Duolingo, the world's No. 1 language-learning platform, said on the 23rd it will reinvent itself as a brand that verifies foreign-language proficiency in the real world.
Duolingo introduced the Duolingo Score so users can leverage their online learning experience as part of a career portfolio for getting a job, changing jobs, or earning a promotion.
The Duolingo Score is a language proficiency indicator that quantifies learning data accumulated in the Duolingo app on a 0–160 scale based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). For example, 30–59 points (A2) indicates the ability to handle everyday conversations and basic communication, while 60–99 points (B1) is classified as the stage where a person can express opinions and respond confidently in most situations.
According to the Duolingo research team, among Spanish learners, users who completed more than half of the B1 (60–99 points) level content had reading and listening skills equivalent to a fifth-semester college level, and learners who finished the A2 (30–59 points) track showed performance at a fourth-semester college level.
At its annual event Duocon last month, Duolingo announced it had introduced a feature that lets users add their Duolingo Score directly to their LinkedIn profiles so that in-app learning outcomes can be used in career portfolios. A company representative said, "We have extended online learning achievements into real careers."
Previously, Duolingo entered the certification market through its self-developed English proficiency test, the Duolingo English Test (DET). Launched in 2016, the DET is officially recognized as an admissions test by more than 6,000 universities and educational institutions worldwide. The DET can be taken online at home at any preferred time, and results come out in two days. The Duolingo research team said it classified tens of thousands of English items by CEFR and designed the test so that AI analyzes a test-taker's answers in real time and serves the most suitable items. The research team said, "Even if someone only gets easy questions right or misses difficult ones, the AI accurately measures the test-taker's actual English level."
Ma Ju-yeon, Duolingo's Korea lead, said, "Through the DET, Duolingo has expanded opportunities for study abroad and education for learners, and the new link between the Duolingo Score and LinkedIn has created a fresh turning point where learning leads to careers," adding, "We hope more Korean learners will have the experience of 'learning with enjoyment leading to tangible growth' through Duolingo going forward."