What a 365 Duolingo streak has taught me about practice.

365 Days of Practice

I've been learning Italian on Duolingo for a year now.  If you don’t know what that is, it’s a language learning app headed by a cute green owl that has somehow become a pretty good global teacher. 

This week, I reached a milestone: a 365-day streak. 

I’ve done a little bit of practice every day for a year.

!! …BA-Bing  !!

It occurred to me at some point that I’ve been more consistent with Duolingo this year than I have with my yoga practice!  

Showing off my streak! 

As someone generally suspicious of apps deliberately designed to suck you into an endless vortex of screentime, I was initially hesitant.  But, with the aim of learning something new (I’ve wanted to learn Italian for the longest time), and encouragement from some friends already using it, I downloaded it.  

What I didn't expect was to become fascinated not just by learning Italian, but by the app itself. This little green owl seems to be an expert not just in languages but also the art of the hook, the habit, the practice.  

Practica Practica Practica

Surely enough, after a year of daily lessons, I was delighted to be able to hold down a few conversations and sentences at a recent wedding in Tuscany.  

Dare I say it, the Italians at the table were pretty impressed, “You learnt all that from Duo? Brava!” 

Grazie, grazie…

When I asked her how I could improve from here on in, the guest next to me smiled and told me I really ought to visit Italy more (sì, sono d’accordo!) and with wonderful Italian flair pronounced that the real secret was of course more…  

"Practica practica practica."

Va bene…

Wise Green Owl

As someone who teaches, mentors and spends time helping people make changes in their lives, I became increasingly aware of what exactly Duolingo understands about my psychology and behaviour, as much as the new language it was teaching me.

Duo is smart - he removes almost every barrier that gets in the way of consistency.

You don't need to book a class, clear your diary or find a spare hour.  One minute counts. One lesson counts.  Progress is visible, the streak grows (mmm, so satisfying). Mistakes are expected (whatever!) You are celebrated relentlessly (woohoo, go you!)

The app, with all its tricks and gamification is an elegant reminder that engagement succeeds not because we become more motivated but because, first, barriers are made smaller. 

Once you’re in, you’re in. Then, you can be kept there - with prizes, challenges, nudges, satusfaction, competition and accountability. 

Duo Knows Me 

Duo highlighted to me two very interesting things about my own motivation. 

I assumed the one big reason I was on the app was simply to learn Italian.  But no, my strongest reason for staying on has been other people.

The weekly Friends Quests are challenges you complete together. You’re locked in, like committing to a running buddy you can’t flake on.  The sense that friends are online together, showing up, doing their lessons too… somehow makes me happy, and competitive!

We often think motivation is a solo pursuit, but for many of us, it's deeply relational.  We show up because others are showing up.  And because being part of something feels good.

The second surprise - plain and simple fun. I find myself reaching for Duo whilst procrastinating over other more serious and important tasks I don’t really want to do.  I genuinely like doing the lessons - the sounds, animations, and ridiculous characters.  Learning disguised as play is still learning - possibly some of the most effective learning there is. 

Sto Imparando

With its clever design, Duo has got me ready to fork out the cash for another year of subscription.

Argh, whether or not I like it, demonstrating too that when I invest in my own learning, I’m just that bit more willing to show up. 😬

Duo knows a thing or two about habit formation - that learning can eventually become self-perpetuating, routine and automatic, addictive almost, so long as we turn up enough times.

Isn’t it incredible that we can learn anything at any time, given the resources, structure, and support, and even hack our own psychological tendencies to help ourselves keep going?

For teachers and learners of any subject, I think there are a few things worth paying attention to here...

How can you lower the barriers to begin something?

How often are you encouraged when you learn?

How much fun are you having?

How connected do you feel to other people along the way?

I don't think Duolingo succeeds because it teaches languages brilliantly. It does well because it understands something fundamental about learning: we have to keep coming back.

Rewarding, achievable, meaningful, collective and fun - on or off an app - some of the conditions to meet if we are to help ourselves to do exactly that.

Whatever you’re learning, or teaching, maybe we don’t need to try harder or rely on will or motivation. But consider how to make it easier to come back. 

Facciamo practica! 

(Let’s practice!) 

P.S. Inspired by my streak, I'm running my own experiment this August — a 30-Day Yoga Challenge on my WhatsApp channel. One post a day, each reflecting on a different aspect of yoga — because yoga is a daily practice, and never just about asana. Think of it as a low-barrier streak of your own: one minute a day, no mat required.

📲 Follow along here (we start August 1st) — and you're in.