Duolingo’s new learning path update: honest in-depth review (and what’s changed?)

How will it feel when you see the platform that you have used for so long has changed? Disappointed. I also felt the same when I found that Duolingo has changed its course structure. If you are a Duolingo lover like me, you must have seen that the platform has updated itself. The old Duolingo tree has changed to a new learning path. Now the question is what are the changes in Duolingo’s new learning path? I have noticed some significant changes while using it. I will explain major changes here to help you understand the learning path.

What is Duolingo’s new learning path?

Duolingo’s learning path is where you will learn a different language like Japanese and Italian by following a particular way. It removes the guesswork that was earlier in the Duolingo tree. I believe it is one of the good things that happened in Duolingo. All the lessons, exercises, and courses are similar to the old version. To take these lessons, you must have hearts or life. The only difference between them is they are arranged perfectly to learn the language from a beginner to an intermediate level. However, according to some of the users, they are not getting this path on the platform.

Update: Now every user of this platform has received Duolingo’s new learning path.

Why did Duolingo introduce the new learning path?

According to the CEO of Duolingo Luis von Ahn, there were only two reasons why they introduced Duolingo’s new learning path-

Reason One

The first reason was that with the old Duolingo tree, there was a lot of confusion on the platform. In the old tree system, you unlock a new skill, once you have completed the previous one. When I was on Duolingo tree, there was always a big confusion about whether I should do it or not. I think many of the other users also have the same confusion.

It also created a doubt about when to go to the next lesson. Not only this but the crown system was also very confusing. In this system, you will have to give the maximum to a lesson to get the crown on it. Thus, it will confuse you on when to move on to the new lesson.

Reason 2

The other goal of introducing the new learning path was to focus on the main learning outcome. With the old version, most of the users focus on earning crowns. To make them focus on the ultimate goal they removed the old version. Duolingo has also added a lot of more interesting games that will help you learn the concepts.

Many users have unlocked a lot of new lessons. Due to this, they were disappointed. On the other hand, new users were quite ok with such a loss.

How is Duolingo’s new learning path different from the old tree?

Following are the different aspects that you will be getting with the Duolingo new learning path-

1. The approach of the new path

The new path helps to follow a specific approach compared to the more relaxed tree. In the new learning path, when you move on to the next lesson, you will get to revise the content you read so far. It refreshes the content that you have gone through in the lessons. On the other hand, in the previous approach, you can go back to the lessons whenever you want to. There were no revisions and you have to open the old lesson by yourself to revise the content. 

2. The new level system

Earlier there were crowns and skills, which have been replaced with new levels of systems. These levels are like a step that you take towards your language learning journey. When I completed the level, it turned into a golden color. It helped me move on to the next option. Rather than completing 5 crown levels, there will be different levels throughout the learning path. 

3. Legendary levels 

Legendary levels are now known as legendary trophies which you will take up when you complete the entire unit. To take these levels you will have to spend 100 gems. Further, you are only allowed to make three mistakes in a test. Once you make mistakes on the test, you will have to retake them. Earlier, you were not allowed to make mistakes in legendary levels.

4. Units are small

Earlier there were long units that were also not in proper order. However, with time these units are now small and are arranged properly. There is also an option for a Guide book which was the earlier tips view section.

5. More practice

Earlier the practice hub was only available for Duolingo Plus members. You were only able to practice your mistakes and the old content. But now, you can practice your mistakes. However, some of the stuff you get on the practice hub is still unavailable for free users.

6. Revising the previous content

One of the greatest advantages of the new learning path is to get previous lessons and revise the content. Whereas in the earlier system, it was difficult to return to previous lessons.

7. Stories

If you have taken a course like Spanish, you will see the option of stories to develop listening, speaking, and writing skills. These stories are now part of the lessons. Earlier, it was available on different tabs. 

Can Duolongo bring back the earlier format?

Although there is no proper statement, there are no such chances to get the earlier system back. It is because it takes a lot of time to get this update. Also, with the help of the current Duolingo learning path, you know which lesson to take first. However as it is in A/B testing, it suggests that the team wants to test more with this model, to know if it suits the users.

Update: It is out of A/B testing and is available for all users.

Is Duolingo’s new learning path worthwhile?

Duolingo’s new learning path is much clearer than the earlier tree. There is not a lot of difference between both of them. The ways all the lessons, units, and levels are created are the same. The only difference when you take up a course is the arrangement of units. Now, it helps to get knowledge from the basic to intermediate level in a more organized manner. Further, I have mentioned the benefits and drawbacks of Duolingo’s new learning path to help you understand if it is worth it for you or not. 

What are the benefits of Duolingo’s new learning path?

Duolingo is one such platform that keeps updating the platform. One, such big update you will get on this platform is Duolingo’s new learning path. Before using it, you must know the advantages of it. Thus, the following are the advantages of the new learning path-

1. The structure is clear

Duolingo’s new learning path is much clearer than the earlier tree. With Duolingo Tree, I was always confused about which lesson to go on next. The units in the course were not so clear and organized. However, with the current path, the confusion about it is removed and you have to follow a particular way of completing different levels.

2. Revision of previous content 

As I mentioned above, it helps to revise the content that you have already gone through. So if you have any confusion in the previous lessons, you can revise them. If you have learned a new word in a previous lesson, it will repeat in your future lessons again and again.

3. Passive learning

Passive learning is a way of getting the content from the platform and testing it at different points in time. The biggest passive learning part of the Duolingo course is the stories. Earlier these stories were an optional part of Duolingo. However, currently, they are a necessary part of the course. They have made these stories shorter in duration so that you can easily complete them.

4. Units are arranged in a proper manner

In the earlier method, the units on the platform were not following a particular way. You can open any unit any time you want to. However, with the current path, these units are arranged in a specific manner. Every unit in the course is related to a specific topic. When you will complete the unit, you will unlock the legendary trophy.

5. Best for beginners

Being a beginner you must start from the very basics of the language. Duolingo’s new learning path is the one that will help you to learn the content from the basics of the languages. Whereas in the earlier tree, you were not sure which is the basic lesson. As there was no clarification in the way of taking the lessons, it was hard for the user to learn the language.

What are the drawbacks of Duolingo’s new learning path?

The following are the disadvantages of the new learning path-

1. Too restrictive

Earlier you were able to take whatever lesson you wanted to. However, in the current learning path, you can not take the lesson of your choice. You have to follow a specific direction. Thus, even if you know the basics of the lesson, you will still have to start from the start. However, you can skip a whole unit by taking up a test.

2. Very tough for the old users

Users who have been using Duolingo for the long term, have a habit of using the earlier version of Duolingo. As I am an old Duolingo user, I know what it feels like. Having a fully new version makes it difficult for users to follow the new path. The structure is fully changed which resulted in a lot of confusion.

3. Not easy to go back

If you have covered the course so far, you can not go back to the previous lesson of the course. It means that if you want to revise the content, you have to wait until they come into the lessons again. You will have a practice option on the platform which will help you to practice the mistakes. 

4. Stories are not in their tab

Earlier there was a separate tab for the stories. As the stories have moved into the units, there is no separate tab for stories. However, it is difficult to locate stories for French or Spanish in the units, which were earlier easy to locate.

5. Many users do not have it

As Duolingo’s new learning path is the latest update on the platform, it is in the testing process. Thus many users are having it and others are not having it. However, it is not a big problem as there are very few people who do not have this version. Further, it has also made it difficult to earn the XPs. Thus, many of the users try using boosters to earn more XP points.

Update: It is out of A/B testing and is currently available for all the users.

What are the options that Duolingo can add along with the new learning path?

Following are the features that Duolingo should think of adding along with the new learning path-

• The users must have the option of choosing between both versions. As I am an old user, I was really looking for this option.
• Duolingo is a platform that is known for the different activities it has. They must try to include many more activities to get more XP points. If you are only playing a game in a day, it will help you to increase your streak score.
• As the stories have shifted in the units, it is difficult to locate them. Thus putting them back in their own tabs is a better option.
• When you learn a new language the chances of making mistakes are high. Thus including an option for more practice can help you reach the ultimate goal.

What happened to the previous progress in the new learning path?

As the new path is updated, users are confused about what has happened to the progress. Thus, below I have discussed how the progress was saved for different things-

1. Stories

The stories are added to the units themselves. You will get some stories that you have already completed in the lessons. Yes, it may be boring, but remember more practice means more perfection.

2. Legendary

When I got to know about the new learning path, I noticed that if 50% of the levels in the unit are of the skill which was earlier at legendary level, the whole unit was legendary for me.

3. Lessons

As I had some incomplete skill levels, I was placed in a spot that was earlier on the path. I was given the time to complete it. After that, I was placed in a position after the lessons I had completed earlier.

Conclusion

If you are an old user of Duolingo, you must have noticed that it has been changed to Duolingo’s new learning path. With this path, most of the features have changed. The crown system is gone and the skills have become levels on it. Also, the legendary levels have become legendary trophies. As an old Duolingo user, I was really disappointed. I wanted to get the old Duolingo tree.

It was because I was unsure about the progress I made so far. But after noticing the changes, I get to know they have saved my progress for the lessons and the legendary levels. However, unfortunately, there was no such thing as stories. I have to work on some of them, which were earlier completed.