The lilting sound of "Chouette," a word unfamiliar yet intriguing, echoed in my mind. Pronounced "shoe-ette," this simple French word for "owl" sparked a thought: when would the knowledge of avian vocabulary become relevant in the context of my impending French adventure? The answer, as it turned out, was less about owls and more about the journey of linguistic immersion itself.
The opportunity arose when a representative from Duolingo, the popular language learning platform, extended an invitation to trial Super Duolingo, their premium subscription service. The proposition was enticing: dedicate time to mastering the fundamentals of either French or Spanish, then put those newly acquired skills to the test in a destination where the chosen language reigned supreme. The choice was clear: rekindle my dormant connection with French.
My history with the language was a patchwork of academic encounters. A semester in high school followed by four semesters in college had equipped me with a basic toolkit of phrases. "Je m’appelle Elizabeth" (My name is Elizabeth), "Comment ça va?" (How are you?), "J’ai étudié le français pour trois années" (I studied French for three years), and "J’aime le fromage" (I like cheese) were the stalwarts of my French repertoire. A decade had passed since my last visit to France, leaving my linguistic muscles feeling decidedly atrophied.
The challenge was set: embark on a 60-day Duolingo streak. The prospect was daunting. As someone who routinely overlooked basic self-care tasks like hydration, the idea of consistently dedicating time to language learning seemed ambitious, to say the least.
The Duolingo Immersion: A 60-Day Linguistic Experiment
The Duolingo platform, in its latest iteration, presents a structured and engaging approach to language acquisition. The revamped home screen functions as a guided learning path, meticulously designed with lessons arranged according to the principles of spaced repetition. This method, as Duolingo explains, is "grounded in [the concept of] spaced repetition."
While the updated interface may initially disorient seasoned Duolingo users, the core content remains unchanged. The French course comprises 199 units, each meticulously crafted to impart specific linguistic concepts. Each unit begins with a guidebook, offering concise explanations of grammar rules and key phrases. Learners then progress through seven or eight "levels," each designed to reinforce vocabulary, verb conjugations, and grammatical agreement. The levels incorporate a diverse range of exercises, including listening comprehension, reading comprehension, speaking practice, writing tasks, and matching games. Interspersed throughout the units are review levels, strategically placed to reinforce concepts introduced in previous lessons.
The effectiveness of spaced repetition lies in its ability to promote long-term retention. "It’s more effective to space out practice for a particular concept than to cram," Duolingo emphasized in a blog post announcing the updated learning path. "When you initially learn a concept, you’ll want to revisit it fairly soon after, but then you can gradually expand the time between practice sessions. This strategy helps concepts stick in your memory long-term."
Furthermore, the updated platform seamlessly integrates personalized practice lessons and engaging stories into the guided path. These short vignettes, designed to test reading comprehension, enhance the learning experience and allow learners to review material without navigating the app’s labyrinthine structure.
Over the course of the 60-day challenge, I diligently completed 21 units. These units covered a broad spectrum of topics, from basic greetings and introductions (such as "comment ça va?" and "au revoir") to conjugating common verbs like "to live" and "to be" in the present tense. I also learned to discuss travel plans and order popular French delicacies like croissants and wine.
My initial apprehension about maintaining the 60-day streak proved unfounded. Duolingo’s gamified approach transformed language learning into a friendly competition. Learners are grouped into 30-person leagues, where they vie for XP points. The top performers in each league advance to the next level, creating a compelling incentive to consistently engage with the app.
XP points can be earned in various ways, the most fundamental being the completion of lessons. Practicing between 6 a.m. and noon unlocks the "early bird chest," which doubles the XP points earned per lesson for 15 minutes. Additional points can be acquired by practicing mistakes and completing timed challenges.
The competitive element of Duolingo ignited a previously dormant part of my personality. Unexpected XP boosts often motivated me to extend my practice sessions, fueling my desire to ascend to the next league.
Beyond the competitive aspect, Duolingo also fosters engagement through monthly challenges, rewarding learners with exclusive badges for accumulating 1,000 XP. Additional badges are awarded for achieving personal milestones, such as completing lessons flawlessly, practicing on weekends, and mastering 2,000 words in a single course.
The app’s persistent notifications served as gentle reminders to maintain my streak. Even late at night, as I prepared for bed, Duolingo would prompt me to log in and continue practicing. Despite the occasional late-night verb conjugations, I successfully completed the 60-day challenge, feeling increasingly confident about my ability to order "un verre du vin" (a glass of wine).
The French Immersion Test: Burgundy and Beyond
The true test of my Duolingo-acquired knowledge lay in the heart of France. While Paris had been a previous destination, this time I chose to explore the Burgundy region and Lyon, seeking a more authentic and immersive experience. My eight-day itinerary consisted of two days in Burgundy, three days in Lyon, and three days in Paris.
The experience, while rewarding, was often challenging. I firmly believe that travelers should learn essential phrases before venturing into a foreign country. Greetings, expressions of gratitude, and basic inquiries demonstrate respect for the local culture. My past experience in Florence, where a vendor admonished my friend for ordering in English, served as a stark reminder of this principle.
However, putting this belief into practice was not always easy. The comfort of reverting to English, particularly in a country where many people speak it, was a constant temptation.
To truly improve my French, I needed to embrace discomfort.
My first night in Beaune, while ordering dinner, I attempted to utilize the vocabulary I had diligently learned on Duolingo. Phrases like "je voudrais" (I would like) and "il prend" (he’ll have) were fresh in my mind, yet my tongue stumbled over the pronunciation. Speaking to a native French speaker was a far cry from practicing with a cartoon owl. I feared my accent would be unintelligible, and that I would be unable to comprehend their rapid-fire responses.
To my surprise, the server responded in French, correcting my grammar and pronunciation. Unlike my previous experience in Paris, where attempts to speak French were often met with English, I was now compelled to continue the conversation in the local language.
The following day, at a patisserie, I confidently ordered croissants aux amandes, relying on the phrases I had recently mastered. The cashier’s question, "Voudriez-vous la cheque?" momentarily stumped me. Was she asking if I wanted the check? Unsure, I opted for the safest response: "Oui, s’il vous plaît."
In Dijon, I followed the Parcours de la Chouette, the Owl’s Trail, a self-guided walking tour. While no French was required to navigate the trail, it was satisfying to point at the owl plaques and exclaim, "Chouette!"
Over the ensuing days, I experienced both progress and setbacks. There were conversations held entirely in French, but also moments of frustration when my mental energy waned. At the Gallo-Roman Museum in Lyon, I attempted to order tickets in French, only to be met with a question I couldn’t comprehend. Admitting defeat, I mumbled, "Désolée, je ne comprends pas."
In Lyon, and even more so in Paris, people often responded to my attempts at French in English. While this could be disheartening, I understood their intention: to streamline the communication process.
Duolingo had equipped me with the basics, but it hadn’t prepared me for handling complex situations like travel grievances. When I was incorrectly charged for a bottle of wine at my hotel in Beaune, I lacked the vocabulary to contest the bill. In such instances, I had to concede and revert to English.
The Verdict: A Foundation for Future Fluency
My experience in France underscored the value of immersion in language learning. While Duolingo provided a solid foundation, it was the act of engaging with native speakers that truly accelerated my progress.
Even with my prior French education, I would have struggled to navigate the country without the aid of Duolingo. The app enabled me to communicate effectively in airports and train stations, to greet people politely, to purchase tickets, and to order food.
The 60-day streak ensured that the newly learned lessons remained firmly ingrained in my memory, a far more effective approach than cramming vocabulary hours before a flight.
While 60 days was insufficient to achieve fluency, it instilled in me a sense of confidence and respect for the French language and culture. I found that the stereotype of French people looking down on those who don’t speak their language to be largely unfounded. In my experience, genuine efforts to communicate in French were often met with kindness and a willingness to assist.
And yes, even seemingly trivial words like "chouette" can make language learning more enjoyable and memorable.
On New Year’s Eve, my partner remarked that he was surprised by my ability to speak French, a significant improvement from my previous C minus assessment. The 60-day Duolingo streak, coupled with the immersive experience in France, had laid the groundwork for a future journey toward fluency. The Duolingo streak was a success.
