Youtube Exercise » English Grammar Homework

How to Make Learning as Addictive as Social Media | Duolingo's Luis Von Ahn | TED

TED

10.6M views 3 years ago

Warm-up Questions

When you hear the phrase “learning as addictive as social media,” what do you think it means?
Which social media apps do you think are designed to keep people coming back every day?
What features could an education app copy from social media to make studying feel easier to continue?

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How to Make Learning as Addictive as Social Media | Duolingo's Luis Von Ahn | TED

Background: education inequality & why start with languages (00:00 – 04:05)

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1. What is the speaker’s main claim about education in practice (especially in poor countries)?

It can increase inequality because wealthy people can buy better education.
It usually reduces inequality because everyone learns the same things.
It has no relationship to money or social class.

2. Why did the team choose foreign languages as the first subject to teach?

Because languages have a huge audience and can directly increase income potential.
Because languages are easier to teach than any other subject.
Because schools around the world only teach languages.

3. Why did they decide a smartphone was essential for delivering education at scale?

Because building schools everywhere is too expensive and many people already have smartphones.
Because smartphones are cheaper to build than computers.
Because smartphones make learning automatic without effort.

How to Make Learning as Addictive as Social Media | Duolingo's Luis Von Ahn | TED

Business model & the ‘addictive smartphone’ challenge (04:05 – 06:10)

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1. In Duolingo’s model, what do non-paying users usually experience?

They can only learn one language for free.
They may see an ad at the end of a lesson.
They must pay after a few lessons or stop using the app.

2. Why does the speaker call the model a form of “wealth redistribution”?

Because the app only works in poorer countries.
Because richer users’ subscriptions help fund free learning for others.
Because the company gives cash directly to poor users.

3. What metaphor does the speaker use to describe education competing with social media on a phone?

Hoping people will eat broccoli while the best dessert is right next to it.
Trying to study in a library with no lights.
Trying to run a marathon while carrying heavy luggage.

How to Make Learning as Addictive as Social Media | Duolingo's Luis Von Ahn | TED

Engagement techniques, limits, and applying the idea to other subjects (06:10 – 12:55)

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1. According to the speaker, why do streaks make people return daily?

Because the app gives money for each day in a row.
Because streaks automatically teach new lessons.
Because if they miss a day, the counter resets to zero.

2. What did Duolingo’s system find is often the best time to send a notification?

Exactly at 9 a.m. local time for everyone.
About 24 hours after the person last used the product.
Right after midnight so users start the day with learning.

3. What kind of subjects does the speaker think can be most easily turned into a Duolingo-like system?

Subjects that require expensive lab equipment.
Subjects mainly learned through repetition.
Subjects that depend mostly on long lectures and explanations.

How to Make Learning as Addictive as Social Media | Duolingo's Luis Von Ahn | TED

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1. What is the central design idea the speaker promotes for education apps?

Avoid using any techniques from entertainment apps.
Make lessons longer so users spend more time on each one.
Use the same engagement techniques as social media, but for meaningful learning.

2. Why does the speaker say an education app doesn’t have to be as engaging as TikTok to succeed?

Because social media engagement is mostly a myth.
Because learning provides meaning and internal motivation that helps fill the gap.
Because schools will force everyone to use it anyway.

3. Which option best summarizes the speaker’s long-term hope?

Screen time will always be harmful, so people should avoid phones.
High-quality education can be delivered to everyone through mobile phones.
Only language learning can be effectively taught through apps.

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

How to Make Learning as Addictive as Social Media | Duolingo's Luis Von Ahn | TED

Do you agree that education can “bring inequality” in practice? Why or why not?
Which engagement features (streaks, notifications, ads, mascots, memes) motivate you—and which annoy you?
Is it ethically acceptable for education apps to use the same techniques as social media to keep people using them? Where is the line?
What school subject would you most like to “gamify,” and what would daily practice look like in that subject?