Tutor on Duolingo Polish: Is it Worth Your Time & Effort?

When it comes to learning Polish, Duolingo has become a popular choice. With its user-friendly interface, free plan, and gamified approach, it may be hard to refrain from choosing it as the language resource to study the Polish language. However, one crucial aspect of any Polish language training is the quality of its teaching.

Is Duolingo Polish worth it? 

In this article, we will review Duolingo Polish and determine whether it is truly worth your time and effort.

Evaluating the Teaching Methods on Duolingo Polish 

When you open the Duolingo app, the first screen you will get will be a random word quiz with the Polish word “dziewczynka”, which means “a girl”. At this point, if you know zero Polish, even though you are given the pronunciation audio, you would be already confused, as they don’t show you how to read it. 

How would you read the word “dziewczynka”? 

Probably “dee-vee-ech-ZINK-uh” or “dee-vee-ech-YINK-uh”.

Well, not quite. 

Polish has specific letter combinations like “dz” and “cz” which you won’t know unless you learned the alphabet prior to starting with the app. 

A correct way would be to read this word as something like “jeh-vch-INK-uh”. 

That’s because:

dzi → makes a ‘dgy’ English sound

cz → makes a ‘ch’ English sound

w → makes a ‘v’ English sound

Y → short ‘i’ English sound

So assuming you don’t know the Polish alphabet, the app would have given you a word that you can’t read and you would have to select its translation. 

Well, learning Polish on Duolingo is based on algorithms and pre-programmed responses to evaluate progress and provide feedback. While this automated system offers immediate feedback, it lacks the personalized guidance and tailored explanations that Polish students often need. Like with the alphabet mentioned a few lines ago, for example. 

Without the presence of the teacher, opportunities for interactive practice and conversational skill development are limited. This can restrict the development of fluency and real-life communication, which are vital for language proficiency.

Pros and Cons Duolingo Polish vs “Learn Polish with Weronika”

In the table below, we compare the features and benefits of the Learn Polish with Weronika courses with learning with the free Duolingo app. In the end, the choice and the investment will depend on what you want to achieve.

Study Polish Vocabulary

To learn Polish, it’s crucial to learn a lot of vocabulary. Especially if you learn from the very beginning. Duolingo will show you Polish vocabulary randomly; it won’t show you all the vocabulary that you have to know on specific academic levels, like A1 or A2. The app will make you create sentences, which sometimes don’t make any sense. My personal favorites are below.

In comparison, the Zero to Hero Polish language course has 30 different vocabulary topics to guide you step-by-step from 0 to the full A1 level (beginner), and Zero to Mastery from 0 to the B1 level (intermediate). 

Similarly to Duolingo, we learn vocabulary in sentences, as this vastly improves memorization, but we also have them recorded as an audio file. 

Learn Polish through Interactive Quizzes, Games, and Exercises vs Lessons

When it comes to learning Polish, Duolingo mainly uses quizzes and exercises where you choose from multiple-choice options or in-app drag-and-drop words. However, they don’t have recorded lessons, so it’s hard to get a detailed explanation of complex language structures. It is more of a “memorization” approach than a proper understanding of the structures. 

In our Polish courses, we take a different approach. We have recorded lessons that guide you step-by-step through the learning process. We believe it’s important to explain things in a clear and detailed way, especially when it comes to complex Polish language rules. Our lessons break down the language into smaller parts, making it easier to understand.

Both Duolingo and our courses use drag-and-drop exercises and quizzes to practice what you’ve learned. However, our courses also include additional review activities to help you reinforce your knowledge. We want to give you a well-rounded learning experience that covers all aspects of the language.

Audio recordings

One amazing feature our students love is the ability to download audio files, something you won’t find on Duolingo. During lessons, you’ll build sentences with our tutor, and then you can download them as audio files. 

Listen to them in the car, while doing chores, or anytime you want to learn Polish by just listening. To remember words better, you need frequent revisions and constant exposure to the language. That’s when the audio sentences become super useful and give you a big advantage.

Learn Polish Grammar

When it comes to grammar, Duolingo falls short of providing a comprehensive approach. 

The platform tends to minimize grammar teaching, leaving learners without a strong foundation in the language’s structural rules. In contrast, our Polish course prioritizes practical grammar learning, enabling you to become fluent and achieve any academic level (A1 Polish, A2 Polish, or B1 Polish) faster.

In our courses, we understand that grammar is a vital component of language proficiency. 

However, we don’t believe in mindless memorization of tables and rules. Instead, we provide various cheat sheets and guides that present grammar concepts in a practical and easily understandable way. 

By focusing on practical applications and real-life examples, you’ll grasp grammar rules intuitively and apply them effortlessly in your conversations.

Rather than randomly memorizing grammar tables, we emphasize learning grammar in context. This approach allows you to see how grammar functions in everyday speech, enabling you to apply the rules naturally. By understanding the practical usage of grammar, you’ll develop a solid foundation that supports your fluency and communication skills.

Receive Feedback from the Polish tutor

Receiving proper feedback is crucial to your progress, and here Duolingo fails to provide a human touch. The platform relies solely on automated exercises, lacking a personal approach. 

In contrast, our Polish course offers the invaluable advantage of a dedicated tutor who manually checks your voice notes, recordings, and written exercises. 

This personalized feedback ensures that you receive tailored guidance, enhancing your language learning experience and facilitating your journey toward proficiency.

Learn Polish through Movies and Series

Learning a language goes beyond textbooks and exercises, and that’s where our Polish courses stand out. We recognize the importance of real-life conversations and cultural exposure in mastering a language. That’s why our course offers curated cuts of Polish movies and series, accompanied by English subtitles. By watching these authentic materials, you’ll be able to learn Polish in the context of natural dialogues, expressions, and cultural nuances.

Unlike Duolingo, which primarily focuses on vocabulary exercises, our course allows you to witness the language in action. You’ll be able to observe native speakers conversing, picking up on their intonation, gestures, and colloquial phrases. This immersive approach helps you develop a more intuitive understanding of the language and enhances your listening comprehension skills.

Learning through movies and series not only makes your language-learning journey more engaging but also provides insight into Polish culture and customs. You’ll gain exposure to different accents, regional dialects, and a variety of situations, making your language skills more versatile and applicable to real-life scenarios.

Polish Language Course Certificate

Unlike Duolingo Polish, our Polish language courses offer a valuable feature that many learners seek: a certificate of completion. With our course, you’ll receive a certificate that showcases your achievement in learning Polish. 

This certificate can be shared on professional platforms like LinkedIn, allowing you to highlight your language skills and dedication. Stand out from the crowd and demonstrate your commitment to mastering Polish with our certificate of completion.

Voice Recording Feature

While Duolingo offers a voice recording feature, the feedback you receive is solely based on machine analysis. 

In our Polish course, we take it a step further by providing personalized feedback from a dedicated tutor. When you record your voice, our tutor manually checks and evaluates your pronunciation, intonation, and fluency, offering tailored feedback to help you improve. 

This personalized approach ensures that you receive individual attention and guidance, allowing you to refine your speaking skills and develop a more authentic Polish accent.

Conclusion

If you want to become fluent in Polish, relying solely on Duolingo may not be enough. While Duolingo is a good starting point or supplement, investing in our “Zero to Hero” or “Zero to Mastery” Polish language courses is highly recommended for serious learners.

Duolingo can be helpful, but it doesn’t provide a step-by-step approach (especially in terms of grammar) or immerse you in the language and culture through listening. To truly learn a language, it’s important to listen and revise as much as possible.

By investing in our courses, you’ll follow a step-by-step path to learning Polish. You’ll also have the chance to listen to real-life examples and improve your listening skills. 

If you’re committed to becoming fluent in Polish and want to make the most of your time, we recommend the “Learn Polish: Zero to Mastery” program, as it will show you 3 academic levels in one single course.

If your goal is to become conversational, we recommend “Learn Polish: From Zero to Hero” as a starter.

If you already know some Polish, if you are a beginner who finished A1 Polish in a language school you can also continue your learning with us by joining “Learn Polish: From Hero to Mastery”

Don’t limit yourself to scattered learning. Invest in a Polish language course that provides structured lessons, revisions, games, and ample listening practice to help you reach your language goals faster than a free app ever could.