LEARNING ENGLISH THROUGH DUOLINGO

It was at midnight when I was scrolling on my phone, watching reels on Instagram and I got a notification on my phone from the duolingo app reminding me that I had not yet completed my lesson for the day. The quietness in my room made every word that I mispronounce reflect back to me and echo in my head. I looked at my phone repeatedly saying “I will go to college abroad” and it felt like a thousand times. My tongue slipped over the words that I was not used to and I felt myself losing all the confidence. I was scared not because of the words, but instead of what they represented. These words would connect me to a new world and new opportunities that I had dreamed of for many years and at the same time I was worried that I might not get to them for some reasons.

English has always been challenging. At school, I would always follow the guidelines and respond to everything but when it came to the speaking part especially speaking to strangers, I always got really scared. I would always be shy in class because I was scared of sounding bad or making a mistake in front of my classmates. Now, with college as my goal, I had no other option other than getting away from what I felt like a comfort zone for me. Every evening I opened the duolingo app, motivated to study a lesson and study a new word. Sometimes I advanced quickly, and would get excited by small progresses like forming a sentence correctly. Other times, I could forget a word or fail a quiz and this reminded me that I was not yet ready. My parents encouraged me to continue but whenever I could be alone in my room, I could feel completely alone in my struggle.

Sometimes, I could get frustrated and get overwhelmed. I remember one evening after three hours of lessons, I could not pronounce “opportunity” correctly. My phone’s microphone repeatedly rejected my answer. I threw my phone on my bed due to frustration and I almost cried. I wanted to give up telling myself that I would never be ready to study abroad because my accent and mistakes made me unworthy but I took time reminding myself of why I was doing this. Every lesson that I could take, that could be a step forward toward my dream. Slowly, I picked up the phone again, repeating the word until I finally got it. That small victory felt very special to me.

Some of the transformative moments came unexpectedly. One day while listening to a short English story on duolingo, I realized I understood almost every word without pausing. I read the lines aloud and finally I was feeling natural for the first time, I didn’t feel like a programmed robot trying to speak a new language. That day I realized that learning English was not about memorizing words but instead, It was about gaining the confidence to express myself and to connect with each other.

Along the way, I learned patience and discipline. I created schedules, setting aside two to three hours every evening for lessons, listening exercises, and speaking practice. I recorded myself reading aloud, comparing my pronunciation to the app, and

correcting mistakes until my voice grew steadier. Sometimes, I laughed at the awkward sentences I made or the silly mistakes I couldn’t seem to escape. Other times, I cried quietly, overwhelmed by the weight of preparation and the pressure to succeed. These moments of struggle and perseverance taught me resilience in ways textbooks never could.

Duolingo also became more than a learning tool, it became a mirror reflecting my growth. Each completed lesson, each streak maintained, reminded me that persistence could turn fear into skill. Slowly, my voice gained clarity; my thoughts, once trapped in my native language, flowed into English. By the time I began preparing for interviews and essays for my college abroad, I noticed a quiet confidence in myself. I could formulate arguments, express my ideas, and even joke in English without hesitation. Language, I realized, was not just a set of rules, it was rather power, freedom, and connection.

Looking back, Duolingo taught me more than vocabulary or grammar. It taught me discipline, patience, and the value of consistent effort. More importantly, it reminded me that growth often comes in small, repeated steps rather than sudden leaps. By the time I boarded the plane to start my studies abroad, English was no longer just a language, it was a bridge connecting me to new people, new ideas, and a future I had dared to imagine. That little green owl, once a symbol of pressure and anxiety, had become a silent companion in my journey, guiding me toward courage, independence, and the realization that with determination, even the most foreign words could become part of my voice.

Even now, I remember the quiet nights in my room, repeating sentences, correcting mistakes, and chasing a dream that once seemed so far away. Those small insignificant moments had shaped me into a person ready to step into the unknown with confidence. And every time I hear the faint chime of Duolingo’s notification, I am reminded not of struggle, but of the resilience and persistence that will guide me through every challenge ahead.