![]() ![]() ![]() It is important to keep in mind that education is not NEUTRAL. There is always a worldview that undergirds the material presented. I am not saying that Duolingo should be discarded wholesale because of its apparent worldview - I think it is a very good platform for learning a language. But as freedom loving Americans and parents seeking to raise good citizens, we need to be aware of the content and its underlying worldview before we unwittingly convert our children into sympathizers for Castro, Marxism, Communism or any other form of thinly veiled tyranny which seeks to undermine the unalienable rights we enjoy as Americans.Martina: One afternoon in 2015, Alfredo Díaz Nabor took the stage dressed in baggy pants, hat, and sneakers, it's somewhat typical of a Mexican hip hop artist. Now that millions of Americans are for the first time "home schooling" due to the COVID pandemic it is tempting to simply plug our kids into online content like Duolingo. Duolingo in fact has launched a new app to help students learn at home. Senora Guiard is clearly thankful for the rewards she received for her service to the government which included a college scholarship which she used to earn degrees in mathematics and Russian. I was shocked that the commentator at no point offered any caveats or an opposing viewpoint but just re-enforced the themes parroted by Senora Guiard. The story concludes with the note that Senora Guiard, now in her 70's and still living in Cuba, tours the United States lecturing and speaking about her experience in the revolution.Īfter listening to this podcast which I can only describe as pure unadulterated communist propaganda, I wrote an email to Duolingo asking if they would produce another podcast offering the true story of someone who chose not to support the communist dictatorship of Fidel Castro. Rhetorically I asked if they thought the Cuban government would be willing to allow an American to tour their country speaking to the benefits of the American Revolution and our Constitutional Republican form of government. I concluded by asking the producers to reassure me that Duolingo is truly about EDUCATION and not INDOCTRINATION. I received an auto-generated reply from Duolingo assuring me that they read and value all of the emails from their listeners. We shall see. The entire presentation painted Castro and the Cuban regime as benevolent and wise. Castro's motives for "educating" the population were clear given the countless crimes committed by the regime against its own people, specifically political dissidents who were summarily imprisoned, tortured and executed without due process. Although Senora Guiard acknowledges there were people who decided not to join the teaching brigades, there is no mention of the consequences for that decision. It is well known that the literacy program was intended to indoctrinate the population in Castro's brand of Marxist ideology, pacify possible dissenters, and create a network of informants who would report on any suspected enemies of the state. However, there is no mention of the content of the materials used to “educate” the population. This week’s podcast is titled “Una Maestra en Botas,” “A Teacher (feminine) in Boots.” It is the story of Norma Guiard from Cuba who at 15 was recruited by the newly victorious Fidel Castro regime to join the “Teaching Brigades” which were para-military organizations comprised of literate teenagers who would go out into the countryside to teach literacy to the Cuban people. Senora Guiard recalls the challenges of her mission but most importantly she focuses on the “many benefits” of the program (in addition to literacy, health education and free prescription eyeglasses were mentioned specifically). When I retired from the Army in December 2018, I set a goal for myself to learn another language. Due to the prevalence of Spanish speakers in America I decided that Spanish would be the most practical language for me to learn and maybe a little easier on my middle-aged mind since I have had some Spanish in the past. After a recommendation by several friends I tried Duolingo and eventually signed up for a paid subscription. Duolingo’s interactive game-like app is quite appealing, even “addictive” as they openly advertise, and I have found it’s teaching method to be quite effective. After a year I have earned over 13,000 “points” and am much more confident in my speaking, listening and reading skills.Īlong with the app, users can subscribe to the Duolingo podcast. The podcasts are 25-30-minute personal stories told by the subject in their native tongue using intermediate vocabulary and speaking at a slower pace for beginning learners. Additionally, an English-speaking narrator chimes in at times to provide translation of obscure or colloquial words and phrases or to add background content. The stories range from the bazaar to the inspiring and always have an overall moral theme intended to be uplifting and encouraging.
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