The Effect of Duolingo as a Digital Tool in Teaching Writing Nrrative Text for Vocational Students
Pengaruh Duolingo sebagai Alat Digital dalam Mengajar Penulisan Teks Naratif bagi Siswa Kejuruan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21070/ups.11902Keywords:
Narrative text, learning media, Duolingo, vocational school, writing skillAbstract
Writing is an essential productive skill for vocational high school students, but many struggle with narrative texts due to limited vocabulary, grammatical inaccuracies, and poor organization. This study investigates the effect of Duolingo on students’ narrative writing skills. A pre-experimental one-group pre-test and post-test design involved 35 tenth-grade students at SMKN 2 Buduran Sidoarjo. Data were collected through narrative writing tests and assessed using an analytical rubric adapted from Brown, covering content, organization, grammar, vocabulary, and mechanics. Data were analyzed using the Normalized Gain (N-Gain) formula. The findings showed that the average score increased from 77.11 in the pre-test to 93.25 in the post-test, with an average N-Gain of 0.703, categorized as high. All students demonstrated improvement, with none achieving a low N-Gain score. These findings indicate that integrating Duolingo with classroom instruction effectively improves students’ narrative writing skills and supports technology-enhanced English writing instruction in vocational high schools.
Downloads
References
S. Heine, M. Krepf, and J. König, “Digital Resources as an Aspect of Teacher Professional Digital Competence : One Term , Different Definitions – A Systematic Review,” Educ. Inf. Technol., pp. 3711–3738, 2023, doi: 10.1007/s10639-022-11321-z.
Y. Zou, F. Kuek, W. Feng, and X. Cheng, “Digital Learning in The St Century : Trends , Challenges , and Innovations in Technology Integration,” 2023.
S. W. Rani Ligar, Rudi Hartono, “Integrating Technology in Language Education : A Critical Review of Current Practices,” vol. 4778, pp. 2832–2846, 2025, doi: 10.24256/ideas.
Fitriani, “Duolingo in English education: Evidence-based perspectives on learning outcomes,” vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 333–346, 2024.
B. G. Reza Hadi, When Gamification Spoils Your Learning : A Qualitative Case Study of Gamification Misuse in a Language-Learning App, vol. 1, no. 1. Association for Computing Machinery. doi: 10.1145/3491140.3528274.
E. K. Vannia Liebnis, Indra Perdana, “Expediencies of Duolingo in English Language Learning: A Systematic Literature Review,” vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 453–462, 2025.
N. Zarrinabadi, N. Jabbari, and F. Amini, “Understanding The Role of Competition Beliefs and Learning Orientations in Duolingo Learners ’ Engagement : The Mediating Effects of Autonomy and Motivation,” vol. 3, 2026.
L. Ode, A. Suherman, F. Farisatma, K. Krisnawati, and N. Hamka, “Leveraging MALL in Higher Education : Duolingo ’ s Efficacy in Enhancing Language Learning Motivation,” Elsya J. English Lang. Stud., vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 231–243, 2024.
P. Quang, R. Chowdhury, L. Thi, and T. Thu, “Unveiling The Blended Learning Factors That Affect English As a Foreign Language Learning Students ’ Writing,” Comput. Educ. Open, vol. 10, no. January, p. 100334, 2026, doi: 10.1016/j.caeo.2026.100334.
M. M. Hia, M. S. Muhyidin, and W. H. Setyawan, “The Effectiveness of Using Duolingo in Teaching Vocabulary to Camp Class at Language Center,” Celt. A J. Cult. English Lang. Teaching, Lit. Linguist., vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 293–305, 2024.
Nurbadillah, I. M. Wiguna, S. W. Nurjihan, N. Faturrahman, and H. R. Lestari, “Comparative Study : The Effectiveness of Learning Japanese Using Duolingo and YouTube,” Mars J. Tek. Mesin, Ind. Elektro dan Ilmu Komput., vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 18–24, 2025.
R. Santika, D. Charisma, and I. Sugesti, “The Implementation of Digital Resources as Supporting Learning Media in Teaching Narrative Writing Text,” J. Indones. Sos. Teknol., vol. 4, no. 9, pp. 1261–1271, 2023.
Maria Osmunda Eawea Monny and Evelyn Angelita Pinondang Manurung, “Exploring The Use of Narrative Texts in Teaching Writing for Efl Classroom,” Edulitics J., vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 62–74, 2024.
M. Osmunda, E. Monny, E. Angelita, and P. Manurung, “Effectiveness Of Using The Application Duolingo To Improve Students ’ Writing Skill,” J. Educ., vol. 07, no. 01, pp. 1050–1055, 2024.
F. Baharudin et al., “Process of Writing : The Challenges in Writing Skill Among ESL Learners,” Int. J. Acad. Res. Bus. Soc. Sci., vol. 13, no. 10, pp. 32–50, 2023, doi: 10.6007/IJARBSS/v13-i10/18649.
R. Shania, N. Salsabilla, R. Amelinda, and I. Lukman, “The Effect of Using Duolingo On English Writing for EFL University Students,” J. Pendidikan, Sos. dan Hum., vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 238–244, 2024.
M. Damayanti, M. Yosephin, and S. Lestari, “Improving Students ’ Writing Ability In The Procedure Text Using Duolingo Application At 8 Grade Students Of SMP Negeri 5 Pati 2023 / 2024,” Fonologi J. Ilmuan Bhs. dan Sastra Ingg., vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 161–172, 2024.
S. Lahji, “Improving English Learning Motivation With the English App Duolingo,” no. 5, pp. 194–203, 2024.
E. A. R. Palupi and E. Z. Nuroh, “Digital Storytelling for Vocational Students ’ Speaking and Writing Skills,” Indones. J. Educ. Methods Dev., vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 1–10, 2025.
R. A. Mevia, A. T. Shofi, L. Masruroh, E. Language, E. Program, and U. Qomaruddin, “The Effect of Using Duolingo Application as Teaching Media to Improve Vocabulary,” J-Shelves Of Indragiri (JSI), vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 19–33, 2024.
U. Mujiarni, Sabarun, and H. Widiastuty, “Duolingo for Vocabulary Mastery: Empowering Students in the Digital Age of Language Learning,” EJI (English J. Indragiri) Stud. Educ. Lit. Linguist., vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 382–399, 2024.
D. Hidayat, “The Effectiveness of Duolingo in Improving Vocabulary Mastery Among Fourth-Grade Students,” Al-Irsyad J. Educ. Sci., vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 641–647, 2025.
Selviana, Jamiluddin, and A. Anggreni, “Duolingo Application : Enriching Vocabulary Mastery of EFL Students,” J. Interdiscip. Stud. Humanit., vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 864–869, 2025.
E. J. Undiksha, W. A. Pangestu, and P. A. Adiwijaya, “Improving Students ’ Writing Skill Through The Implementation of Animated Short Movie in Teaching Writing Narrative Text,” Lang. Educ. J. Undiksha, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 114–124, 2021.
M. H. Hidayatullah, “Improving Students ’ Writing Skill in Writing Narrative Text Through Picture and Picture Method,” J. English Ibrahimy, vol. 1, no. February, pp. 35–41, 2022.
Q. Xie, “Construct representation and predictive validity of integrated writing tasks : A study on the writing component of the Duolingo English Test,” Assess. Writ., vol. 61, no. February, p. 100846, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.asw.2024.100846.
N. Faizah, M. Yamin, and N. Fadillah, “Exploring The Role of Duolingo in Elevating University Students’ Writing Skills,” EduInovasi J. Basic Educ. Stud. Vol, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 1601–1619, 2024.
W. R. Y. Pradana, N. M. Ratminingsih, and D. P. Ramendra, “The Effectiveness of Using Duolingo on Students ’ Vocabulary Mastery and Writing Competence Of,” PRASI J. Bahasa, Seni, dan Pengajarannya, vol. 18, no. 02, pp. 126–142, 2023.
L. Rahmawati, “Implementasi Aplikasi Duolingo Dalam Meningkatkan Kosakata Bahasa Inggris Pada Siswa Smpn 19 Mataram,” JISHUM (Jurnal Ilmu Sos. dan Humaniora), vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 673–684, 2024.
B. Sibuea, A. Purba, and I. A. Mulya, “Duolingo Application in Improving Students ’,” Biling. J. Pendidik. Bhs. Ingg., vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 34–39, 2025.
Y. A. Rahman, F. Yeni, F. Apriyanti, F. Asri, and F. Habibah, “Measuring the Effectiveness of Process Writing Approach to Improve EFL Students ’ Writing Proficiency via Normalized Gain,” J. English Lang. Teach., vol. 01, pp. 566–573, 2024.
M. D. Afandi, N. R. Aquariza, and N. Authar, “Enhancing Writing Proficiency Through Mobile-Assisted Language Learning ( MALL ): Insights and Innovations,” vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 31–41, 2025.
R. Goodwin and R. Kirkpatrick, “Using rubrics to improve writing skills : a study in Kuwait,” Lang. Test. Asia, 2023, doi: 10.1186/s40468-023-00224-6.
D. W. Skills, “The Impact of the Word Webbing Technique on EFL Students ’,” J. Pendidik. Progresif, vol. 15, no. 03, pp. 2073–2088, 2025, doi: 10.23960/jpp.v15i3.pp2073-2088.
R. Rouabhia and K. Kheder, “Using Duolingo in Teaching and Learning Vocabulary : A Systematic Review,” vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 91–107, 2024.
Downloads
Additional Files
Posted
License
Copyright (c) 2026 UMSIDA Preprints Server

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
