Introduction

Vocabulary learning Apps : Duolingo, Deutsche Welle (DW), and Babbel

User: An English speaker who would like to learn German

Operating System: android phone

Vocabulary Learning Apps

DEUTESCHE WELLEDUOLINGO BABBEL

Duolingo Pros

• The app loads very fast and reduces waiting

time for the user which would otherwise make

the user impatient

• On the first page its is clear that the app use is

free forever this makes it attractive for people

looking for a free vocabulary app

• Enables the user to choose how long they

intend to stay on the app by setting a goal.

• Provides a wide range of languages a user can

learn and you can learn more than one

language at the same time

• Provides flexibility to the user to be able to use

the app substantially even without having to

sign up

Duolingo Pros

• As the app sets up the course a message appears

on the screen managing the user’s expectations

that the course is being set up “Sit tight, we’re

setting up the German course for you”

• The app keeps encouraging the user that they are

doing great which in my view is a good motivating

factor for any task.

• Use of voice in the app to read the vocabulary

helps the learner grasp the correct pronunciation

from the get go.

• Makes the user get invested in using the app then

requests for the user to sign up before moving to

the next step but still gives an option for the user to

keep using the app until later if they wish

Duolingo Cons

• The Duolingo plus is expensive for an

average student to afford a monthly

subscription

• Much as the dark mode helps reduce the

effects on the eye, it is a struggle to remove it

and revert to the white mode causing the user

to spend a lot of time which might lead to

uninstalling the app if they don’t like the dark

mode. I would make it flexible for the user to

switch back and forth unless of course the

aim it to migrate all users to the dark mode

• Ads on the free version makes the app a little

bit annoying but it is understandable that one

can pay to get rid of them.

My thoughts

• The app in my view is successful since it has a intuitive user interface and experience

and motivating features that encourages the user to keep going until the next

milestone. I would use this app if it had something like a story tied to it that makes me

want to find out what happens next.

• The app makes learning a new language very easy since it uses the a mix of voice,

pictures to present a word making it easier to learn, memorise and retain

• The app is context based and allows the user to learn a language based on a particular

context and or setting enabling the user to learn a word or phrase that they can use in

an actual setting.

Deutsche Welle Pros

• Provides flexibility to the user to be able to

use the app substantially even without

having to sign up

• Made to cater to the needs of a pro to an

absolute beginner

• Provides an option for a user to take a

placement test if unsure of where they

need to begin

• Provides a context or setting based

learning where one learns words they can

use in an actual real world situation

• Sets out the short and clear learning

objectives in advance for every level

Deutsche Welle Pros

• Uses voice as well as video to help the

learner get the correct pronunciation

• Learning is repetitive to help the user grasp

the knowledge and retain it.

• The learning content is designed in form of a

story for the learner to follow easily

• The app is designed to keep encouraging

the user to keep at it with congratulatory

message after every successful

achievement.

Deutsche Welle Cons

• The App is purely meant to learn German and

not any other language. This might be

disappointing for user who liked it for learning

German and would now like to use it to learn

another language.

My thoughts

• The app uses the story of Nico, a young Spanish man who travels to Germany for the first time without any prior German knowledge and in the process runs in trouble. Many people would relate with Nico’s story and would like to know what happens to Nico next and as a result keep learning. In my view this makes the app successful and I would use it again.

• Its user interface and experience are both great since the app has motivating features that encourages the user to keep going until the next milestone.

• The app is context based and allows the user to learn a language based on a particular context and or setting enabling the user to learn a word or phrase that they can use in an actual setting.

Babbel Pros

• Enables the user to choose how long they

intend to stay on the app per day by setting a

goal.

• Provides a wide range of languages a user

can learn and you can learn more than one

language at the same time translating clearly

from a language a user speaks e.g. I speak

English and I want to learn German

• Provides flexibility to the user to be able to

use the app substantially even without

having to sign up

Babbel Pros

• The app keeps encouraging the user

that they are doing great which in my

view is a good motivating factor for any

task.

• Enables the user to take a placement

test to understand what level to start

learning from

• Establishes user’s motivation to

determine what set of vocabularies to

teach the user for immediate use

Babbel Cons

• The app shows the pricing to the user from

the get go which might put the user off even

before using the app

• The app ask the user of their age at the

beginning which makes the user wonder what

that has got to do with learning the language

and may put them off.

• The app locks some features and needs

payment to unlock them from the beginning

much as it allows some features for the user

to get acquainted with.

My thoughts

• Its user interface great while the experience is not very good since the app

does not provide more options for the user.

• The app is context based and allows the user to learn a language based on

a particular context and or setting enabling the user to learn a word or

phrase that they can use in an actual setting.

• The app is expensive and might put the user off given the cost.

• I think the app is not successful as it puts the user of with the request to

pay and sign up at the beginning.