Language learning offers a number of amazing benefits for your mind and unlocks the chance to enjoy and participate in a range of new cultures.
The rise of the internet has also made it easier than ever before to learn languages online, and there are many different types of learning language resources available on the web.
Choosing between a variety of language-learning online resources can be difficult. In this article, we’ll take a look at two popular languages option: Memrise and Duolingo.
We’ll compare their features, pros, and cons, and give you our recommendations as to which is the best form Memrise VS Duolingo!
What Is Memrise?
Memrise is a British language-learning platform that was founded by a cognitive scientist and memory expert, Ed Cooke.
The language learning platforms use video and audio clips, combined with memory-enhancing techniques, to help users memorize and learn vocabulary-focused grammar.
The general language learning site offers language courses covering more than 16 languages, including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Russian, Chinese, and Arabic.
How Does It Work?
There are three main ways to study using Memrise. You can either watch videos, listen to audio files, or read text.
You start each lesson with a short quiz, which tests your knowledge of the material covered so far. If you pass the test, you move on to the next section.
However, if you fail, you have to go back and rewatch the previous sections until you get them right. This repetition can be extremely useful in helping concepts to really stick in your brain, and enhance your learning.
You can choose from a wide selection of topics, ranging from basic phrases to advanced grammar rules. Each topic contains several lessons, which are broken down into smaller units.
Each of these smaller units consists of a series of questions, followed by an explanation of the answer.
After answering all the questions correctly, you then repeat the learning process for the next chunk. This helps you to build up your understanding of the subject matter.
If you want to review what you already know, you can use the flashcards feature. Simply select the particular word or phrase you wish to learn, and click on the corresponding card.
How Much Does Memrise Cost?
One of the main advantages of Memrise is that it is free to access at the basic level – there is no subscription fee and, surprisingly, no ads.
However, this also means that you won’t be able to access premium features such as accessing material offline, downloading extra
content, or accessing exclusive learning techniques and practices.
In order to unlock these options, you’ll need to upgrade to the Pro subscription plan. This costs $8.49 per month or $89.99 annually and includes unlimited access to all of its courses and user created content.
Alternatively, users can also choose to opt for a one-off payment of $119.00, and receive full lifetime access to the entire course range on Memrise – this is a good option if you are planning on making the most of Memrise for a long time, and want to learn a wide range of languages.
Some of the main advantages of Memrise Pro include:
Access To All Features
Upgrading your subscription to Memrise Pro gives you access to all of the languages, courses, and features on the language learning app, meaning that you can work through without hitting obstacles or paywalls.
Access To Adaptive Learning Technology
Memrise Pro offers a major advantage over the free version, and this comes in the form of adaptive learning technology.
This technology is designed to help language learners improve their listening skills more quickly, and adapt to different types of learning styles.
It works by analyzing how people study and then tailoring the lessons to suit them.
For example, if a user finds a particular lesson difficult, the system will suggest alternative ways to approach the same concept and continue to revisit concepts until the student shows improvement.
This feature can be a great motivational tool, and helps students stay on top of their progress and learning throughout their studies while ensuring that learning is active and useful – the more you use the app, the more it will recognize and remember you, and adjust learning to help you enjoy the best results.
Access To Learning Statistics
Memrise Pro also offers access to vital learning statistics, which allow users to track their progress and see where they stand compared to other users.
These statistics show how many individual words have been learned each day, and how well they understand learning vocabulary.
They also give insight into how fast a person has progressed, and how effective they were at retaining information.
The stats section also provides insights into how well a learner performed across multiple tests, showing whether they improved over time, and how consistent they were with their performance.
Access To Difficult Word Exercises
Memrise Pro also includes access to a selection of difficult word exercises, allowing users to practice using unfamiliar individual words and phrases.
The exercises are broken down into categories, such as ‘grammar’, ‘vocabulary’, and ‘pronunciation’ so that users can focus on specific areas of study.
These exercises are designed to test a user’s knowledge and vocab and help them learn new words and phrases faster.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Some of the main pros of Memrise include:
- Free
There is no cost involved when you first sign up.
- Easy navigation
The interface is simple and intuitive, making it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for.
- Variety
There are hundreds of courses to choose from, covering everything from beginner to intermediate levels.
- High-Quality Content
Memrise is often cited as one of the best apps for high-quality language learning content, much of it prepared by native speakers.
- Customizable
Users can create their own course, choosing from a range of pre-made templates.
- Mobile App
A mobile version of the website allows users to access their courses while they’re out and about.
- Wide Range of Languages
Memrise currently supports over 16 languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, and Mandarin.
- Offline mode
You don’t need an internet connection to use the app, although you will still need to pay for any additional content.
Cons
- No Support
While the company does offer customer service via email, it doesn’t provide live chat or phone support.
- Differences Between Web and Mobile App
While both Memrise versions of the app work similarly, there are some key differences between the web version and the mobile app.
The web version of Memrise is available through a browser window and features all of the same functionality as the mobile app. However, it lacks some of the advanced features found in the mobile apps, such as grammar lessons and certain flashcards.
The mobile app is optimized specifically for smartphones and tablets, offering a streamlined experience.
It also includes a number of extra features not found in the web version, such as the ability to add your own images and videos to your courses.
This means that if you prefer to learn using the web browser, you may find yourself missing
out on some key features. In addition, some users have also reported differences in the advertised price for the web and mobile apps, leading to confusion.
Conclusion
Overall, Memrise is a good choice for anyone who wants to improve their foreign language skills. With its wide variety of courses, it offers something for everyone.
Whether you want to brush up on your vocabulary or learn how to speak like a native speaker, this app has got you covered.
What Is Duolingo?
Duolingo was founded in 2011 by Luis von Ahn, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University.
He wanted to develop a program that would allow people to learn a second language course without having to spend hours memorizing lists of vocabulary.
After developing his idea, he recruited other professors and students to join him in creating Duolingo course. They used machine learning algorithms to teach languages themselves and how to translate text into another target language.
In 2012, Duolingo launched with just two languages: English and Spanish. Today, it boasts more than 35 different languages and covers topics ranging from basic greetings to complex cultural concepts.
How Does Duolingo Work?
Duolingo uses a combination of writing, reading, listening, and speaking skills to help learners review words and phrases.
When you first open the app, you’ll be asked to choose which language you’d like to learn.
You can then select one of three levels of difficulty: Easy, Medium, or Hard. The higher the level, the more difficult the course.
Once you’ve chosen your level, the next step is to pick a topic. There are over 100 different topics to choose from, including travel destinations, sports, food, technology, history, and politics.
You can also create your own custom courses based on your interests. For example, you could take a course about traveling around Europe or studying abroad.
To start learning, you simply tap the “Start Course” button. This will bring up a list to remember words and phrases that include translating between languages written down, listening to audio clips, and reading sentences.
As you progress through each lesson, you’ll see an icon appear above the word or phrase. Tapping this will show you the translation options.
These include translations both ways (for example, English-to-Spanish and Spanish-to-English), as well as a pronunciation guide.
If you don’t understand what you’re seeing, you can tap the question mark icon to ask for help.
A tutor will then come to your aid, helping you understand the meaning behind the words, and offering assistance with translation and pronunciation.
If you get stuck, you can always go back to earlier lessons and review the information.
How Much Does Duolingo Cost?
Duolingo itself is free to use at the basic level, and this will give you access to all of the features mentioned above.
There is, however, another level of subscription, Duolingo Plus, which is available for $6.99 per month.
Duolingo Plus offers you unlimited access to all of the content, plus additional features such as offline mode, auto-correct, and voice recording.
Offline Mode
One of the main perks of Duolingo Plus is access to offline mode, which allows you to access lessons while you’re away from Wi-Fi.
This means that if you’re out and about and want to study some French, you won’t have to worry about being connected to the internet, and you can head to a remote location without worrying about breaking your winning streak or getting behind on your lessons.
Ad-Free Lessons
Another great feature of Duolingo Plus is that you can enjoy ad-free lessons – paying for the upgrade will remove any unwanted ads, allowing you to focus completely on your lesson and improving your language skills.
Progress Tracker
Another real perk of Duolingo Plus comes in the form of a progress tracker. This shows how far along you are towards achieving your goal of fluency in a certain language.
It also gives you a breakdown of how many hours you’ve spent practicing each day, so you know exactly where you stand when it comes to reaching your goals.
Unlimited Skips
A popular benefit of subscribing to Duolingo Plus is the ability to skip any lesson you like. If you find yourself struggling with a particular concept, you can just skip ahead to the next one.
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