Language-learners' chat

tiddles

I am really enjoying using Coffee Break Italian (free version) for listening and speaking practice. Other languages are also available.

Cherryfudge

That's a completely new one to me, @tiddles, how much Italian do you need to start with?

tiddles

I think you can start right from beginner’s level.

Another good resource is the Teacher Stefano videos on YouTube.

Cherryfudge

tiddles said:

I think you can start right from beginner’s level.

Another good resource is the Teacher Stefano videos on YouTube.

Thank you! I will make a note of those. The more I try, the better my ear will be - I hope!

catclaires

Hi @Cherryfudge, this might be too late for you as I'm not sure if the Duolingo New Year offer is still available, but I decided to give it a go, seeing as there was such a big saving. So far, I like it and can already tell it's going to be hard going back to the free version it's really nice not to have all the adverts for Super Duolingo (as they were the most annoying and longest ones, of course, and seemed to be coming up more and more frequently!), and I like the unlimited hearts and extra practice. I also like being able to do the word match game without using any gems because I enjoy a few bashes at it each week! Not sure I'd pay full price for it, but for me, it's definitely worth it at the reduced offer price.

Annoyingly, they've brought in a higher level above Super Duolingo (Duolingo Max?), which provides feedback on mistakes and also 'video call' practice - but I'm definitely not paying for that level! I also miss the old forums where people questioned mistakes and got feedback.

I've lurked on this thread for a while but haven't posted previously, I don't think! I'm on an 888-day German streak - and am proud to say that's without using any streak protection days - although sadly, I think I may get chucked out of the Diamond League this week, after many weeks hanging on in there, unless I do a lot over the next couple of days. I occasionally dabble in other languages but am really trying to concentrate on my German, although I do need to make more effort outside of Duolingo. But some Duolingo twice a day has got to be better than nothing - it's built a good habit for me!

Cherryfudge

I'm not getting the promotions for the discount anymore, @catclaires, but still lots of their own adverts. You'll gather I didn't take them up on the special offer though if I were working towards a qualification or a holiday, I might have done. As it is, I feel that if I'm tired enough to make lots of mistakes and lose all my 'lives', then I'm not awake enough to benefit from studying. There speaks someone who isn't under pressure from school any more! It would have been massively useful back in the day.

catclaires said:

Annoyingly, they've brought in a higher level above Super Duolingo (Duolingo Max?), which provides feedback on mistakes and also 'video call' practice - but I'm definitely not paying for that level! I also miss the old forums where people questioned mistakes and got feedback.

I noticed this and I wonder how much further these new levels will go? Am I just being suspicious, thinking that such a heavy promotion of 'Super' is a precursor to either further downgrading of the free version or possible downgrading of 'Super', either by taking things away from it as they did with the free version, or by adding new things to 'Max'? I may be wrong of course.

I miss the forums too - there were so many helpful comments and insider information from French speakers.

Well done for 888 days of German! Are you continuing from school German? My French was started at school and I think I took it up again to prove I could do it, though the teacher who frightened me off it is long gone. I stopped for a while and began Italian, which I love but of course it's new to me and I make more mistakes. Then a friend at a similar level of French told me she had actually been able to translate for her group while on holiday. She hadn't realised how much she know and was delighted. That sent me back to French and to my surprise I've not forgotten too much while doing Italian. Whether the same could be true of my Italian, I don't know, but I'm more likely to use it so I must get back to it one day.