I love learning languages and learning about different cultures. I've used many tools over the years to try and develop my language skills with varying levels of success. Duolingo is far and away one of the most effective language learning tools but it's not without its limitations.
One of the things I don't like about Duolingo is that it relies on momentum to be effective. If you break that momentum then you start to fail miserably and the whole experience can become disheartening and discouraging very quickly. What I mean by momentum, is your continued use of the site. This is built into the design with the emphasis placed on daily streaks. Users are encouraged to return daily to complete lessons in their course or to practice for a few minutes at least to keep their streak alive. The longer your streak becomes the more imperative that impulse becomes. Now there are ways to freeze your streak and take a day or two off from lessons but there's a danger when you do this that you will lose the impulse to continue.
