Duolingo Tagalog 2023 and Amazing App Alternatives

Duolingo Tagalog seems like a perfect match. But unfortunately, Duolingo doesn’t offer Tagalog language courses yet. Don’t worry; there are other great solutions to learning Tagalog.

Here, you will find answers to questions about Tagalog on Duolingo. Moreover, you will find some fantastic app alternatives.

Let’s dive in!

Can You Find Tagalog on Duolingo?

Duolingo is one of the most downloaded apps for learning the language. Duolingo did announce the Tagalog release date of 3/9/2022, but it isn’t launched yet. Though disheartening as it is, you can’t find Tagalog on Duolingo, and nobody knows exactly why.

SEE MORE: Duolingo Review of Experience by Teacher and Student

Why Doesn’t Duolingo Have Tagalog?

As mentioned earlier, nobody knows the exact reason for the omission. Many people requested the inclusion of Tagalog on Duolingo. But there is no new official announcement about its inclusion.

Duolingo adds a new language when many users want it, and they have the necessary resources. It also determines if it is possible to create a complete language-learning program.

Tagalog is a complex and difficult language to teach and learn. It has unique pronunciation, sentence structure, and verb conjugation. Moreover, Duolingo is now relying on its employees after ending the Contributor Program. This could also be the reason behind the delay.

So, will Duolingo add Tagalog? Probably. But for now, you can enjoy other apps.

Who Speaks Tagalog?

Tagalog is one of the two official languages in the Philippines. There are approximately 33.37 million native speakers of Tagalog in the Philippines.

Outside the Philippines, a large population who speaks Tagalog resides in the United States. Moreover, according to the United States Census Bureau’s 2015 American Consumer Survey data, the people of California, Washington states, and Nevada most commonly speak Tagalog.

Filipino or Tagalog – Is There a Difference?

Yes, there is a difference between Filipino and Tagalog. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, Filipino is actually the official language of the Philippines according to the 1987 constitution. 

Technically, Filipino is based on the Tagalog language but incorporates influences from other regional languages in the Philippines as well. Therefore, while Tagalog refers specifically to one region, Filipino describes the broader language spoken throughout the country.  Additionally, “Pilipino” was once an alternative term for Filipino in 1959 to differentiate it from the regional Tagalog language.

Is Tagalog Hard To Learn?

Different factors contribute to the difficulty level of learning a new language. Learning becomes easy if you have had exposure to a similar language before. Grammatical structure and vocabulary differences in Tagalog can pose some challenges.

Moreover, according to the FSI, Tagalog is a “Hard Language” for English speakers. Yet, you may find some similarities that can aid your learning process. And with consistent effort and dedication, you can make progress in learning Tagalog.

READ NEXT: 10 Easiest Languages to Learn For English Speakers (30 Weeks or Less)

How Can I Learn Tagalog?

Now let’s get the guesswork out. Here are some of the effective ways to learn Tagalog, including the resources.

Language Exchange: Find language exchange partners or join language exchange communities online. Attend language meetups or cultural events where Tagalog speakers gather.

Media Consumption: Watch Tagalog movies or TV shows and listen to Tagalog music. Try to read books or articles in Tagalog.

Language Classes/Courses: Consider enrolling in a formal Tagalog language class. Try Skillshare and Udemy.

Online Resources: Explore websites, blogs, podcasts (FilipinoPod101), YouTube, and forums. TagalogLessons.com, Learning Tagalog, and Speak Filipino are popular online resources.

Language Learning Books: Invest in textbooks or language learning books. These resources often provide structured lessons and grammar explanations. You can get vocabulary lists and exercises to practice your skills. Find reputable publishers or recommended titles to ensure the quality of the material.

Language Tutors: Hire a Tagalog language tutor for personalized instruction and guidance. Online platforms like Italki offer a wide selection of language tutors.

Alternative Apps To Learn Tagalog: 

Don’t know when Duolingo is going to add Tagalog? Why wait when you can take advantage of alternative apps to learn Tagalog! Here are some of the best apps to consider, along with their pricing, rating, pros, and cons.

Pimsleur:

If audio-focused learning is your style, opt for Pimsleur. It focuses on spoken language skills. The fastest way to learn a new language is by hearing it used in everyday situations. With Pimsleur, you don’t need to translate sentences or memorize rules. It’s like a day-to-day conversation between native speakers in short, easy-to-follow lessons. You can listen whenever, wherever you are.

With a rating of 4.4/5 on the Google Play Store, it’s a great app for beginners and intermediate speakers. You can try it free for 7 days, then you can buy its subscription plan that starts at $14.95/month.

• Pros: Emphasis on fluency, practical conversations, and convenient audio format.
• Cons: Limited written exercises, less focus on reading and writing skills.

Rosetta Stone:

Rosetta Stone has a rating of 4.6/5 on Google Play Store. It works best due to its immersive language learning approach. Science-backed Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion® method is effective. The app is easy to use as it utilizes images and audio to teach language. And its advanced speech recognition technology keeps your pronunciation in check.

Their Tagalog course is perfect for beginners. It focuses on building vocabulary, improving pronunciation, and developing basic conversational skills. Rosetta Stone offers an engaging learning experience anytime, anywhere. It is ad-free and available online or offline.

You can try it free for 3 days, and then you need to subscribe. Its subscription plan starts at $11.99/month.

• Pros: Comprehensive curriculum with flexible courses, immersive learning approach, emphasis on pronunciation.
• Cons: Less emphasis on grammar explanations and writing practice. Teaches more formal language.

Memrise:

If you want a gamified fun way to learn Tagalog, Memrise, with a 4.4/5 rating on Google Play Store, is worth trying. Memrise employs mnemonic techniques and spaced repetition to enhance vocabulary retention. You’ll find user-generated Tagalog courses with audio recordings and interactive quizzes, and flashcards. 

Memrise’s gamified approach makes learning enjoyable and engaging. It allows you to progress at your own pace. Memrise is good for beginners but not for intermediate and advanced learners.

Most of the content available on Memrise is free to use. But, it requires a subscription starting at $8.99/month to enjoy advanced features.

• Pros: User-generated content, mnemonic techniques, gamified learning experience.
• Cons: Limited structured curriculum, focus on vocabulary rather than comprehensive language skills.

Drops:

If you are planning to keep on learning new Tagalog words, choose Drops as a complementary app. With a rating of 4.4/5 on Google Play, it is a good app for mastering Tagalog vocabulary. 

Users appreciate its visually appealing design and interactive learning methods. Its key features include an appealing interface and audio-video-based learning system. 

You get to learn with short, daily learning sessions. Drops do offer a free version but with limited access to content. For full access and to learn languages, including Tagalog, you need to subscribe. Subscription plans start at $9.99/month.

• Pros: Engaging visuals, small lessons, offline access, audio pronunciation, and vocabulary building.
• Cons: The main focus of Drops is on vocabulary and not on grammar explanations. Moreover, to learn Tagalog, you need to subscribe.

Mondly:

Mondly with a 4.5/5 rating on Google Play Store, is the best app to learn Tagalog at the beginner level. Besides teaching you in a gamified and interactive manner, it tracks your progress. And this progress-tracking feature keeps you motivated.

Mondly focus on phrases that help you memorize words. Moreover, as you are listening to native speakers, your pronunciation is going to be on point. 

You can not only learn new phrases but practice real conversations using a chatbot. This chatbot, VR, and AR are what make Mondly stand out. It offers a free trial for 7 days with premium features. After that, you need to subscribe, which starts at $9.99/month.

• Pros: Interactive lessons, personalized learning, speech recognition, and conversational focus are worth trying.
• Cons: Tagalog resources are not as extensive as advanced learners may need. Moreover, it offers little grammar help.

Conclusion:

Duolingo Tagalog may not seem to pair up right now. These alternative apps provide effective and engaging ways to develop your Tagalog skills. Remember to consider pricing, features, and user reviews when making your decision. Be consistent, and enjoy the process of mastering Tagalog. Mabuhay!

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