INVESTIGATING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE DUOLINGO APPLICATION AS A TOOL TO ENHANCE MOTIVATION IN LEARNING ENGLISH

Sandy Zakaria, Dzul Fikri

Abstract


This study examines the perceptions of English department students at Universitas Islam Malang regarding the use of the Duolingo application as a tool to enhance motivation in learning English. Employing a mixed-method design, the research involved 25 undergraduate students who completed a structured questionnaire and participated in semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were examined through Miles and Huberman’s flow model of thematic analysis. Findings revealed that students generally perceived Duolingo positively, citing its accessibility, interactive features, and gamified elements—such as stories, experience points (XP), achievement badges, and challenges—as key factors in sustaining engagement. Students highlighted that the app’s game-like environment reduced learning anxiety, encouraged consistent practice, and offered a flexible, mobile-friendly platform for independent study. Moreover, Duolingo’s narrative-based and task-oriented features were found to increase intrinsic motivation by making the learning process enjoyable and goal-oriented. The study concludes that integrating Duolingo into English learning practices can foster learner autonomy and improve motivational levels, particularly when used alongside formal instruction. Recommendations are provided for educators, students, and future researchers on leveraging mobile-assisted language learning tools to maximize learning outcomes.

Keywords: English Student, Student Perception, Duolingo Application, Learning Motivation.


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