The waterfall method is a method used for learning a course, also called the hovering technique.[1] It has been studied by many researchers as a way to maximize the retention of vocabulary and grammar while making progress through the tree. In Duolingo, it was introduced in 2023 as part of a redesign.
The goal is to have several skills in level 5 (those don't need to be studied anymore), n in level 4, n in level 3, n in level 2, n in level 1, n or less in level 0 with a partially colored circle, 2, 1 or none with a full gray circle (level 0 with 0 lessons finished) and all the rest locked.[2]
For example, if n is equal to 2, and you reached level 5 in the first three skills, your tree would look like this:
- Initially
- Skills 1 - 3: Level 5
- Skills 4 - 5: Level 4
- Skills 6 - 7: Level 3
- Skills 8 - 9: Level 2
- Skills 10 - 11: Level 1
- Skills 12 - 13: Level 0
- Skills 14 - End of the tree: Locked
- Later
- Skills 1 - 5: Level 5
- Skills 6 - 7: Level 4
- Skills 8 - 9: Level 3
- Skills 10 -11: Level 2
- Skills 12 - 13: Level 1
- Skills 14 - 15: Level 0
- Skills 16 - End of the tree: Locked
- Detailed example
Asume Spanish for English, and you reached level 5 in Intro, Phrases and Travel; skills from Family_2 onwards would be locked. Your tree would look like this, with the skills you are practicing in bold:
- Intro 5
- Phrases 5 - Travel 5
- Restaurant 4 - Family 4
- Shopping 3
- School 3 - People 2
- Greetings 2
- Travel_2 1 - Schedule 1
- People_2 0 (partially colored circle) and soon 1
- People_3 locked and soon 0 (partially colored circle) - School_2 0 (full gray circle)
- Family_2 locked
- Work locked - Emotions locked
Then you would have to work in 10 skills: Restaurant, Family, Shopping, School, People, Greetings, Travel_2, Schedule, People_2 and People_3; to unlock People_3 you will need to finish People_2. Several days later you would be working in Shopping, School, People, Greetings, Travel_2, Schedule, People_2, People_3 and School_2. You would have to finish School_2 in order to unlock Family_2. The tree would look like this
- Intro 5
- Phrases 5 - Travel 5
- Restaurant 5 - Family 5
- Shopping 4
- School 4 - People 3
- Greetings 3
- Travel_2 2 - Schedule 2
- People_2 1
- People_3 1 - School_2 0 (partially colored circle) and soon 1
- Family_2 locked and soon 0 (partially colored circle)
- Work locked - Emotions locked
Waterfall with very big n[]
In this example a student divided the tree in 5 groups of approximately 26 lessons each.[3]
- Skills 1 - 24: Level 5
- Skills 25 - 49: Level 4
- Skills 50 - 76: Level 3
- Skills 77 - 102: Level 2
- Skills 103 - 129: Level 1
- Skills 130 - 131: Level 0
- Skills 132 - 158, end of the tree: Locked
Shorter waterfall[]
Instead of going up to level 5 you can go to level 3 or 2. The following example shows a waterfall of height 3 and n = 5.
- Skills 1 - 20: Level 3 (not being worked on)
- Skills 21 - 25: Level 2
- Skills 26 - 30: Level 1
- Skills 31 - 35: Level 0 (not all 5 skills will be unlocked; this must be done according to the shape of your tree)
- Skills 36 - End of the tree: Locked
After your tree is completely in level 3 you can work levels 3 and 4 to get a fully golden tree.
References[]
- ↑ Making Duolingo, What’s the best way to learn with Duolingo?, Cindy Blanco & Bozena Pajak, 20 November 2018.
- ↑ Reddit, /r/duolingo, Using the “waterfall” method with Norwegian and it’s a great way to learn!, Alasdair91, November 13, 2018.
- ↑ Duolingo Forum, To newcomers (especially) and all Duolingo users (as well): A great way to organize your tree, Noabji, May 1, 2019.