Duolingo Max: A Paid Subscription to Learn a Language Using ChatGPT AI (Worth It?)

The integration of AI in language learning apps could be game-changing.

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I’ve been using Duolingo for many months to learn Spanish and German and I have to say that it’s been pretty effective. I love the gamified approach of the platform, the variety of languages it offers, and the fact that it’s free!

However, I always thought Duolingo had some room for improvement.

When I heard that GPT-4 is powering its paid subscription, Duolingo Max, I wanted to see whether Duolingo’s weak points were reinforced and whether Duolingo is using AI tech to revolutionize language learning.

Here’s what I found.

The Problem with Duolingo and Why We Needed Duolingo Max

I think that one of the biggest problems Duolingo has is the lack of speaking practice. Duolingo focuses a lot on vocabulary and grammar but doesn’t provide opportunities to practice your speaking skills.

Also, I’ve noticed that Duolingo is better suited for beginners and intermediate learners, as it tends to repeat grammar and vocabulary exercises without moving on to more advanced topics.

In the image below, Duolingo is asking me to translate a sentence from German to Russian. However, it’s way too easy for me. The material is at the A1 level, but I’m already at the B1 level.

Screenshot by the author

I’ve tried to move on to more challenging topics several times, but it seems that Duolingo doesn’t have much material for higher levels.

Overall, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the release of Duolingo Max, as I was excited to see how they’re implementing AI tech to enhance the language learning experience.

Let’s see everything Duolingo Max offers and whether it’s worth the money.