More In-depth Alphabet Courses

While both Transparent Language Online and Duolingo offer alphabet courses for learners, there are some fundamental differences. Transparent Language Online's alphabet courses help learners understand the full scope of the alphabet: they learn the order of the letters within the system, which is an important mental tool when trying to learn to recognize and memorize them, while also learning the letter names, which is important in a class setting. The Transparent Language Online activity set is more interactive and challenging, as opposed to the passive, instant gratification style approach taken by Duolingo. Transparent Language Online also keeps the alphabet information around as a reference, so learners get the "full picture" and can access related information anytime.

Complex Reporting, Author Content, Add Due Dates

Duolingo launched a teacher portal at the beginning of 2015, while Transparent Language has had one since 2009. Both programs offer teachers the ability to organize students into groups or classes and run summary reports on student progress. However, the reporting features in Transparent Language Online go beyond just simple summaries to drill into the exact content that students have been working on, allowing teachers to better prepare for in-class activities. Teachers are also able to assign any content, including custom-created content, in Transparent Language Online to their classes with set due dates. Plus, teachers who want more custom material can author their own content within Transparent Language Online, complete with audio, and then assign it to their students. All of the tools for authoring are included within the teacher edition of the program.

While cost is always a factor in choosing language-learning resources, it's important to consider the return on investment. The quality and quantity of content available in Transparent Language Online provides a more reliable and robust learning experience that's worth every penny.