Learning foreign languages ​​through apps: Beware of just 'learning for the sake of it'

The popularity of foreign language learning apps makes it easier for users to access knowledge, but also blurs the line between real learning and learning for the sake of it.

Many people diligently maintain their streak when learning foreign languages ​​through apps, but when it comes to applying them in real life, they "give up"

Instead of sitting at a desk with a squared notebook, many people now start learning a foreign language simply by opening an app on their phone.

Learning foreign languages ​​in the AI ​​era

In recent years, names like Duolingo, Memrise, Drops or Quizlet have become familiar tools for learners of all ages. They are not only popular with students but also favored by working people, housewives, and even retirees.

The appeal of these apps lies not in their academic content, but in how they make learning fun and accessible. Instead of long reading passages, learners are given multiple choice vocabulary challenges, picture matching, and listening and choosing the correct answer.

Lessons last just a few minutes, enough to squeeze in while waiting for the bus or sitting at a coffee shop. Each correct action earns points, stars, and adorable reactions from mascots like Duolingo’s owl or Drops.

In the way these platforms work, a streak of consecutive study days is considered an important achievement. Some people have maintained this streak for hundreds of days simply because they don’t want to miss out. Each study session results in a score increase, a notification sent, and an instant sense of accomplishment.

It’s at this point that learning begins to change. Opening an app every day is no longer about absorbing new knowledge, but about not being interrupted. Many people just do a few simple exercises and then log out. What used to be a journey that required practice and thinking is now becoming a reflexive sequence: open the app, click, get the reward.

The Dark Side of the 'Streak' Habit

Like counting steps or maintaining a healthy eating streak, a streak of learning in an app creates a sense of personal achievement. Learners feel like they are consistently pursuing a goal, and completing even a short lesson feels like they have accomplished something. However, when the streak becomes the overriding goal, learning can easily become reactive.

According to Tuoi Tre Online , a 2021 study by Dr. Rui Li at Hunan University (China) surveyed nearly 100 university students using English learning applications. The results showed that 90% of participants felt interested in learning with game elements, but most did not feel more confident when using the language in real life.

Some students shared that they still study every day, but mainly to avoid "breaking the chain" and not to be sure if they have learned anything new.

Points systems, leaderboards, and cute mascots act as the glue that keeps users engaged. Every correct answer is praised, every study session earns points, every long day is honored with a shiny gold icon. These elements stimulate a sense of recognition, a familiar mechanism in entertainment games.

But that fun is a double-edged sword. Learners may complete an exercise each day without really paying attention, without checking to see if they have memorized new words or understood the grammar structure. Learning becomes a repetitive reflex: open the app, answer a few questions, add a day to the record, then close it.

Maintaining a routine is good, but when the goal is shifted from real learning to not breaking the streak, learners easily fall into a false sense of progress. They feel like they are studying regularly, but are not improving their ability to use the language in real life.

Learn properly before learning evenly.

Habits can produce results but only when combined with the right method. Learning a foreign language every day will be meaningless if the learner does not know what he is learning, why he is learning it and how he is learning it.

Just like if you practice sports with the wrong form every day, you will not only not get stronger but also get injured. With languages, the damage can be frustration, loss of motivation or a false sense of confidence from having enough badges but not being able to communicate when needed.

Not all of the content on the app caters to your individual goals. Some people need listening practice, others want to improve their speaking, but they still get sucked into the repetitive short lessons. Completing each small step makes you feel like you’re making progress, but it only reinforces your familiar comfort zone.

Choosing the right tools, clearly defining your goals, understanding your own abilities and being willing to change your learning methods when necessary are the foundations for building effective long-term habits. Instead of asking whether you have learned today, the question you need to ask is what useful things have you learned today?

THANH THU

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hoc-ngoai-ngu-qua-app-coi-chung-chi-la-hoc-cho-co-2025061711131238.htm