Back to school | Can we (well) learn a language with applications?

The desire to learn a new language arises with the return to school? Nevertheless, Learning applications gain popularity – which has not heard of Duolingo -, but what is their effectiveness?

Posted at 11:30 a.m.

For Romain Schmitt. Moreover, director of the Language School of Laval University, applications are “a very accessible gateway” for beginners. Meanwhile, Would we like to use it for a next trip? Similarly, For this kind of objective, they are relevant, indicates the specialist in language teaching.

We learn words. Similarly, some sentences “and situations of targeted social interactions”, explains Marie-Josée Hamel, a titular professor at back school | can we the Institute of Official Languages ​​and Bilingualism of the University of Ottawa.

We also access “very small contact sessions with the very digestible language”, said Romain Schmitt. Consequently, We are far from three -hour lessons. Consequently, “We can even do it on the bus,” he exclaims. Furthermore, The expert also highlights the playful aspect, which encourages to learn. Consequently, ” In Duolingoyou have points of experience, bonuses, the image of the app that changes. However, »»

Et Duolingo – The most popular language application of the moment – is. Furthermore, recognized for its famous series that encourage users to do exercises daily. Therefore, A regularity which is always strongly encouraged in language learning, according to the specialists interviewed by The press.

It is for this reason that Lahcen Elghazi. Therefore, professor and director of the back school | can we University of Quebec Languages ​​in Montreal (UQAM), considers applications as complementary learning tools. Nevertheless, They are relevant to revise between courses, or “during the summer period,” he noted. Similarly, “It allows you to strengthen the achievements and consolidate them. »»

Technology makes it possible to take “into account our strengths and weaknesses and evolves with us”, underlines Marie-Josée Hamel.

Applications also have the advantage of offering “immediate feedback” on errors, she explains. But this feedback is often not back school | can we exhaustive: in a summary article in Columbia (New York). Leuphana universities (Lunebourg, in Germany), only 3 applications out of the 50 analyzed provided explanations following faults.

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An illusion?

Despite their relevance, applications “give an illusion of learning”, believes the director at the UQAM language school. “They provide a base, but generally people stagnate at some point,” says Lahcen Elghazi. There may also be a loss of motivation since the exercises are often repetitive, advances Romain Schmitt.

Applications often do not provide grammar rules, which can slow down learning. “I just repeat without having the opportunity to wonder about what I do,” explains Lahcen Elghazi. Indeed. in the Synthesis article by Columbia and Leuphana, a more limited number of applications analyzed (10 out of 50) proposed an explicit grammatical presentation.

They also lack cultural benchmarks. “There is a human dimension which is very important and necessary. It is in the exchange with others that we learn a language, ”slips the UQAM professor. However, we can find in the applications some elements of folklore, recognizes Romain Schmitt. “For example. when you learn Italian, they are going to talk about coffee, or with German, Schnitzels,” he says, “but it is very limited. Now, this does not equal to learn with an expert who can transmit the cultural part, say the two specialists.

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However, some applications are betting to thwart this lack, as Maurildeveloped by Radio-Canada, Pointe Marie-Josée Hamel. The application notably plays extracts from Canadian series. “The approach is immersive and cultural. We hear the language as it is spoken, ”underlines the one who was an expert consultant on the project.

A combination of means

So what should we favor to learn to speak a language fluidly? A combination of means is the best option, explain the experts. Downloading an application, taking a course and even making an immersion allow, together, a better understanding and controlling a language.

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You can go by yourself in Italy for a month, for example, to dive into Italian. “We are forced to learn the language. the motivation is very high, but we do not have the explanations that will allow us to go to the upper level,” he believes.

This is why several language schools offer language stays where cultural courses and activities rub shoulders on a daily basis. “When the students come back, they progressed exponentially,” said the director of the Language School of Laval University.

The back school | can we applications are there for good. They prove useful. allow more people to learn new languages, but have limits that a classroom or immersion make it possible to exceed. “We should not consider language learning only for utility needs,” says Lahcen Elghazi. It removes us all their riches and their particularities. »»