with Duolingo: What I Don’t Like
- Can’t redo specific lessons: Once you’ve completed a group of lessons, you can redo the summary lesson. But there’s no repeating individual lessons for more practice.
- Limited grammar explanations: The app introduces grammar but doesn’t explain it well.
- Repetitive exercises: While consistency is great, doing the same types of exercises over and over can get boring.
- Not enough for fluency: Duolingo gives you a solid foundation, but you’ll need other resources for intermediate or advanced proficiency.
- Speech recognition glitches: The speaking exercises can feel hit-or-miss, which makes pronunciation practice frustrating at times.
Alternatives to Duolingo for Learning English
If Duolingo isn’t ticking all your boxes, you’re in luck—there are other great options out there. Let’s take a closer look at Babbel and Mondly, two standout alternatives.
Babbel: A Structured Approach to English
If Duolingo feels a little too gamified and kiddie-like for your taste, Babbel might be the perfect alternative. Designed with real-life conversations in mind, Babbel focuses on helping you speak and understand English in practical, everyday scenarios.
It’s like having a personal English tutor in your pocket—but way more affordable.
Standout Features:
- Real-life conversations: Babbel focuses on practical skills, teaching you how to navigate everyday situations like ordering coffee or introducing yourself.
- Clear grammar explanations: Grammar tips are concise and designed to help you truly understand the language, not just memorize rules.
- Additional resources: Babbel offers a wide range of extra materials like podcasts to deepen your knowledge and keep learning exciting.
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Mondly: The Tech-Lover’s Choice
Love tech and want to feel like you’re living in the future while learning English? Mondly might just blow your mind.
This app makes language learning interactive and more immersive than ever. It’s ideal for learners who thrive on hands-on, visual experiences.
Standout Features:
- AR and VR technology: Mondly uses augmented and virtual reality to create a futuristic, immersive learning experience.
- AI chatbots: Practice conversations with AI to simulate real-life interactions in a stress-free way.
- Practical phrases: Lessons focus on everyday phrases to prepare you for real-world scenarios.
Learn languages quickly with Mondly Premium. Learn the language you’ve always wanted to learn. It’s fun, fast, and easy!
My Final Take: Duolingo’s Good, But Not the Whole Package
Duolingo is a great starting point for learning English—it’s fun, free, and easy to use. But if you’re aiming for fluency, you’ll need more than gamified lessons.
Think of it as a solid appetizer, with apps like Babbel and Mondly offering the main course. Pair these tools with real-world practice, and you’ll be chatting confidently in no time.
Duolingo’s not perfect, but it’s a great first step on your language-learning journey.
Just don’t let Duo’s reminders stress you out too much!
If you enjoyed my article, please feel free to share it. Have any questions? Don't hesitate to email me!
Disclaimer: I select and review independently. If you buy through affiliate links, I may earn commissions that help support my testing at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.
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