Available in over 30 languages, Duolingo is one of the most popular free language-learning apps around. Users get access to thousands of words through it, making it a great introduction to learning a new language.
But in your language-learning journey, you’ll eventually get to the point where you’ve finished the Duolingo tree. Some courses are longer than others, but there is always an end-point to reach.
So, what should you do once you’ve completed the final lesson and unlocked everything? Is it time to delete the app and let all of your progress go to waste?
No. Here are 10 ways you can keep using Duolingo to learn—even if you’ve completed the tree.
1. Practice Without Peeking
When practicing, Duolingo will give you translation tips and hints. And while these are helpful for beginners, more seasoned learners might want to consider challenging themselves a bit harder.
You can improve your memory by practicing courses again but not looking at the tips. To do this, go into any course and start the lesson. When filling out your answers, simply don’t hover your mouse over or click the foreign language’s text.
2. Do Hard Practice Sessions
When you’ve maxed out a level on Duolingo, you will have the option to go back and practice it again. Two options are available: easy (10 XP) and hard (20 XP). Choose the harder option to explore more advanced parts of each level.
To do a hard practice lesson, tap on any completed level and select Hard Practice. You will then start the lesson and won’t lose any hearts if you get a question wrong.
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for (var i = 0; i 3. Go Back to Levels You Struggled With
Even if you’ve completed every branch of the Duolingo tree, some levels were probably harder for you than others. To keep progressing with your language learning, it’s a good idea to go back and work on these.
Go through the tree and think about which levels you struggled the most with. You can then start practicing by tapping on the icon and selecting Regular Practice or Hard Practice.
4. Practice Your Speaking and Listening
Are your writing skills strong, but your speaking and listening skills not so much? Then it’s a good idea to concentrate more of your energy on the latter two.
Duolingo has introduced special lessons where you can focus only on speaking and listening. To find these options, go to the heart icon at the top of your phone screen. When you’re there, select Speak and Listen Only.
5. Use the Duolingo Dictionary
The Duolingo web app has a lot of useful features that are not included in the mobile version. One of these is the Duolingo Dictionary, which is available for all languages.
To find the dictionary, go to More > Dictionary. You’ll find the More button at the top of your desktop screen.
Depending on the language you’re learning, you might need to type in the full word. For others, a dropdown menu will show up as you start typing.
After you select a word you can view the translation, see how it’s used in sentences, and hear how it should be said. Use this to get to grips with even more words in your target language.
6. Fix Your Broken Branches
When you don’t practice a skill for long enough, your branches on the Duolingo tree will break. When this happens, you need to re-complete a lesson to get back to a fully-completed tree.
You’ll notice when a branch is broken because the bar will be slightly empty. There will also be a crack in the icon.
To fix any broken branch, tap on the icon and select Restore. Once your lesson is finished, the icon will repair itself to reflect this.
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for (var i = 0; i 7. Use Duolingo Forums
Besides the core courses, Duolingo also has a helpful community of fellow language learners. Forums are available for all languages, with the more popular courses having particularly active communities.
In Duolingo Forums, you can ask others for answers to questions that you want answering. You can also find unique challenges to improve your skills beyond the set Duolingo courses.
You’ll need to use your computer to access Duolingo Forums. Log into your account and go to Discuss at the top of the page. The site will then present you with all the latest and most popular conversations in your target language.
8. Check Out Duolingo Stories
If you’re studying French, German, Spanish or Portuguese, Duolingo Stories is a handy extra feature. With this feature, you can complete stories based on real-life situations. These stories are particularly good for improving your listening skills.
You can access Duolingo Stories from either the web or mobile app. In both places, go to the book icon—which is the second-closest to the left.
Once you’re there, you will be able to start working through the stories. Like with the tree, you’ll need to complete a certain set before the next level is unlocked.
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for (var i = 0; i 9. Re-Learn Words You Might Have Forgotten
When learning a new language, memorizing old words you’ve learned is equally as important as picking up new ones. Often, learners will discover that the words they picked up early on have disappeared from their vocabulary altogether.
Duolingo has a useful web app feature where you can check how long it’s been since you practiced any word you unlocked in the app.
To check your proficiency level for each word, go to More > Words. When you scroll to the bottom of the page, you’ll find the words you haven’t practiced in the longest time.
Click on any of the words you’re weak on, and you’ll find a direct translation with examples and audio files.
10. Listen to Podcasts
Duolingo has created special podcasts to help improve your listening skills if you’re learning French or Spanish. These are short episodes that last around 20 to 30 minutes.
To access Duolingo Podcasts, go to either Apple Music or Spotify. Type Duolingo in the search bar and scroll down to Podcasts and Shows.
On the podcasts page, pick on any that sound interesting to you and start listening. Just make sure it’s in your target language first!
Don’t Quit; You’re Not Finished
Duolingo is a great soft introduction to language-learning for beginners. However, you can continue using the platform to good effect even once you’ve finished a Duolingo tree.
While you should also explore using other resources for your target language, you can still use Duolingo to practice your speaking and listening. You can also connect with a community of like-minded people, strengthen weak skills, and much more on the platform.