Duolingo without Hanzi?

[Markkugrxc]

I searched the forums but I couldn't really find a definitive or more recent answer. I just started to use Duolingo (I am using the Windows App on a PC) and I like the it very much and have been using it for about two weeks now to learn Mandarin. However to my disappointment from Sec 2 Unit 4 the lessons suddenly include practicing Hanzi, which I do not want to learn. (Please don't make this into a discussion on why and why I should.)

My (hopefully) simple question is, is there a way to turn off/skip those exercises in Duolingo or not. Perhaps on another device? (though I didn't see any options on the Android version either)

Also, if this is not possible can someone recommend me a similar app/website (preferably free) that can do this.

Thanks

[Thomas.Heiss]

Hello,

could you provide a screenshot how these show up (exclusive vs included in the path)?

No, there's no way to customize this on Duolingo any further (they're basically focusing on writing/reading and listening exercises).
The old way to change the HttpXmlRequestHeader and to overwrite the challengeTypes variable with a userscript (e.g to filter some exercises) is gone with the new path website rewrite (Fetch Api).
Also if they press these exercises into the path UI as levels (round circles as an inclusive approach) there's no simple way to skip them.

Older threads in the Chinese forum:

viewtopic.php?t=34964-skip-hanzi-completely

viewtopic.php?t=34225-skip-hanzi-writing-exercises

[Thomas.Heiss]

Why don't you buy a monthly Pimsleur subscription if you're only interested to learn how to speak and listen?

For some languages (like French) a Premium course is available so there are additional exercises, quizzes, multiple-choice questions on the Android app.
It definitely helps quite much to see the text when you didn't understand much or you didn't get a few expressions / words during the 20-30 minute audio lesson

But personally I need to tell you that I wouldn't be able to learn French this way, starting from scratch, not seeing all the words and sentences in front of me (audio only, no Premium).
I need a significant headstart from other resources before I switch back and listen to audio.
It's difficult enough on Busuu and I often don't get the full meaning when EN translations are missing or FR text is never shown in parallel or laters especially when sentences get longer, they throw a video at your head or it's more than a simple sentence like a paragraph of 2-3 sentences/parts.

I tried this with Brazilian Portuguese in the beginning (a category I easy language) on www.50languages.com while taking walks and without the printed lesson script in front of me it was hardly possible to fully understand what was said or what all the nasal sounds map to.
For the first few lessons I had printed the scripts; for later Pt-Br lessons I didn't bother hence I always understood way less (back then I didn't care that much as I was on my way to an Rc hobby shop, I only wanted to listen to Pt-Br just a bit).
Hence my understanding of new Pt-Br words or phrases was very limited when I don't see them in front of me.

I don't think I would want to choose an audio only learning approach with a category IV superhard Asian language (classified by Fsi/Dli).

[Thomas.Heiss]

Honestly, I don't think that HelloChinese, Lingodeer or similar (full) teaching resources will allow you to skip learning Hanzi.

But you can check them out. However they're NOT free.

[Thomas.Heiss]

Or maybe you find something useful on https://www.chineseclass101.com from Innovative Languages (some are free I heard for the PortuguesePod).

Has been several years that I paid 99,- Euros for a heavily discounted two years Premium subscription (on a BlackFriday deal) for Brazilian Portuguese.
Newer BF offers from last years where more expensive lifetime accounts for 1-3 languages.
Actually I didn't really use it and IIRC there was no placement test available.
Maybe I would have better succeeded with the mobile app on a smartphone (I didn't have one) but on the PC I probably would have had first to invest more time into research, to download and install audio/video players.

The PortuguesePod101 web interface was not that easy to figure out where to exactly start (too many categories/filters available)...so I didn't.

I truly believe that all/most monthly or yearly subscription services just suck the money out of your pocket.
One year later and you'll be back at zero and you can't continue to use and review what you've previously learned.

During the year most subscription services seem to have horrendous price offers.

[foxmeister]

I've completed the Chinese course, but have religiously been completing the "Daily Refresh" lessons, but all of a sudden I'm being required to use Hanzi for at least 30% of the questions.

I have neither the time, patience, or inclination to learn Hanzi, so Duolingo needs to make these skippable or they will lose my subscription.

[Thomas.Heiss]

@foxmeister

There is no DL staff member around here on the Duome community forum to read your complaint.

Doesn't seem like that the Duolingo CEO has been any active on the Reddit channel lately.
One former Reddit mod seems to having retired after receiving feedback to his last written letter (e.g. about customer support suggestions).

For such a small course like Chinese having to pay is questionable anyway; you surely know that paying doesn't have any influence on course content or customizable advanced user options.

In the reply to the letter it was said by the CEO that Duolingo Inc. will be concentrating on eight languages; Chinese was NOT listed for now.

On Duolingo you better switch over to the ultra-long French, Spanish paths (almost 300 units, 8 sections with real content) while others like German, Italian are currently being worked on.

The Japanese course also got several updates already, is much longer (221 units).
It might be similarly working with the strokes for Kanji, Hiragana, Katagana like you're experiencing it with Hanzi (I don't learn/use it so can't tell).

Feel free to use the Super support email address or send a bug report:

https://www.duolingo.com/help/support-request

Don't be surprised if you don't get any feedback. There are only two staff members working in the support (search for "support" on Reddit and you'll see several threads) and the CEO basically said he won't stack them up for now.

There is a way to resend the complaint to their social media profiles or to Tracee on Reddit, once you haven't heard back for a while after receiving your ticket id.

Doesn't paying require available extensive course content which the shorter Chinese Mandarin course on Duolingo can't deliver?

[Markkugrxc]

Thanks for the help! I have switched to HelloChinese.

[MoniqueMaRie]

Thanks for the help! I have switched to HelloChinese.

Did you know HelloChinese by someone who uses it?
Here in the Forum I read that they teach Hanzi: viewtopic.php?p=114308-microphone-not-w ... ly#p114308

[PtolemysXX]

Also, if this is not possible can someone recommend me a similar app/website (preferably free) that can do this.

Talkpal has a setting to display romanization in addition to Hanzi:

talkpal chinese.PNG (41.58 KiB) Viewed 1663 times

Note:
Talkpal is not free (or the free version of it not very useful).
It is not for beginners - it does not offer structured grammar lessons - it is more a conversation tool to improve and practice your real speaking skills.

[Chloe607977]

Hi there, maybe you can help. I have completed section 1 of Chinese on Duolingo but now I’m stuck in daily refresh and it’s not moving on to section 2 not sure how to move on or do I have to do daily refresh for a few weeks until it finally moves on? I thought there were 3 sections of Chinese on Duolingo. Did you complete them all? Is the new app you’re using any good?

[Thomas.Heiss]

@Chloe607977

Yes, the Chinese from English course has three sections.

Just click on the wide coloured "Section 1 - Unit x" header (first section is green) which fills the top.
There you can choose the three sections individually like in a drop-down box.

When you have completed all 10 units of section #1 the next section #2 should unlock (maybe there's a last unit or unit review which you first have to complete).

[Chloe607977]

There no drop down to choose the next section so perhaps I have to do loads of daily refreshes until I move on! I messaged Duolingo as I thought maybe it’s a bug problem. Thanks so much for your help

[Thomas.Heiss]

@Chloe607977

Are you on iOS or Android?

When you login on the www.duolingo.com/learn web portal you will see the coloured (green, blue,..) header before the first round circles where unit 1 starts.

The box contains the unit description name (title) and on the right is the guidebook.

That coloured header box is below the language flag, streak flame, hearts symbol.

AFAIK any changes done on the web portal should be taken over when you restart the mobile app (language pair, section #1-3,..).

Maybe that coloured section #1 / Unit 1-10 header it's at a different place when you're using iOS on an Apple device.

[Chloe607977]

That would make sense yes I’m using iOS on an iPad and iPhone. I just need to find out where that it. Really appreciate your help thank you! I’ll search again

[Chloe607977]

Hi just wanted to ask another question hope you can help. I gave up on Duolingo for a few months due to the constant refresh as per above but when I went to check today it has moved me on to section 3. I only completed section 1 and so I tried to get back to section 2 but it says I have completed it so I can only do a refresh of each unit. Is it possible to clear the completed and start it properly? It’s so strange I must have had a blip on my program, perhaps not doing it for a while just made it jump forward? I’m not sure whether to just delete the whole account and start again. If I do that can I just start at section 2?

[MoniqueMaRie]

Hi @Chloe607977
You can always delete any course and open it again. Then do the test that gets you go to section 2 (it says "jump here").

[Chloe607977]

Great thank you! I’ve done that, thanks for your help