I'm not sure how many languages deep you are but I find getting through the first 1000-3000 words a real slog in the language and it is also quite hard to read in a language when you are at sub-3000 words unless you are reading especially prepared texts in a textbook for language learners. While (2) is clearly better if those are your only choices, as you point out yourself SRS can easily be integrated into other curriculum or used as a supplemental tool. SRS flashcard apps as an exclusive language learning system English, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese, etc), you'll be able to find some pretty good graded readers aimed at beginners that let you start actually reading in your first few months of studying. If you're learning any popular language (e.g. (Anki is pretty good for memorizing discrete pieces info though, such as how to write each Chinese character or all the atomic weights and numbers on the periodic table).Īs for engagement, I think Duolingo is pretty boring compared to making new friends, talking with people or even just reading a book about something I'm curious about. Extensive reading (and listening once you can) is a far better strategy. I also contributed to Anki long ago, but I'm not a huge fan of using SRS for learning vocabulary. I've built and run a language school for four years (with two partners), taught thousands of children, worked at a language learning startup, and have read a lot L2 acquisition papers and know this space pretty well. This is not just a throwaway comment, either. Living Language isn't aimed at university students or the most motivated people either.

Using Duolingo is significantly worse than just about all your other options, including picking up a $30 Living Language textbook/workbook/CD set of whatever language you want.

Duolingo cantonese