Duolingo: An Effective Application for Learning Russian

Introduction. Today, more people worldwide are using mobile apps for education. Modern methods of teaching Russian as a foreign language (RFL) are adapting to changes such as reduced classroom hours for language instruction in universities and varying levels of students' knowledge. These methods increasingly incorporate electronic educational resources into teaching practices as tools for real communication in the context of modern multicultural education. One such resource for intensifying RFL learning is the Duolingo platform. While Duolingo is a convenient and accessible way to learn languages, there is still limited research on its use. The purpose. The goal of this study is to examine the impact of Duolingo on developing communicative competence in learning Russian as a foreign language. Materials and Methods. The study involved 18 students from the Preparatory Faculty of Belgorod National Research University. Methods included surveying participants to assess their experience using Duolingo for learning Russian. The focus was on how the app organizes lessons and how effectively it supports learning through repetition, games, and personalized feedback. Results. The findings showed that Duolingo is particularly effective in building vocabulary and listening skills. However, participants noted that the app needs clearer grammar explanations and more advanced reading tasks. Duolingo is best suited for beginners and intermediate learners, as its gamified format keeps them motivated. Advanced students may require additional resources to achieve fluency. Conclusion. The study highlights that students appreciate the flexibility of Duolingo, as it allows them to learn anytime at their own pace. Features like instant feedback and a reward system help learners stay on track, making language learning accessible and enjoyable.