Duolingo for a foreign language

[nogoodnamesleft]

I used to use Duolingo (free) to help learn Spanish but didn't like the "gamification" so eventually started subscribing (paid) to Babel which I find much better.

 

[matticus]

I used to use Duolingo (free) to help learn Spanish but didn't like the "gamification" so eventually started subscribing (paid) to Babel which I find much better.

How would you say Babel is better *OR* how does it do things differently?
[I should say that with Duolingo I almost ignore all the levels/congratulation/have-some-XPs! nonsense - I just treat them like overly-decorative "Continue" buttons!]

Duolingo is the only website/app I've ever used [yes I used it before there was an app!!! ]

EDIT: is this Babbel we're talking about ?!?

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

How would you say Babel is better *OR* how does it do things differently?
[I should say that with Duolingo I almost ignore all the levels/congratulation/have-some-XPs! nonsense - I just treat them like overly-decorative "Continue" buttons!]

Duolingo is the only website/app I've ever used [yes I used it before there was an app!!! ]

EDIT: is this Babbel we're talking about ?!?

Yes: I can't spell, it is Babbel.

I switched some time ago so maybe Duolingo has changed (maybe not).
I found Duolingo a bit like a video game eg in a lesson you make mistakes and you lose points and the number of try agains you can do is based on points from doing something else (or paying). Bit childish with pointless animations. They seem to try and motivate you with all sorts of "ratings" where for me my motivation is to learn the language not accumulate points/scores/etc.

Babbel is does have a few score type motivations but not so prominent and not so many and you can mostly disable them. Only one I've noticed is "Streaks" but it's not very prominent and you can largely disable them. You can set your weekly "target" if you are so inclined for motivation.

Generally I find the focus is more on the language and less on the gamey aspects.

I only used Duolingo) and use (Babbel) the app.

But I was using the free Duolingo so I'm comparing it with the paid for Babbel (unsure if Babbel does a free version).

Can't remember voice recognition on Duolingo but on Babel when you revise/practice/review you can opt for speaking and the app does voice recognition but I don't find it particularly helpful as voice recognition is generally as tolerant as possible to work out what you are saying and thus it if probably far too tolerant of very poor pronunciation.