DUOLINGO’S EFFECTIVENESS ENHANCING ENGLISH LANGUAGE READING SKILLS: WAY OF REFLECTIVE LEARNING AND GIVING FEEDBACK

Abstract

The development of digital technology has brought significant changes in the world of education, especially in English language learning. One of popular and easily accessible learning media is Duolingo, a language learning application that integrates interactive methods and gamification. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of using the Duolingo application in improving English reading skills through a reflective learning approach and feedback. The study sample consisted of one English teacher and 35 student’s 7th grades at SMP Muhammadiyah 01 Medan. This study used qualitative methods with data collection techniques in the form of observation, questionnaires, interview and documentation. The data were analysed by using the Miles, Huberman and Saldana (2014) model, which includes data reduction, data display and conclusion drawing. The result showed that both teacher and students had positive perceptions on the effectiveness of Duolingo, especially in improving reading skills, facilitating independent learning and providing constructive feedback. In addition, Duolingo has been proven assessed to give impact to build strong learning routines and motivation in students. This study contributes to the development of more interactive and reflective English language learning with the support of digital technology.