[v4ult]

I have been learning Spanish for 3 years and have played around with a number of different techniques.

I think Duolingo is awful at helping you retain the vocabulary you have learnt. It doesn't give you a good grounding on context or grammar so you'll end up in a situation where you may know a lot of words but not how to string a sentence together. Exactly as detailed in the article. I will normally put Duolingo in the same category as Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone and not recommend them at all.

There are three apps that I do recommend: 1. Italki - You can book lessons with tutors or teachers in your chosen language and have structured lessons online. 2. HelloTalk - A language exchange app that works better than on Skype. It has a large userbase where you speak to individuals in your chosen language and practice what you have learnt. 3. Lingvist - A vocabulary app that gives you words within the context of a full sentence. This has helped me remember words a lot easier plus my level of reading comprehension went through the roof after using it.

Aside from the apps, it is always a good idea to visit the country of your target language and just try speaking. You will find out what works and what doesn't much faster than any other method.

Finally it is important to remember not to be afraid to make mistakes. It's only words and not the full amount of how we communicate. Keep trying.