TASK 1

DUOLINGO

1.      The type of software I am about to evaluate is a mobile application called “Duolingo”. This application is specifically created for online language learning. It teaches many languages to speakers of variety of languages. The application provides a method of teaching that requires a lot of involvement from the users/learners part. The activities include sentence structure jigsaw puzzle, word match, fill in the blank, objective questions, as well as listening, speaking, writing and reading activities. The feedbacks for the activities are given instantly after finishing each set. The sets of activities are given according to levels of proficiency and developer made it so that users can only go to the next level after they have master the previous one.

2.      The application provides a very user friendly interface. There are also a lot of instructions and commentaries in the game so it will not be confusing for users. Users only need to follow the instructions given and pick the activity of their choice. Then, they will be guided through the activities by the computer-controlled avatar in the application.

3.      The application does provide learners with learning process that could not be done face to face such as the repetitive question. Each level of the activities consist a lot of repetitive questions, words and sentence structures that are very time consuming to be completed. Looking at how the common language class would only be allocated with two hours at most, those activities would be very boring and stretchy for the learners if it is done face to face. However, since the application is on a mobile gadget, learners could easily access the games when they feel like it and quit once they have enough.

4.      Among the theory that I have found to be applied in the activities is behaviorism. The repetitive questions as well as negative and positive commentaries throughout the activities mold users into understanding what is correct and what is not. I also could detect a little of the scaffolding theory in which users figure out how the language works on their own but guidance are also given through the interface for learners to move forward with their language learning.

5.      Since this application is made for the sole purpose of learning new language, it does fulfill the criterion for CALL. This is because it provides appropriate and variety of language learning activities according to the proficiency level of users.

6.      I have tried to engage with the application myself and I would to keep using it because it gives me a fun and effective way of learning new language. For example, I could learn as many new languages as I want if it is in the system of the application. The way the developer neatly sort out different activities for different levels make it easy to the eye and the brain.