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LANGUAGE LEARNING APPS like Duolingo are useful, but they have their limits. They're ideal for getting started with a new language, beefing up vocabulary, practicing skills, and even having fun playing the built-in games.
If they're the only thing you use to learn a language and your goal is to become fluent, however, they aren't efficient at all. To reach a conversational level or better, you need to sign up for classes, private tutoring sessions, or both. You can do so from the comfort of your home at a very decent price.
I've been reviewing language learning software and services since 2012 and have studied languages at the Foreign Service Institute (where ambassadors and diplomats learn), as well as universities, community college, grade school, and with private tutors. While I don't have a background in pedagogy or linguistics, I can say from my own experiences and from watching others learn that the most effective language learning happens when you put several hours per week into small classes with fewer than six students, one-on-one tutoring, or a combination of both.
