26 June 2024 , 12:00
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Before jetting off to your dream destination, it might be wise to pick up some of the local lingo to chat with the natives.
But mastering a new language is no walk in the park; it demands real commitment. That's where apps like Duolingo come into play, offering a nudge to keep you on track with daily lessons.
The app's mascot, a persistent green owl, nudges users to maintain their streak, with the hope that by departure day, you'll have mastered the essentials. Yet, there's a common gripe among users about the app's approach.
Many are calling for a Duolingo feature tailored for imminent travellers, focusing on practical phrases rather than quirky sentences like "the cow boils an egg".
On X, previously known as Twitter, @HRDutson vented: "Duolingo should have an 'I'm going on holiday to this place very soon' setting so it teaches you 'can I have the bill' and so on instead of 'the cow boils an egg'" - a sentiment echoed by many.
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In another tweet, she lamented: "Am in Porto right now and can't ask 'where is the train station' but could quite confidently tell you 'the cats read the newspapers'."
One user quipped about the app's eccentric teaching methods: "It was teaching me how to exclaim 'there is a ghost in this sugar! ' The other day. V useful".
"I personally can't wait to use this when I visit France", joked another, sharing a lesson screenshot that read: "Your right leg is longer than your left leg".
Another user humorously shared: "Yes. Still haven't got to train station but all set for explaining what bears are wearing", along with a screenshot of Duolingo instructing them to write 'the bear wears a denim skirt'.
One Duolingo learner amusingly wrote: "True, but no one was more surprised than my husband and I on our honeymoon when two bees fell in his wine and he was confidently able to tell the server in Italian thanks to Duolingo's nonsense."
Another person claimed that Duolingo had bizarrely asked them to learn 'What do you have in your ear? Old cheese? You have to take a shower now, please'.
Yet another user quipped: "When I was learning Italian to go to Florence, I learned all of the barn animals before I learned how to say any numbers. I could not say 'table for 2' but I could say 'table for horses'."
Duolingo has been approached for a response.