How Duolingo Turned a Free Language App Into a $7.7B Business | WSJ The Economics Of

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  • Опубліковано 21 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,7 тис.

  • @wsj
    @wsj  3 місяці тому +520

    The screen time you shouldn’t feel bad about: on.wsj.com/3YLDwbe

    • @QuizmasterLaw
      @QuizmasterLaw 3 місяці тому

      Duolingo sucks it's basically designed for human trafficking which is why it talks in code all the time.
      50languages actually works and is free. Duolingo does not work.

    • @QuizmasterLaw
      @QuizmasterLaw 3 місяці тому

      the paypal MAFIAs human trafficking app. NT.

    • @JesusPlsSaveMe
      @JesusPlsSaveMe 3 місяці тому +17

      TO everyone in this chat, i just want to let you know that jesus loves you and He can save you from sin, sadness and sickness.

    • @dead_to_you
      @dead_to_you 3 місяці тому +8

      remove the paywall first 😂

    • @QuizmasterLaw
      @QuizmasterLaw 3 місяці тому +7

      @@dead_to_you c'mon lliteral billionnaires gotta squeeze mo' "Juice" from us ignorant peasants ppl who don't take money from the poor by giving them

  • @primenumberbuster404
    @primenumberbuster404 3 місяці тому +8102

    The marketing is insane.

    • @0.3nergy
      @0.3nergy 3 місяці тому +24

      Saw the Olympic one ?

    • @JesusPlsSaveMe
      @JesusPlsSaveMe 3 місяці тому

      ​@@0.3nergy
      Colossians 3.
      1. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
      2. Set your affection on the things which are above and not on things which are on the earth.
      3. For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.
      4. When Christ, which is our life shall appear, so shall ye also appear with him in Glory.
      ********
      Jesus is calling you today. Come to him, repent from your sins, bear his cross and live the victorious life
      ********

    • @CommentinoCommentoni
      @CommentinoCommentoni 3 місяці тому

      The AI feature is a total scam. They got rid of the forum where people would discuss now they act its worth 30$ a month..

    • @factorfitness3713
      @factorfitness3713 3 місяці тому +292

      What I'm hearing from this video is that Duolingo is great at engagement and marketing, but we have no idea if it helps you learn a language.

    • @yacinekcl
      @yacinekcl 3 місяці тому

      ​@@factorfitness3713this ☝🏻 we need more personal experience accounts because this video feels like an advertisment.

  • @MrBelmont79
    @MrBelmont79 3 місяці тому +1701

    Some people do crossword puzzles or do social media for relaxation; I do two Duolingo lessons a day for the same reasons. After 2 years, I’m able to read French newspapers and magazines. That was my goal ✋🏻🇺🇸

    • @Fnndjkvlf
      @Fnndjkvlf 3 місяці тому +34

      Can you speak French though?

    • @hans6304
      @hans6304 3 місяці тому +130

      ​@@Fnndjkvlf bon appetit

    • @Fnndjkvlf
      @Fnndjkvlf 3 місяці тому +16

      @@hans6304 So no, then.

    • @marvira
      @marvira 3 місяці тому

      Au revoir😂​@@Fnndjkvlf

    • @Simon-L-B
      @Simon-L-B 3 місяці тому +254

      @@Fnndjkvlfwhere in their comment did they say they wanted to speak French? They learned how to read it, can now read French media, so goal accomplished for them.

  • @Basic-wm8uf
    @Basic-wm8uf 3 місяці тому +3921

    I am surprised Duolingo hasn’t commented already.

    • @Alis_Archive
      @Alis_Archive 3 місяці тому +70

      Given how insanely self aware they are, it is surprising that they haven't commented yet

    • @NoOnesIdea
      @NoOnesIdea 3 місяці тому

      @@Alis_Archive Who are "they"? aliens? German nazis?

    • @winni2701
      @winni2701 3 місяці тому +36

      @@Alis_Archive Self aware, they are ignoring like 90% of the request features.

    • @IMFROM.RUSSIA
      @IMFROM.RUSSIA 3 місяці тому +17

      But they reposted this in twitter so they have seen it.

    • @blurguns
      @blurguns 3 місяці тому +5

      Our you are afraid 💀

  • @xMegaVideos
    @xMegaVideos 3 місяці тому +233

    It's so refreshing seeing a company being completely honest about their marketing scheme.

  • @chengyiq3066
    @chengyiq3066 3 місяці тому +9908

    A wise green Owl once said:
    "Spanish or vanish"

    • @JustMe-vz3wd
      @JustMe-vz3wd 3 місяці тому +202

      "Japanese or vegan cheese!" hmmm. you win.

    • @theinsidersandrush
      @theinsidersandrush 3 місяці тому +243

      "French or the trench"

    • @exampill
      @exampill 3 місяці тому +222

      "Polish or Demolish"

    • @jaspreetkr87
      @jaspreetkr87 3 місяці тому +62

      Haha! All these phrases should be on duolingo t-shirts!
      Heck may be they should invest in selling funny merchandise like that. I wouldn’t mind buying it or gifting it rather than locking in for a subscription.

    • @JoyceRamroop-e3f
      @JoyceRamroop-e3f 3 місяці тому +10

      Japanese or no more strong kneesc(unofficial) . French or the trench (official)

  • @chunkemonke398
    @chunkemonke398 3 місяці тому +1168

    I watched the founder’s TED talk. There used to be a time where Duolingo learners generated revenue for the app by translating articles.

    • @WoodsSooperDooperShop
      @WoodsSooperDooperShop 3 місяці тому +40

      This never really made sense though

    • @shinyshinythings
      @shinyshinythings 3 місяці тому +43

      I remember doing that!

    • @naturalnashuan
      @naturalnashuan 3 місяці тому +12

      I thought that's what I would hear here.

    • @suzyzeng7637
      @suzyzeng7637 3 місяці тому +7

      I'm really suspicious of this point. AI could do a lot better than human in translating articles, why bother?

    • @Microtic
      @Microtic 3 місяці тому

      ​@@suzyzeng7637this was over 10 years ago

  • @beere_taran
    @beere_taran 3 місяці тому +5895

    The owl will not stop haunting you until you finish your lesson

    • @MalachiMalach
      @MalachiMalach 3 місяці тому +22

      Jesus Christ loves you, repent of your sins and turn to him.
      Romans 6:23
      23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

    • @terrancekayton007
      @terrancekayton007 3 місяці тому +33

      Or you stop playing for too long 👻 Duo gets upset 😠 and he’ll let you know, 😟 you’re not progressing, like you said you wanted to. 😢

    • @gabor6259
      @gabor6259 3 місяці тому +13

      Unless you turn off notifications.

    • @irishbob
      @irishbob 3 місяці тому

      ​​@@gabor6259it will come to your house

    • @therealloganyt237
      @therealloganyt237 3 місяці тому +6

      @@MalachiMalachbot

  • @samuchase14
    @samuchase14 3 місяці тому +425

    Fun fact, it takes around 10 seconds to close and open the app again, so whenever they load an ad longer than that u can skip it

    • @winni2701
      @winni2701 3 місяці тому +34

      Finally someone with big brain here

    • @elon_ma
      @elon_ma 3 місяці тому +25

      Facts, I've been doing this for months

    • @asiamies9153
      @asiamies9153 3 місяці тому +13

      Can't you just turn off your mobile data or wifi so it doesn't load ads?

    • @EmotionalSupportCat
      @EmotionalSupportCat 3 місяці тому

      @@asiamies9153 I'm pretty sure you need internet to complete lessons, unless you have Duolingo plus which already removes ads.

    • @zuzuscatheavenarts
      @zuzuscatheavenarts 3 місяці тому

      @@asiamies9153I’ve tried but the majority of the content becomes unavailable for me when I turn off wifi

  • @sam.mankar
    @sam.mankar 3 місяці тому +2709

    I can understand the struggles Wall Street Journal had to face since Duo might've been pointing a gun at them.

  • @SVVolley
    @SVVolley 3 місяці тому +99

    Shout out to Duolingo for helping me pass Spanish class in high school!

  • @harriemeeuwis978
    @harriemeeuwis978 3 місяці тому +3602

    The greed to learn is completely opposite to the greed for money. Difficult to understand for Wall Street people.

    • @Petrolhead11
      @Petrolhead11 3 місяці тому +123

      every business has to be self sufficient at some point, genius !!

    • @MalachiMalach
      @MalachiMalach 3 місяці тому +32

      Jesus Christ loves you, repent of your sins and turn to him.
      Romans 6:23
      23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

    • @nauseam
      @nauseam 3 місяці тому +118

      You do realize that this video proves your point wrong? The greed for money (board member’s need for revenue) capitalizes on the need to learn through AI and experimenting with A/B testing, and both are satisfied in the end.

    • @Demetriusjackson89
      @Demetriusjackson89 3 місяці тому +14

      wow ur so smart and wise /s

    • @news2hedz227
      @news2hedz227 3 місяці тому +10

      Well if you own any investment at all you would want a return too. Any Mom n Pop shop does the exact same thing.

  • @googleGuy44
    @googleGuy44 3 місяці тому +32

    Duolingo is not an just an app. It's also an experience, a very comforting one at that.

  • @palestinianperspective
    @palestinianperspective 3 місяці тому +1882

    Lol, this video is basically just a rebranded Duolingo ad 💀💀

    • @Rilows
      @Rilows 3 місяці тому +168

      Probably the only way to get to an interview with a tech CEO is to promise them a free ad of their product like this video
      lol

    • @TheRageCommenter
      @TheRageCommenter 3 місяці тому +14

      I’m guessing you won’t be using Duolingo to learn Hebrew anytime soon…

    • @marwashirbin3270
      @marwashirbin3270 3 місяці тому +6

      average Duolingo marketing team W

    • @rmg8038
      @rmg8038 3 місяці тому +12

      I downloaded the app now because of this video 😂

    • @eestaashottentotti2242
      @eestaashottentotti2242 3 місяці тому +4

      AI and users data was used to determine, what developers would wear and say.

  • @DominickSilva-tm6xx
    @DominickSilva-tm6xx 2 місяці тому +8

    Don't stop, your knowledge is priceless!

  • @felixboden6059
    @felixboden6059 3 місяці тому +383

    What Duolingo app really need is extra categories for learning grammatics and verb-conjugation-training. Also the vocabulary training is pretty bad. I stopped doing the next levels, because I realized to really learn the language I have to work on that first. So I just keep repeating levels to do the monthly challenge.

    • @death135
      @death135 3 місяці тому +27

      Chinese had no option to learn the sounds initially. They recently added that. As this app keeps getting more user feedback they keep updating the user experience. I can actually learn how to WRITE all the Japanese alphabets now. So...I'd say that the app is really starting to mature out slowly and I'll give it some time. Meanwhile....It does need those categories you mentioned and would actually be super helpful.

    • @ionastewart8814
      @ionastewart8814 3 місяці тому +14

      It used to have those but they removed all the grammar/conjugation notes during an update for some godforsaken reason and replaced it with an AI feature that only works for two languages.

    • @naturalnashuan
      @naturalnashuan 3 місяці тому +6

      I noticed that the vocab lessons are mixed in with grammar as I listened to my husband's lessons. I took about 6 years of French classes starting in 7th grade. We learned the vocab earlier.

    • @QuadDamage-tt7sj
      @QuadDamage-tt7sj 2 місяці тому

      Horrible kanji drills. Use Heisig's book instead.

    • @Hi-cl7fy
      @Hi-cl7fy Місяць тому +1

      Especially for languages like Japanese, in which knowing the verb conjugations in an organized way is huge (at least with how I was taught it), or languages like Hawaiian that don't have as many resources to learn the grammar (though there are still plenty).

  • @rupel190
    @rupel190 3 місяці тому +61

    Compared to other big tech their practices seem surprisingly sustainable.

  • @0endofsilence
    @0endofsilence 3 місяці тому +1538

    Looks like they are more into optimizing for people clicking stuff on their app instead of optimizing for actually learning the languages effectively

    • @LoyDizak
      @LoyDizak 3 місяці тому +126

      Exactly what I thought too. Spot on.

    • @alexgardner3125
      @alexgardner3125 3 місяці тому +267

      Better to learn something than nothing

    • @LoyDizak
      @LoyDizak 3 місяці тому

      @@alexgardner3125 I mean yeah, Duolingo is a good way to start. But nothing more

    • @DeEqualizer054
      @DeEqualizer054 3 місяці тому +216

      It's a business in the end

    • @JesusPlsSaveMe
      @JesusPlsSaveMe 3 місяці тому

      ​@@alexgardner3125 To everyone in this chat, Jesus is calling you today. Come to him, repent from your sins, bear his cross and live the victorious life

  • @JapanesewithLulu
    @JapanesewithLulu 3 місяці тому +29

    I teach Japanese professionally and have my UA-cam and website course dedicated too it. Even so, if people want an extra app I recommend them the free version of duo. I don’t really think they’ll learn Japanese from duo alone, but I do think it’s an easy way to get them looking at Japanese sentences and structure between classes in a gamified way ✨💪🏻

  • @lukecwolf
    @lukecwolf 3 місяці тому +803

    I'm surprised to learn only 8% of revenue comes from ads. I hate the app for only teaching the introductory levels of a language, but the duo owl is good at marketing.
    I'd be lying if I said I didn't want the merch.

    • @Chloethecoolestytr
      @Chloethecoolestytr 3 місяці тому +80

      You cant be fluent from an app,, duo just starts you with the base of the language then its on u to actually learn

    • @roseforeuropa
      @roseforeuropa 3 місяці тому +48

      Introductory levels only??? Laughs in the *Spanish subjunctive*

    • @Robteee
      @Robteee 3 місяці тому +44

      @@roseforeuropadude still in the first section of the first unit

    • @BlueCodesDev
      @BlueCodesDev 3 місяці тому +3

      @@roseforeuropa so is it possible to be fluent in Spanish using duo only??

    • @pabl0191
      @pabl0191 3 місяці тому +14

      @@BlueCodesDevThey claim that you can achieve a B2 level through the courses they are offering. If that’s fluent or enough, thats up to you.

  • @PaolaEnergya
    @PaolaEnergya 3 місяці тому +65

    Duo's vertical garden is stunning! And, as they say, if the product is free, then you are the product.

    • @disculpa
      @disculpa 3 місяці тому +4

      They just said that most of the revenue comes from paid users. So really you are free loading off the people that pay.

  • @VendyVendy
    @VendyVendy 3 місяці тому +716

    Company goes public, starts downward trend of being worse with every change. Every time.
    Guarantee the "5 ads after every lesson" hypothetical will become a reality in the next few years.

    • @alexgardner3125
      @alexgardner3125 3 місяці тому +16

      If it keeps getting worse, why does it keep growing so fast?

    • @philip2205
      @philip2205 3 місяці тому +55

      Absolutely. "But the stock prices are up! Investors are happy!" - Thank you Milton Friedman......

    • @RJCMaxification
      @RJCMaxification 3 місяці тому +58

      I've never met someone who's used Duolingo to become proficient in a language. At the very best it is a decent kick off point for your first month in a language. Duolingo has devised many clever tactics to keep users engaged beyond that point, but their focus clearly isn't on getting their users to a minimum standard of proficiency.
      In fact, if you got good enough at your target language, you might quit the app, so it is in their best interest as a company to make you feel like you're learning while simultaneously keeping you incompetent.

    • @MrJustCallMeJames
      @MrJustCallMeJames 3 місяці тому

      @@alexgardner3125 It was in the video. They do AB testing about what best manipulates people to click on the app.
      They don't focus at all on providing better learning or more focused learning or different modes of learning. For example I have long time wanted a language learning app that just repeats the 1000 most used words of a language in a match em up format. Nothing but marketing and pop ups and ensiffication from Duolingo.
      And don't get me started how the original Duolingo had volunteers help build the original lessons. Then they did bait and switch and went the money grabbing route, betraying everyone who had contributed on the premise of free language learning for all. Should result in jail sentences, including for the people you saw in this video. But they will escape accountability.

    • @BorisForOffice
      @BorisForOffice 3 місяці тому

      @@philip2205 That's not how capitalism works. If a company does something users hate, the users will eventually leave and give their money to a competitor. People vote with their dollars and it works.
      Which is the opposite of socialism - where the government gives you no choice and kills you if you complain

  • @synchronium24
    @synchronium24 3 місяці тому +75

    "80% of users don't pay"
    "8.6% of users pay"
    That math doesn't math.

    • @IanRussell1969
      @IanRussell1969 2 місяці тому +13

      Probably because of the family subscription option. My brother's house has 4 learners not on the free tier, only one actually pays.

    • @synchronium24
      @synchronium24 2 місяці тому +4

      @@IanRussell1969 The percentages should add to 100 whether people on a family subscription are counted as paid or unpaid users.

    • @CeruleanSky1111
      @CeruleanSky1111 Місяць тому +4

      It's a language app, not a math app. 😂

    • @YYLiow
      @YYLiow Місяць тому +4

      ​@@CeruleanSky1111 Bro haven't enabled the Duolingo Math course yet

    • @sidwell92
      @sidwell92 24 дні тому

      Maybe they used different metric for users for these two figures, like daily active users, monthly active users, repeat users. Still, seems an oversight

  • @MCMMADDOGXCV
    @MCMMADDOGXCV 3 місяці тому +279

    This video is more of how Duolingo is incorporating data scientists and benefiting from data-driven decisions, which I find it super cool and motivating.

    • @dbsirius
      @dbsirius 3 місяці тому +25

      A.K.A they're playing mind-games with their users and experimenting with their habits. Not evil at all..

    • @leetcoding1
      @leetcoding1 3 місяці тому +9

      Although mentions nothing about the question posed by the video title

    • @leetcoding1
      @leetcoding1 3 місяці тому +19

      This whole video is just them bragging about their data science and AI capabilities. It has nothing to do with the question posed by the video title

    • @YaBoyfelipe
      @YaBoyfelipe 3 місяці тому +8

      @@dbsiriusWait until you learn that all social media does that, with the best of the best talent of data scientists, psychologists, neuroscientists, all to keep you hooked as much as possible, if they could keep you 24/7, they would do it.

    • @bltzcstrnx
      @bltzcstrnx 3 місяці тому +1

      ​@@dbsiriusit's called optimization.

  • @rosalieancheta3659
    @rosalieancheta3659 3 місяці тому +6

    I'm using this for more than a year,,it's so helpful.

  • @dhruvbansal1014
    @dhruvbansal1014 3 місяці тому +21

    "A/B testing compares the performance of two versions of content to see which one appeals more to visitors/viewers. It tests a control (A) version against a variant (B) version to measure which one is most successful based on your key metrics."

    • @naturalnashuan
      @naturalnashuan 3 місяці тому +2

      That should have been stated in the video for those who didn't know that.

    • @lolithighs
      @lolithighs 2 місяці тому

      It’s pretty self explanatory

  • @cezarstefanseghjucan
    @cezarstefanseghjucan 3 місяці тому +23

    Proud 5 year Duolingo user with no plan to ever end my daily lessons.

    • @coolstuffsearcher
      @coolstuffsearcher 3 місяці тому

      The app help you master a new idiom?

    • @cezarstefanseghjucan
      @cezarstefanseghjucan 3 місяці тому +2

      @@coolstuffsearcher Ja, nu kan jeg godt lide forstå og snakke Dansk.

    • @ltk7309
      @ltk7309 2 місяці тому

      @@cezarstefanseghjucan no, it's only helpful for absolute beginners.

  • @egopak
    @egopak 3 місяці тому +95

    Given the size of its userbase, perhaps Duolingo should be advertising WSJ, not the other way around 😅😉

  • @JanisNunez-q2q
    @JanisNunez-q2q 2 місяці тому +1

    I've been a member of your VIP group for a few months now, and I have to say, it's been worth every penny. Thank you for all the incredible knowledge and support you provide

  • @mixrable1212
    @mixrable1212 3 місяці тому +41

    User: *skips a day of classes
    Owl: "So you've chosen death"

  • @scyt33
    @scyt33 3 місяці тому +3

    I just finished a lesson on Duolingo and saw this video being recommended to me on my feed

  • @AndreasBeder
    @AndreasBeder 3 місяці тому +163

    I was very happy with Duolingo. Stopped learning Spanish because of the changes they made.

    • @Cal-wk5dq
      @Cal-wk5dq 3 місяці тому +29

      Ive found there to be better lessons for free on youtube.

    • @the_real_cookiez
      @the_real_cookiez 3 місяці тому

      Language transfer goes absolutely crazy. can't recommend it enough​@@Cal-wk5dq

    • @obxurity
      @obxurity 3 місяці тому +17

      May I ask what changes they have made that made you stop?

    • @Alexandra.H
      @Alexandra.H 3 місяці тому +43

      @@obxurity Personally, I found it disappointing when they removed features and content like the mini podcast-like lessons that focused on particular topics. I could for example review how to talk about the time or the weather. Now it's all about this awful map and I can't go back to review anything specific because there's no easy way to find a given topic/lesson.

    • @lololnope34567
      @lololnope34567 3 місяці тому +23

      @@obxurity For me removing the "tree" (with defined topics in each section that you can review as much as you want) ruined it

  • @jeroenm771
    @jeroenm771 3 місяці тому +28

    Now that's one big ad to watch!

  • @BackSoon...
    @BackSoon... 3 місяці тому +24

    7:14 That is a terrifying quote for our future.

  • @gabor6259
    @gabor6259 3 місяці тому +127

    Fun fact: "Our universe is positively charged and soon we will collide with a negatively charged universe." is a sentence in DuoLingo.

  • @youngbear2258
    @youngbear2258 3 місяці тому +33

    People have unreasonable expectations when it comes to learning a new language. Learning even an introductory level of language takes months if not years. Think of what you learned from a year worth of lesson from your high school. Duolingo is not enough to make you fluent, but it is a great jump starter. Coming from a trilingual who learned languages using traditional methods.

    • @prtdiva
      @prtdiva 2 місяці тому +3

      Bingo! I really don’t know what people expect from a free app. Duolingo can really only teach you the basics. You have to seek out other opportunities to speak, listen and read on your own. Duolingo just supplements everything else that you’re doing. The fact that people are upset that they’re not fluent from a free app is mind boggling to me 🙃

    • @jennifersun2638
      @jennifersun2638 2 місяці тому +2

      I agree languages take talent too,SOME PEOPLE are naturally gifted when it comes to linguistics.

    • @Reforming_LL
      @Reforming_LL Місяць тому

      @@jennifersun2638That’s false. You just haven’t found the right method, that’s all.

    • @Reforming_LL
      @Reforming_LL Місяць тому +1

      Years for introductory? Well no wonder why traditional methods suck. With new methods nowadays, it will only take 2-8 months to finish the introduction stages of your target language.

    • @youngbear2258
      @youngbear2258 Місяць тому

      ​@@Reforming_LL I think with Duo, that's possible. It certainly has limitations but these limitations are shared with traditional methods. Learning a new language is hard, especially in a country that does not speak such language.

  • @ludmilagalkina4395
    @ludmilagalkina4395 2 місяці тому +1

    Your support has been invaluable! I’m excited to keep learning from you

  • @victorchen3245
    @victorchen3245 3 місяці тому +76

    Duolingo is good for developing a basic sense of the sentence composition in a new language, as it trains you to build simple sentences repeatedly, which akin to how language is learnt in real world. And after gaining sense and some vocabulary, you won't be going any further. Going through all lessons of a language will place you at the level of an 8-year-old native speaker. You can survive in a foreign country without using translation tools, but you won't be able to hold any meaningful conversation as an adult.

    • @DanieliusGoriunovas
      @DanieliusGoriunovas 3 місяці тому +20

      Better than nothing

    • @terrancekayton007
      @terrancekayton007 3 місяці тому +17

      Yea, 🤷🏿‍♂️ it’s not meant to be a college course.

    • @jevonsims900
      @jevonsims900 3 місяці тому +8

      Victor, all I read is I'll be able to watch Anime that don't have English subtitles

    • @aazh9869
      @aazh9869 3 місяці тому +2

      @@jevonsims900HAHA literally had the same thought

    • @qedro
      @qedro 3 місяці тому +2

      Got it, so if you can't hold meaningful conversations, Duolingo is enough

  • @Danielddiniz
    @Danielddiniz Місяць тому +1

    This is why I love ❤Duolingo! They always have an inclusive mindset.

  • @agent0422
    @agent0422 3 місяці тому +184

    Ineffective app, good marketing

    • @azca.
      @azca. 3 місяці тому +8

      This is it basically.

    • @lucas17oficial
      @lucas17oficial 3 місяці тому +21

      It depends from person to person, but fair.

    • @boneandjointindonesia
      @boneandjointindonesia 3 місяці тому +12

      Agree. Lots of useless terms and vocab.

    • @LivingTheorem
      @LivingTheorem 3 місяці тому +11

      For me, it's effective in learning new vocab and keeping my brain acclimated to hearing my target language. Life is what you make of it. If you don't find value, then that's fair, but others do.

    • @ggm000
      @ggm000 3 місяці тому +2

      ​@boneandjointindonesia yeah, trying to teach the word Quebecoise for hours

  • @sourabhsingh4515
    @sourabhsingh4515 3 місяці тому +6

    this thing is great the thinking is genius it is rare to find this type of well built app in the market

  • @emurseio
    @emurseio 3 місяці тому +4

    Getting learners to come back and making sure they are having fun using the app it is really only part of what they need to do. The other big part is making sure the learners are actually learning the language. For me Duolingo has been helpful for learning some language basics but after that it hasn't been an efficient way to learn. Consuming media in the target language and having regular conversations with native speakers paired with grammar study and self-study with flash cards/drills is really what's worked best for me.

  • @violate4265
    @violate4265 3 місяці тому +13

    Thank you for the recording. I really appreciate this company.

  • @GdfGzu
    @GdfGzu 2 місяці тому +1

    Subscribed, looking forward to more!

  • @yaserchow
    @yaserchow 3 місяці тому +510

    I quit Duolingo after a 500+ day streak. I just didnt see the value tbh and i didn't feel like my Spanish was improving.

    • @everythingisfine9988
      @everythingisfine9988 3 місяці тому +108

      My Spanish reading and comprehension improved. But then I realized I don't need that because Google can translate everything pretty well. What I need is conversational Spanish and Duolingo false flat on that

    • @JustMe-vz3wd
      @JustMe-vz3wd 3 місяці тому

      Learning the basics of a language is pretty easy much tutorials on YT and free learn ing apps. Problem for me is it never goes to intermediate or advanced in a profesional way. It stays with a bunch of sentences. Real Course books from the bookshop are often much better.

    • @baaaank
      @baaaank 3 місяці тому

      @@everythingisfine9988 what duo max is for ig

    • @BarkaDog
      @BarkaDog 3 місяці тому +14

      @@everythingisfine9988 so how would you learn conversational Spanish?

    • @PatrikFonos
      @PatrikFonos 3 місяці тому +1

      @@BarkaDog LanguageTransfer app if you know english well already. It's free.

  • @ngnicole2536
    @ngnicole2536 2 місяці тому +2

    Duolingo got my Dutch exam passed, if you want to improve your language skills, you gotta learn everyday for hours, not just 1 lesson

  • @_orodrigofernandes
    @_orodrigofernandes 3 місяці тому +174

    No mention on the effectiveness of Duolingo as a language learning method...

    • @arjaygee
      @arjaygee 3 місяці тому +24

      Good reason for that.

    • @moali68
      @moali68 3 місяці тому +30

      @@arjaygee A great learning tool, but should definitely be supplemented with variety of other resources, including speaking with native speakers if given the chance.

    • @MrShikaga
      @MrShikaga 3 місяці тому

      @@moali68 the moment you start doing that, you will realise that DuoLingo is pointless though…

    • @ToProsca
      @ToProsca 3 місяці тому +11

      Maybe because the video was not about that..

    • @arjaygee
      @arjaygee 3 місяці тому

      @@moali68 It has its uses, but you will not become fluent using Duolingo, if that is your goal. If your goal is fluency, lessons with native speakers, or at least speakers who have achieved fluency, are an absolute must. Duolingo does not correct pronunciation, and in fact, I found I could say pretty much anything with the right number of syllables and still get a pass on the oral exercises. Maybe it has improved since I used it. I was using it to brush up on a language I hadn't used for years, so I didn't have the same needs as a brand new learner. I don't think it would be a very effective tool for a new learner (except for gifted polyglots) unless their goal was to learn a little bit _about_ the language.

  • @AlexLiYT
    @AlexLiYT 3 місяці тому +14

    I actually respect Duolingo so much for having the attitude of prioritising user education over making money. Even as successful as they are, education is still the main objective and they only make as much money as they need for that objective.

    • @TheTardisDreamer
      @TheTardisDreamer 3 місяці тому +2

      Yeah, exactly. There isn't any real pressure to pay money. The ads are super short. You can regain hearts through practice lessons, which are necessary revision anyway. You get given free trials regularly to play with the other features. And plenty of gems for other stuff too.

    • @Reforming_LL
      @Reforming_LL Місяць тому

      @@TheTardisDreamerWell now Duolingo doesn’t allow you to fill your 5 hearts with practice anymore.

    • @Outriley
      @Outriley Місяць тому

      ​@@Reforming_LL what are you talking about?
      I just gained all 5 hearts by doing practice lessons today. That feature is still available.

    • @Reforming_LL
      @Reforming_LL Місяць тому

      @@Outriley It’s probably an A/B feature then, which means that half of the users don’t get it and half do. But that doesn’t change my opinion on Duolingo, since I still got the feature.

  • @diyorchikinfluencer
    @diyorchikinfluencer 3 місяці тому +11

    I highly recommend this app to learners of languages

  • @mrpooroldme
    @mrpooroldme 3 місяці тому +5

    Duolingo is great, I am someone who struggles to learn, and have been doing Duo Lingo to learn French for more than five years, and although I'm not as good as I should be, I blame it on my poor learning skills and not Duolingo, I know I'm getting somewhere with it better than I did with just books, and I'm useless in a class room situation. The greatest thing is it is fun and I've not paid a penny, and now I'm learning Greek also with it. I think that Duolingo should be commended for still offering it free and resisting pushing for more money, and making learning fun and enjoyable how it should be, that is how I would like to run a business if I had one, and I'm sure that it is actually more beneficial in the end.

    • @Reforming_LL
      @Reforming_LL Місяць тому

      I learned Japanese to a good degree without paying a penny. You may need to 🏴‍☠️ but it’s worth it. No need to stick with inefficient resources. Just check my Language Acquisition playlist to get started!

  • @mwalimuio
    @mwalimuio 3 місяці тому +29

    This is well timed and so inspiring. I'm building a language learning app for a school project and I could learn a thing or two

    • @daegucityboy
      @daegucityboy 3 місяці тому +2

      Which language?

    • @mwalimuio
      @mwalimuio 3 місяці тому +3

      I added support for 90 languages and accents. It's absolutely no duolingo but if you're interested in the project you could try the site (for free). If anyone is curious the idea is to simply use a super realistic AI tutor that does everything a human language teacher would do

    • @Exilum
      @Exilum 3 місяці тому

      That's very cool. Do you have a github repository I can star?

    • @daegucityboy
      @daegucityboy 3 місяці тому +2

      @@mwalimuio Sure, I'd like to check it out. I've been learning Korean for a long time and would like some new material.

    • @oleglukashevich9424
      @oleglukashevich9424 3 місяці тому +4

      Bruh, I could get the same result with any LLM. Just ask them to play a tutor role.

  • @keithpeterson9915
    @keithpeterson9915 3 місяці тому +13

    I like Duolingo because it is well-structured and easy to learn. I married a beautiful Ukrainian woman four years ago who speaks both Ukrainian and Russian. I began learning Russian and it looks very intimidating until one gets into it. I enjoy the perks of subscribing annually and I practice most every day - and won the previous last Diamond League tournament. One day, I hope you guys add the next level. The biggest perk is understanding Russian I can help my wife learn English who also uses Duolingo daily.

  • @unknownperson8541
    @unknownperson8541 3 місяці тому +6

    I Like the mindset of the company if we are earning a reasonable amount of money why push people to pay more or pay 😊

  • @malispertrefolarcescle
    @malispertrefolarcescle 2 місяці тому +1

    Very nice topic and idea.Very informative, very humble, keep up the awesome videos. I will follow you

  • @alexandercoriolanus
    @alexandercoriolanus 3 місяці тому +7

    Fine. I'll redownload it.

  • @iisc9930
    @iisc9930 3 місяці тому +2

    I am happy to be hooked by this app for learning something new.

  • @trekgreenwood6743
    @trekgreenwood6743 3 місяці тому +4

    They really need to give their social media manager, specifically their TikTok manager a big raise.

  • @moustaphafall-ng6sx
    @moustaphafall-ng6sx 2 дні тому +1

    I have been using it for 2 years to learn English.

  • @kindnessagbo2059
    @kindnessagbo2059 3 місяці тому +12

    Just saw a Duolingo ad before this video

  • @john.the.beloved
    @john.the.beloved 3 місяці тому +2

    Excellent app! Thank you for making it free

  • @jeshuruncarlos6649
    @jeshuruncarlos6649 3 місяці тому +8

    Just remembered to complete my 56th Day of learning French in Duolingo

  • @NotNagruf
    @NotNagruf 2 місяці тому +2

    Thank you, Duolingo 😊❤

  • @Dparrey
    @Dparrey 3 місяці тому +16

    The sort of product you get when all your primary metrics are about engagement and market growth and not quality and better user outcomes.

    • @whatabouttheearth
      @whatabouttheearth 2 місяці тому

      Do you even use the app? It's freaking great, it's by far the best language app out there

    • @whatabouttheearth
      @whatabouttheearth 2 місяці тому

      Do you even use the app? It's freaking great, it's by far the best language app out there

    • @Reforming_LL
      @Reforming_LL Місяць тому

      @@whatabouttheearth It’s not even Top 10. LingoDeer and Clozemaster clears.

  • @rosalindpatrick5096
    @rosalindpatrick5096 2 місяці тому +1

    I have been learning French on Duolingo for a wile. The lessons are varied & good but definitely not enough explanations about grammar. I really like the encouragement of the streak & Duo has really helped my French. Happy to have in app ads to watch in return for free learning. I backup the learning by using other apps & UA-cam videos. My spoken French is much better than my written.

  • @Kumar731995
    @Kumar731995 3 місяці тому +21

    Love duolingo, all the comments that say you are really not learning a language and its just marketing and all that, my case is different. I learned 600 words and can understand some spanish from native speakers. Which is 100% more than where I was when I started it. Also sure you can learn more and faster with other means but I probably wont be doing that long term especially when I want to learn a language not out of necessity but for the fun of it. Their way definitely worked on me and millions more so pls ignore it if it does work on you and let others make some progress.

    • @youngbear2258
      @youngbear2258 3 місяці тому

      I agree. As a trilingual (two first languages, one just beg-intermediate despite years learning) who is trying to make it quadral, Duo is an amazing app. The key to learning a new language is perseverance, repetition, and doing it every day, even for a few minutes. Duo is great at that. I tried to learn French at 12 and failed miserably because I struggled with a book. I went nowhere from the first few pages. With Duo, I must have gone through multiple chapters.
      Learning should be fun and Duo is good at that. I subscribed to it to kickstart my fourth language. People expect miracles from these apps...I don't because I know how long it took me to be really fluent in the language.

    • @PikaPluff
      @PikaPluff 3 місяці тому +1

      It works but you gotta do more, duolingo is more about fun learning not full on learning.

  • @LudmilaShiryaeva
    @LudmilaShiryaeva 3 місяці тому

    Your insights are like gems that light up every conversation.

  • @billythekid-bestservant1
    @billythekid-bestservant1 3 місяці тому +3

    I learned japanese vocabulary from duolingo. It's a good tool to learn ngl. Especially the hiragana and kanji.

  • @thomasbachrach
    @thomasbachrach 2 місяці тому +2

    I was hooked - I had a 700 day streak - until the quality became worse and worse, and mistakes and bugs crept into every single session. I realised that despite almost completing my course, I had not been taught incredibly basic concepts, and because the course was constantly being shuffled around, it kept claiming I had been taught words I had never seen before. I suspect the introduction of AI is to blame for the decline in quality.

  • @Goursome
    @Goursome 3 місяці тому +19

    I really like how you told us "how duolingo rakes in $500M yearly when 80% of its users don't pay"!

  • @shambhvilokre
    @shambhvilokre 3 місяці тому +2

    This is a really well-structured video

  • @setsers1
    @setsers1 3 місяці тому +41

    Spanish or Vanish.

  • @LavonnaRushen
    @LavonnaRushen 3 місяці тому

    You are just killing the OTC market. This strategy is insane; if we find a good moment, yes, we are in trade there to win it up. I have already done this test and will post you now. Keep the great strategies posted. Many many thx. You and your channel rocks and we are learning from it very fast.

  • @noahm
    @noahm 3 місяці тому +8

    Huge reason they’re so recognisable and loved is cause of the massive marketing they do, and how much of a meme the owl is.

  • @VadimMerkushev-y4i
    @VadimMerkushev-y4i 2 місяці тому

    Emma, your advice is always spot on. Appreciate your hard work!

  • @Todomo
    @Todomo 3 місяці тому +6

    I use it as an excuse to occupy myself when I want to be on my phone, but I feel like I'm actually being productive at something.

  • @AnnabellaLucas-m6k
    @AnnabellaLucas-m6k 3 місяці тому

    I am new subscriber and I must say I love watching your blog. Happy to watch someone enjoying life with their hard earned money

  • @dotcorbeil6266
    @dotcorbeil6266 3 місяці тому +4

    I use duolingo, and I love the app. I plan to learn three languages with it one at a time.

  • @benjamindover4337
    @benjamindover4337 3 місяці тому +469

    Pretend you're learning a language, with Duolingo.

    • @0.3nergy
      @0.3nergy 3 місяці тому +21

      Heard that before, which would you recommend ?
      Duo is helpful for vocabulary learning and basic structure/grammar memorisation.

    • @cyacyi779
      @cyacyi779 3 місяці тому

      ​@@0.3nergyjust stick with old school with book for grammar

    • @AceChina
      @AceChina 3 місяці тому +32

      It depends on the language. For many Asian languages it's hot garbage.

    • @0.3nergy
      @0.3nergy 3 місяці тому +5

      @@AceChina ahhh, I see. It’s probably Western Based

    • @benjamindover4337
      @benjamindover4337 3 місяці тому

      @@0.3nergy Vocabulary: Drops. Flashcards: Clozemaster. Immersion: Find a news channel on UA-cam in the target language and turn on translated captions. Play with Google translate a lot.

  • @ShibaHamamatsucho
    @ShibaHamamatsucho 3 місяці тому +46

    most people who use duolingo don't achieve anywhere near a fluent level in their target language. it's awful for language learning.

    • @MA-ck4wu
      @MA-ck4wu 3 місяці тому +19

      Yep, it's a great way to ''get you going'', but once you reach a certain level, it's best to just delete the app and move on to other resources.

    • @DuolingoPath
      @DuolingoPath 3 місяці тому +3

      yea, if you study for 5 minutes a day or if you're slow...

    • @DuolingoPath
      @DuolingoPath 3 місяці тому +6

      @@asanokatana you can learn Spanish, English and French up to B2 level, people just are lazy and think they can master a language in 50 hours...

    • @boneandjointindonesia
      @boneandjointindonesia 3 місяці тому

      Agree. Especially Asian language versions are a hot mess. Their AI for Japanese vocab is just awful and greatly irrelevant. Example: “my older sister’s boyfriend is a famous lawyer”. 1. I don’t have a sister. 2. HOW ARE ANY OF THOSE WORDS NECESSARY for traveling to Japan as a tourist?

    • @whatabouttheearth
      @whatabouttheearth 2 місяці тому

      For the developed languages like Spanish it's the best app out there.

  • @stophatingbro
    @stophatingbro 3 місяці тому

    duolingo is amazing and this is a prime example of marketing

  • @sebbretro
    @sebbretro 3 місяці тому +12

    I wonder if the ads had an effect…

  • @konstantinkornilov736
    @konstantinkornilov736 2 місяці тому

    Thanks for the reminder about the importance of continually improving your trading skills.

  • @travelchoice89
    @travelchoice89 3 місяці тому +6

    🤑📚 Wow, Duolingo making $500M a year with 80% of users not paying?! That's some genius economics! 💡💸

    • @Reforming_LL
      @Reforming_LL Місяць тому

      In exchange for making the app worse and worse every year! Wow, I love economics ❤️ (sarcasm)

  • @catchtube67
    @catchtube67 3 місяці тому +1

    I am now on my 302nd consecutive day in Duolingo learning German and seeing this video explains why.

    • @patrickbateman1660
      @patrickbateman1660 3 місяці тому

      You could have learned so much more by not using duolingo.

  • @InanGupta
    @InanGupta 3 місяці тому +4

    I still don't get it. They have huge amounts of data, which allows them to tailor the experience for users and ensure retention. But where is the money coming from? You earn money because someone is paying it; if it's not subscribers or advertisers, who is it, and what are they paying for? Are the selling data? Or are they licensing the algorithm to other businesses? What is happening

    • @slimxshady6111
      @slimxshady6111 Місяць тому

      Yeah I feel like they barely answered the question in this video

  • @wge621
    @wge621 3 місяці тому

    that was a great video! really enjoyed it. also it's nice to see a company with morals!

  • @romeumonteiro6443
    @romeumonteiro6443 3 місяці тому +3

    I was really impressed with the paid version. It's not only obstacle-free but super tailored to your needs. Unlike a teacher, the app remebers exactly which mistakes I did and which things I know, and sends me exactly the exercises I need to do to fix my knowledge and learn new things. There is never excessive repetition or gaps.

  • @felixgarcia2184
    @felixgarcia2184 3 місяці тому

    I’m glad I use Duolingo and LOVE it can’t wait to commit more and use the pay option.

  • @Joe29587
    @Joe29587 3 місяці тому +73

    Their question is "how do we make more money?", not "how can people learn more effectively?". How surprising.

    • @cristianfigueredo566
      @cristianfigueredo566 3 місяці тому +26

      They are motivated by money, like every other worker. How surprising.

    • @boneandjointindonesia
      @boneandjointindonesia 3 місяці тому

      Agree!

    • @Joe29587
      @Joe29587 3 місяці тому

      @@cristianfigueredo566 Are you saying that greed justifies moral corruption? It's okay to work for money. It's not okay to turn clients into guinea pigs without their consent to maximize profits.

    • @cyf3823
      @cyf3823 3 місяці тому +5

      If they want to make more content to help more people learn, they have to pay people to make that content…

    • @alexandra.v
      @alexandra.v 3 місяці тому +4

      Sorry but it's not surprising at all. Every company wants money

  • @malikjawad1234
    @malikjawad1234 3 місяці тому

    Wao so there is still a company exist that thinks money making is not the only objective of life
    Life is much more then that Salute to these guys doing wonderful job

  • @MasterLeong888
    @MasterLeong888 3 місяці тому +5

    amazing! thank you!

  • @valentinsergeev8815
    @valentinsergeev8815 2 місяці тому

    Emma, you're a fantastic mentor

  • @yuvalshechori4139
    @yuvalshechori4139 3 місяці тому +30

    but you didn't answer the question.. If 8% is from paying customers, and another 8% is from ads, where does the rest come from?

    • @birdbeakbeardneck3617
      @birdbeakbeardneck3617 3 місяці тому +2

      80% he said

    • @birdbeakbeardneck3617
      @birdbeakbeardneck3617 3 місяці тому +4

      the 8% is in term of subcribing usrr 80 in terms of revenue

    • @MisterCrafter178
      @MisterCrafter178 3 місяці тому +2

      probably from their youtube and tiktok

    • @answer5092
      @answer5092 3 місяці тому +2

      8% of their user base provides 80% of their revenue.

    • @tinkerer67
      @tinkerer67 3 місяці тому +1

      I think he said 80% of the revenue is generated by paying customers, and the rest comes from ads. I doubt this. They probably make a significant income by selling all the data they collect. Most of these successful internet products are profiting by selling user data.

  • @VendyVendy
    @VendyVendy 3 місяці тому +15

    Company goes public, starts downward trend of being worse with every change. Every time.

    • @whatabouttheearth
      @whatabouttheearth 2 місяці тому

      Because companies should be there for customers not shareholders. I think the entire concept of shareholding is trash

    • @whatabouttheearth
      @whatabouttheearth 2 місяці тому

      Because companies should be there for customers not shareholders. I think the entire concept of shareholding is trash

  • @felixfelixis2213
    @felixfelixis2213 3 місяці тому

    should’ve add a social media feature where language learners can interact w other language learners

  • @Ghost-jk3oi
    @Ghost-jk3oi 3 місяці тому +6

    This video didn't actually answer how Duolingo rakes in its profits... but I'm assuming it's by selling your personal data or the marketing data gathered through A/B testing.

  • @tharg330
    @tharg330 3 місяці тому

    I’m a family subscriber. I do two lessons a day myself. I find the lessons often use ridiculously obscure language - like, in a recent Indonesian course “Chefs are not led by lawyers”. Wow, that’s the kind of phrase that will really come in useful when I’m lost in Jakarta.
    I also can’t abide the WOKENESS being shoved down my throat and foisted on my family. Anyone who uses the app knows what I’m talking about.

  • @Adivasi7777
    @Adivasi7777 3 місяці тому +37

    They cash in on your data. That's the black gold.

    • @Jsarmy87124
      @Jsarmy87124 3 місяці тому

      Noo the adds are way to present

    • @dlanor15
      @dlanor15 3 місяці тому

      I don't think you realize what black gold is

    • @Adivasi7777
      @Adivasi7777 3 місяці тому +2

      @@dlanor15 Notice how I didn't capitalize the letters....I don't think you are comprehending here...

    • @IMFROM.RUSSIA
      @IMFROM.RUSSIA 3 місяці тому

      Usually oil is called black gold.

    • @BondJFK
      @BondJFK 3 місяці тому +1

      @@IMFROM.RUSSIA yes but data is new oil, its said by one of the oil billionaire himself who just started telecom company

  • @just_eknoor
    @just_eknoor 3 місяці тому +3

    This video did not tell how they make the 500 mil... Thats why i came here...

  • @crispyein8601
    @crispyein8601 3 місяці тому +1

    They also have really good animations that don't feel overly corporate or unfriendly.