Monday, December 2nd
2024 Latin Lesson Reviews
Duolingo
- Pricing from $0 to $6.99 per month (when billed annually)
- Sentence-reading and listening approach
- Jump right into full sentences
- Totally free account available
- 14-day free trial of premium (Super Duolingo)
- Family account available for 2-6 users
- Gamified learning with points and leaderboards
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
- 4.7-star average rating
If you aren't familiar with Duolingo yet, you might be overlooking one of today's most popular language platforms. Known for its cute owl mascot and game-like learning style, Duolingo has become extremely popular, especially among students, teachers, and on social media. With lessons available in over 40 languages, including Latin, Duolingo is praised for making language learning fun and easy. The best part? Duolingo is 100% free to use, making it an appealing choice for beginners.
Missing major grammar instruction
Duolingo is free, so you can jump right into learning. However, we noticed that Duolingo has some drawbacks for beginner Latin students. This app is generally designed for conversational languages, not dead ones. To study Latin, you have to have a system that incorporates grammar and language rules alongside the vocabulary. While Duolingo will jump right into teaching you full readable sentences, the complexities of Latin may be lost if you're not using an outside supplemental class to help. The course focuses on reading full sentences and listening, which can be fun, but Latin is a dead language, so managing your pronunciation isn't one of the key factors to learning the language.
5 lives for learning mistakes
Duolingo uses an interactive learning approach, which is meant to feel more like a game than learning. On Duolingo Latin, mistakes deduct hearts from your total, making it like a video game where you have limited "lives”. If you reach zero hearts because you've made too many mistakes (and you have a free account), you'll have to take a break from learning Latin. It will take around 5 hours to restore each heart that you lose, but you can speed up the process by using Duolingo's in-app currency, Gems. Ideally, the gamified heart system is meant to help you study closely to avoid mistakes. However, if you do make accidental errors, you'll be unable to continue the course until you pay or wait for your hearts to regenerate.
$6.99 per month
Duolingo offers a subscription priced at $6.99 per month for an annual plan, but the platform is mostly accessible without cost. Subscribing grants access to features like unlimited replays and extra practice tools, which concentrate on refining areas of difficulty. Recently, Duolingo also launched the Super Duolingo Family Plan, enabling multiple users to enjoy premium benefits under a single subscription, encouraging collaborative learning or friendly in-house competitions. The prices for the family plan can be tricky to find, but figure on a cost of around $12.99/month (also billed annually).
No refunds
Duolingo maintains a strict no-refund policy for all purchases, emphasizing that once you subscribe you're on the hook. Given that Duolingo offers free access to its basic features, the company offers you plenty of time to evaluate the lessons before making a commitment. Although they do provide a 14-day trial for Super Duolingo, they explicitly state they are not liable for refunds if you forget to cancel before your payment method is billed.
Mixed feedback on fluency
Despite its engaging approach, Duolingo isn't a favorite with Latin language experts. Critics claim the addicting gameplay may detract from more effective learning methods. Others give it a pass for being a good study tool, though Latin experts don't believe it's possible to fully learn the language on Duolingo. According to the Better Business Bureau, Duolingo has an "F" grade, but if you look at third-party ratings and reviews on app stores like Google Play and the Apple Store, Duolingo is doing well. It has a 4.7-star rating average on both Google and Apple platforms and earned the Editors Choice award on the Apple Store. So, students love the game, but experts are skeptical.
Perfect as a vocab study tool
Ultimately, Duolingo is valuable as a supplementary tool for Latin language students. Without very specific work on grammar, Duolingo can't delve deeply into the intricacies of Latin for real understanding, and it may be best used alongside other language programs or coursework. However, Duolingo's accessibility and engaging interface make it a popular choice among students, and it is a great study tool for learning the many vocabulary words necessary for mastering Latin. For these reasons, it earns a respectable rating.
Who Offers the Best Latin Lessons?
The benefits of studying Latin extend far beyond the realm of academia, offering practical advantages in a variety of fields, including law, medicine, and science. Latin is often called the language of lawyers and doctors because many legal and medical terms derive from Latin roots.
By mastering Latin, you can gain a deeper understanding of these specialized fields and enhance your ability to communicate effectively in professional settings. Whether you're studying to become a lawyer, doctor, or scientist, knowledge of Latin can give you a competitive edge in your chosen field.
Latin Lesson FAQ
Continued from above...
If you're captivated by the allure of ancient civilizations, the study of Latin could be an enriching journey into the past and a gateway to understanding the foundations of Western culture. Latin, the language of ancient Rome, holds a special place in history as the lingua franca of the Roman Empire and the medium through which many of the greatest works of literature, philosophy, and law were written.
By learning Latin, you, like many others, can unlock the secrets of this ancient language and gain insight into the minds of some of history's most influential thinkers and writers.
Along with its practical applications, studying Latin can also enrich your understanding of history and culture, particularly that of ancient Rome. Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire, was once the epicenter of a vast and powerful civilization that shaped the course of Western history. By learning Latin, you can explore the writings of ancient Roman authors such as Cicero, Virgil, and Ovid, and gain insight into the values, beliefs, and customs of Roman society. Latin also provides a key to unlocking the mysteries of ancient inscriptions, manuscripts, and artifacts, allowing you to delve deeper into the past.
For those with a passion for travel and exploration, studying Latin can enhance your experience when you visit historical sites and monuments in Rome and other parts of the former Roman Empire. From the majestic ruins of the Colosseum and the Pantheon to the ancient streets of Pompeii and Herculaneum, Latin can help you navigate the rich tapestry of history that awaits you in Italy and other parts of the Mediterranean. By understanding Latin inscriptions and texts, you can gain a deeper appreciation for the significance of these sites and immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and stories of ancient Rome.
There are tons of online lessons and courses now for ancient languages like Latin. It can make it hard to decide where to go. If you're not sure where to start on your journey towards Latin language and culture, here are some factors to consider when choosing the best online option for lessons:
- Teaching methodology. Look for Latin courses that offer a variety of teaching methods, including interactive exercises, audiovisual content, and grammar explanations, to accommodate different learning styles.
- Free trial. Take advantage of free trials or sample lessons to evaluate the quality of the instructional materials, teaching style, and overall user experience before committing to a subscription.
- Price. Compare the prices of Latin language courses and consider the value they offer in terms of educational content, instructional quality, and language proficiency outcomes. Some free programs are highly competitive, while expensive ones don't focus on the right things for Latin.
- Reputation. Research the reputation and credibility of Latin language platforms through customer reviews, ratings, and testimonials for a reliable and effective learning experience. Looking at reviews and details from the Better Business Bureau can give you an idea how other students like you feel about each program.
To help you dive into your new language, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the top online options for Latin lessons available today. Whether you dream of exploring the ancient ruins of Rome, improving your understanding of the foundations of the language(s) you already speak, or simply immersing yourself in the beauty of Latin literature and poetry, we're here to support you every step of the way. Bonam fortunam (Good luck)!
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