Popular language learning applications such as Duolingo use large language models (LLMs) to generate lessons for its users. Most lessons focus on general real-world scenarios such as greetings, ordering food, or asking directions, with limited support for profession-specific contexts. This gap can hinder learners from achieving professional-level fluency, which we define as the ability to communicate comfortably various work-related and domain-specific information in the target language. We surveyed five employees from a multinational company in the Philippines on their experiences with Duolingo. Results show that respondents encountered general scenarios more frequently than work-related ones, and that the former are relatable and effective in building foundational grammar, vocabulary, and cultural knowledge. The latter helps bridge the gap toward professional fluency as it contains domain-specific vocabulary. Each participant suggested lesson scenarios that diverge in contexts when analyzed in aggregate. With this understanding, we propose that language learning applications should generate lessons that adapt to an individual's needs through personalized, domain specific lesson scenarios while maintaining foundational support through general, relatable lesson scenarios.
Figures & tables
Figure 1. A scenario showing a greeting in Korean. Presenting a real-world scenario is typical of language learning resources, as it is able to immerse the learner in the target language. (Image was grabbed from https://www.topikguide.com/korean-greetings/) A scenario showing a greeting in Korean. Presenting a real-world scenario is typical of language learning resources, as it is able to immerse the learner in the target language.
Figure 2. A sample process of how Duolingo’s "learning designers" prompts an LLM to generate exercises for its courses. (Image was grabbed from https://blog.duolingo.com/large-language-model-duolingo-lessons/) A sample process of how Duolingo's "learning designers" prompts an LLM to generate exercises for its courses
Figure 3. Survey results of questions on language learners’ perceptions on lessons containing work-related scenarios) Survey results of questions on language learners' perceptions on lessons containing work-related scenarios
Figure 4. Survey results of questions on language learners’ perceptions on lessons containing general scenarios) Survey results of questions on language learners' perceptions on lessons containing general scenarios