Duolingo Is Efefective for Learning Languages?

Today language skills are very important and there are many ways to improve our language skills such as using social media to learn a language, so have you ever heard of learning a language through an app? Learning a language by utilizing social media is very effective, there are many features of social media that can help us to learn languages like Duolingo application. Duolingo is the world's most popular language learning platform and most downloaded educational app, with over 500 million users. This application can be accessed via a smartphone or website and can be used for children or adults. By learning a language using an application, it can make it easier for us to access it anywhere and anytime. This learning can be effective because learning is done by dictation and writing methods, as well as speaking practice.

The first learning applied by Doulingo application is dictation method. Dictation is one way of presenting language learning materials by using tools orally. Christopher Milne as professional writer, once said that "dictation as a tool for language learning has been around for a very long time". Milne said that he believed that using the dictation method in the language learning process would be very helpful, because the dictating method has often been used in the language learning process. And according to Liu Li in her report on Higher Education Studies (2020), Examined the effectiveness of using dictation as a teaching technique and provided evidence that dictation as a form of regular teaching practice can improve learners' overall language competence and vocabulary accuracy in the long term. The dictation method has been proven to improve the process of language learning and this method needs to be applied in the language learning process. So the Duolingo application that uses the dictation method in the language teaching process has proven to be effective.

The second learning applied by Doulingo application is  writing method. In language skills, writing is often equated with speaking skills considering that between the two have the main similarities as a productive language skill, writing is one of the important components in language learning. According to The Liang Gie (2002:3), writing skills are skills in making letters, numbers, names, a sign of any language with a stationery on a certain page. While revealing ideas and convey them through written language to the reading community to understand. Its simple meaning that "Writing" is the process of using symbols (letters of the alphabet, punctuation marks and spaces) to communicate thoughts and ideas in an easy-to-read form. In Duolingo application, we are guided to practice writing and completing the missing words, this is an easy learning process, more interesting and certainly not boring. Based on the research journal of the University of Lampung (2019), it shows that Class X students of SMAN 9 Bandarlampung, totaling 67 students, From the pretest results obtained an average value of 55, and this value is categorized as less, while the posttest results obtained an average value of 78.05556, and this value is categorized as moderate. The results of the calculation of the gain test from the learning outcomes of class X students have increased with an average N-Gain value of 0.52 which means it is in the medium category. We can see that the results of the research analysis of class X students of SMA Negeri 9 Bandarlampung who use Duolingo application can improve their writing skills. So we can conclude that the writing method applied by Doulingo application in the language learning process will be very helpful, this once again proves that Duolingo application is effective for use in language learning.

The third learning applied by Doulingo application is speaking practice method. A person's success in learning a language can be seen when he can speak the language being studied. Speaking is language skills which are interpreted as an expression of idea, opinion, or message with oral language. It is a key for communication among people in daily life in order to change the information or get information. According to Chaney and Burk (1998:13) Speaking is "the process of building and sharing meaning through the use of verbal and non-verbal symbols, in a variety of contexts". Furthermore, Summers (2003) says that speaking is to say something that expresses your ideas oropinions, or used when expressing an idea that you think it is exactly true. So speaking is a part of language that cannot be separated, when humans want to express their ideas or understanding, speaking is needed. Richards and Renandya (2005) say that since the goal of language teachingis to provide learners with the communicative competence, classroom activitiesseem to be an important component of a language course. Therefore, Duolingo considers the application system 60 percent based on practical speaking training, because speaking is the biggest aspect of language learning. The Duolingo application does not only focus on 1 aspect and learning method, this application provides complete features in learning, so when we use Duolingo application in language learning it will have a major influence in improving our language learning. Duolingo is effective in teaching languages.

Learning a language using an application will be more helpful in the process of mastering the language being studied. Duolingo is one of the best applications for learning languages because Duolingo application uses three main methods of learning a language, like the dictation method, the writing method and the speaking practice method. The application is also equipped with full features with an adaptive application use process that is able to adapt to the abilities of the participants, besides the animations provided are very interesting, so that learners will feel at home to learn. So learning to use the Duolingo application is really effective for those who want to learn different languages.