8+ Best and Free Resources to Use Along with Duolingo

Undoubtedly, Duolingo is a perfect choice to learn the language. But is it sufficient to get fluent? No. Although I am a Duolingo fan, it does not hide the fact that it does not make a user fluent in a language alone. It only provides content at an intermediate level. Thus, I had to look for other resources to use along with Duolingo. There are a lot of platforms on the internet. Trust me not all of them are worth it. I wasted a lot of my time to get some of the perfect platforms to use with it.

I really don’t want this to happen to you. Thus, I will share some platforms that I use along with Duolingo. You can also try them to get proficient in a language.

What are the best and most free resources to use along with Duolingo?

Duolingo is a great choice if you are a beginner in a language. But what if you already know it? What to do when you are at the end of the course? A single answer to these questions is using other resources with Duolingo. Thus, below, I have discussed all the best and free resources to use along with Duolingo-

1. YouTube

I don’t think so I need to give any explanation for it. It is the most used platform in the world. It is one such platform that is used for different purposes. Whether you want to learn the language or watch a movie, YouTube is a perfect choice for it. I can actually say that if you use it properly, you will not need to get any other app. Why? Because you can use it to get the podcasts, videos, courses, etc. There is no such thing that you can not get on it.

If you want to improve your writing skills, you can search for videos teaching you how to write it. On the other hand, if you want to improve your pronunciation or reading skills, you can search videos for them, respectively.

2. LingQ

There are many languages like High Valyrian, which have fewer listening and reading exercises on Duolingo. Having lingQ with Duolingo can help you with these two skills. I have used this platform and I was amazed with the results.

Features

• Different comprehension will help to develop your reading and listening exercises.
• It focuses on keeping the person engaged with the lessons.
• You will not get boring comprehension like in textbooks.
• Gives you new articles, podcasts, etc.
• Have gamified approach

LingQ is the platform that helped me to stay motivated by inviting me to read the content that interests me. The best thing I like about this platform is that the words are highlighted, in different colors. Below I have mentioned the colors that you will get when using this platform-

• Blue color which means the word is totally new
• The yellow color which means you have seen the word before but do not know the meaning of them

If there is no color on the words, you know the meaning of the words. An exciting part of this platform is that when you completely know the words, they are known as LingQs. However, there is a limitation of getting them in a single day. You can only get 20 LingQs in a day, which is too little.

3. Spotify

“I don’t think I need to provide much description about this platform. Spotify is a popular platform where you can listen to the music and podcasts of your own choice. But is it only limited to your native language? No. You can choose the songs and podcasts available in the language you are studying.

When you listen to songs or podcasts in your targeted language, it helps to develop listening skills. Of course, it will take some time to develop your listening skills. But, when you listen to it on repeat, it will help you to understand the content easily. Further, when you listen to the song or the podcast, you will not need to put much effort into it. You can start listening for 2-3 minutes and gradually increase the duration.

4. Jumpspeak

One of the most important things, when you are learning a new language, is to communicate with others in that language. With the help of Duolingo, you can easily learn vocabulary. But, I don’t think that all the courses like Japanese or Dutch, have a lot of speaking exercises. To help you with it, I have brought a platform known as Jumpspeak.

Features

• Real-world conversation settings with chatbots
• Practice 24/7 from anywhere you want to.
• You can also get personalized feedback for different aspects of the language.

Although there are features like Duolingo events where you connect with other users, it is hard to attend them every time. Thus, try to use the Jumpspeak platform to get similar kind of settings. Although it is free to use, there are a lot of restrictions to it. I suggest you buy the subscription and cancel it before 100 days. This platform provides a 100-day back guarantee.

5. Reverso

Even after using Duolingo for so long, there is a possibility of forgetting the translations. Want to know in such a situation what will work for you? It is Reverso. I have used it and it works similarly to Google Translate. When you are learning a new language, you will want to know the translation of the language. While using Google Translate, you will see many words with wrong translations. Thus Reverso is the platform that is a step above the Google translator. When you put a word or phrase in it, you get the right meaning. This is because the content on Reverso is much higher than on Google Translate.

Features

• Give right translations
• Helps you to know if the word or a phrase fits in the sentence.
• You will get to know how and when you can use it.

Although there is a tip page on Duolingo, there are words that you may not understand. You can use the Reverso app to get the meanings and conjugator tools. However, there are many features, which are paid. But using the free version always gives you enough words to understand.

6. Udemy

Wondering, why this name is on the list. I know Udemy is a platform where you have to buy a course, but many such courses are free of cost. However, remember, most of the courses will teach you to understand how native speakers talk. You will not be able to practice with them. Although getting free courses will not provide you with any certification, they will surely help you to gain a better understanding.

7. HelloTalk

HelloTalk is the platform that I always look to use with Duolingo. I can find native speakers easily on this platform. Here, you will set up a profile by adding the personal data. Here, you will get a person who wants to learn your native language and vice versa. The reason, I love this platform is that I can send messages, GIFs, memes, etc., to other people on this platform.

Features

• Connect with native speakers
• Two inbuilt features – Translations and auto-corrections
• Develop your speaking skills
• Free to use

Just like every free platform, there are some restrictions on this platform with the free version of it. If you are using it freely, there are limited translations. To get unlimited translations, you will have to take the subscription plan.

8. Drops

Drops is an app that helps you to learn the language differently. I am sure you must have heard this name in the world of language learning. But do you know why it is so popular? It is because the app helps you to learn with the help of a 5-mins sprint. Thus, you will have a single session for 5 minutes. The limitation of this app is done intentionally because the user will be able to remain fully focused. It will eventually improve the memorization of the user.

Features

• Only use for 5 minutes
• Improve memorization
• Visual learning
• Having fun activities

The feature that I enjoy is Visual learning. You will get images to understand the meanings of the words. There are a lot of fun games that you will enjoy. In addition to that, you will also enjoy creating illustrations, etc. When you complete the course, you will find the progress at the end of each day.

Important: If you want to use it for more than 5 minutes a day, take the subscription plan.

9. TripLingo

Triplingo is not a specific language learning platform, designed for international travellers. As I love to learn a new language, I always look at the culture of its area. This was the platform that worked for me. If you are also interested in learning about the culture, you must use it.

Features

• Voice translators
• Phrasebook
• Cultural knowledge

So, if you are traveling to another country with a different native language, you can always choose this platform. But remember it does not add content to your journey.

10. Tandem

It is another platform that helped me to practice the language with other native speakers. In short, it works similarly to Hello Talk. I got a free language exchange partner with whom I can talk daily. To use it, I will again have to add the details required. When done, there was a list of people to choose from. What I like about this platform is that I can send requests to multiple people simultaneously. It helped me to choose a partner according to my needs.

Features

• Connect with native speakers
• Develop your communication skills
• Two inbuilt features – Translations and auto-corrections
• Free to use

Again there is a restriction on the number of translations with its free version.

11. Blogs from polyglots

Polyglots are people who are specialized in more than 2 different languages. Being a language learner freak, I always look at their blogs or videos. Want to know why? It is because it helped me to overcome the times that were the most difficult ones. You can get a lot of information from these people.

There are people like Steve Kaufmann, who can speak up to 20 languages. Shocked? Wait, there is another one waiting for you. He is also the founder of LingQ. Yes, you read it right, he is a founder as well. So, think how much you can learn from such a great personality.

Further, there is Alexander Sabino Argüelles, who can speak 10 languages fluently. You can get a lot from his videos and talks from the YouTube channel and blog posts. Many other famous polyglots can help you know the basic rules and regulations of the different languages. Below I have mentioned some Polyglots that can help you learn the language-

• Natalie Portman – 5 languages
• Luca Lampariello – 15 languages
• Alex Rawlings – 11 languages
• Richard Simcott – 16 languages
• Benny Lewis – 20 languages

12. Memrise

Memrise is a platform free to download with a list of 100 languages to choose from. Again it is like Duolingo as it will help you to learn a language in the game style. One of the weirdest features of this platform is that you will be taught the language in a way that you are working as an undercover agent. It’s like a game that I really enjoy. You will act like the agent visiting the other nation of your targeted language. The videos on this platform are better than Duolingo’s introductory levels.

Features

• Videos on an advanced level
• Gamified approach
• Videos with conversations between two native speakers

Just like you can watch Duolingo offline, you can also watch the content on Memrise offline. But you will need to buy the premium version of it.

Platforms that are paid but give you free features

Although I have discussed the platforms that are free to use, there are still some paid platforms that have something free to offer. Many good platforms are Subscription-based but offer free trials. Below I have mentioned some of them-

• Pimsleur – Helps to remember vocabulary easily (7-day free trial period)
• Rype – Allows 1 on 1 private call with the native speakers (7-day free trial period)
• Rosetta Stone – Provides live classes, phrasebook, and audios (3-day free trial period)
• Lingvist – Remember vocabulary with spaced repetition method (7-day or 14-day free trial period depending upon the subscription plan)

Although you can use the above platforms till their free trial period, remember to add your card details to the account. Don’t worry, your money is saved till the trial period ends. Thus, cancel the subscription before it ends. On the other hand, some platforms do not have free trials but still offer some features freely. Two of my favorite are-

iTalki – It is a platform where you can get online tutors to teach you. You have to give the fees based on different factors. However, it also offers some free features like community groups and language exchange partner programs. Both these features can help you develop your knowledge.

Babbel – Babbel is a platform that helps you learn the language with audio lessons and live classes. Although you have to take the subscription plan, the first lesson of each course is free.

Conclusion

Although Duolingo is always my first choice to learn a new language, there is no doubt that it never made me fluent in the language. Thus, I always look for other resources to use along with Duolingo. Of course, it took a lot of time to find them. But thankfully, I was able to do that. I don’t want you to go through this hurdle. Therefore, I’ve added the platforms that I always look for in the guide above. If you still have some doubts or want me to make a guide on any of the platforms, feel free to ask in the comment sections.