Can’t choose which one is a better language-learning option for you?
The question is interesting to me because when I researched, it seemed everyone liked Babel more. But when I actually tried the apps, I loved DuoLingo soooooo much better. I’ve used DuoLingo consistently for over a year now whereas Babel was annoying and I quit within the first 5 minutes.
Ultimately, I think it comes down to one main distinction.
Are you a VISUAL or AUDITORY learner?
Choose DuoLingo if you’re a visual learner, choose Babel if you’re an auditory learner.
I think this was the easiest and best distinction for me. I’m a visual learner by far. So DuoLingo fits me personally. Lots of clear colors, images, diagrams showing relationships between words. My eyes need to see the structures of how letters, words, and sentences fit together…basically, I have to “SEE” in order to hear or understand when speaking. And if I can’t “see” what people are saying (as in I don’t know what it looks like), I can’t “hear” them. It just sounds like a random mouth sound that doesn’t register as human language to me.
Babel doesn’t spend any time on basic structure from the smallest pieces to more complicated pieces. It just throws you right into conversation and has you repeating sentences and phrases. Somewhere in there (I suppose), your ear learns to distinguish what means what and how different things can be switched in and out. I guess this method is great for someone who learns by just listening…or learns by just doing, and doesn’t need to be taught/briefed beforehand.
Realistically speaking, I think if you’re looking for a language app…then you’re probably already a visual learner. Because otherwise, you’d be watching/listening language lessons on YouTube.
As a whole, I’d say DuoLingo is easy the superior app with more comprehensive learning tools. Babel is a one-trick gimmick app that may or may not fit your learning style. Regardless, you can try both and know which one is better within 10-15 minutes.
Some tips for DuoLingo:
- Pay for it. The paid version is awesome. No ads, and also you get to skip through easy lessons by testing your way through them.
- Other language app I liked are Clozemaster.
- You can also listen to YouTube language lessons as well when working out or walking around town. Let all that Spanish soak into you subconsciously.
How to find out if you’re a visual or auditory person.
If you tend to look up or down when thinking, you’re probably a visual thinker as that behavior helps the person find an empty non-distracting space with their eyes…in order to think with their mind.
If you tend to turn your head when thinking, you’re probably an auditory thinker as that behavior helps them listen or process information through the ears, and sequentially from one side to the other.