Let’s be honest! Most civil engineering students don’t wake up excited to study English. For many of them, language learning feels like a side quest that has nothing to do with bridges, concrete, or structural analysis. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: English is everywhere in engineering. From textbooks and research papers to technical manuals and global collaboration, it’s basically unavoidable. The problem isn’t that students don’t need English. It’s that the way we teach it often feels disconnected from their real world. And that’s where things start to fall apart.
Interestingly, research has long emphasized how critical English is in academic and professional settings, especially in globalized fields like engineering (Khan & Ali, 2010). Students are expected to read complex materials, understand technical terms, and communicate ideas clearly. Yet, many still struggle, not because they lack ability, but because they lack motivation. Traditional teaching methods, dominated by lectures and textbooks, don’t exactly spark excitement. So the real question becomes: what if the issue isn’t the students, but the tools we’re using?
This is where digital technology starts to change the conversation. Over the past decade, learning has shifted from rigid, classroom-centered systems to more flexible and interactive environments. Students today can access materials anytime, anywhere, which fits much better with their busy academic lives. Technology also encourages more active participation instead of passive listening, which has been shown to improve engagement and learning outcomes (Shadiev & Wang, 2022). In short, learning doesn’t have to feel like a chore anymore, it can actually be part of daily life.
One approach that stands out is Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (MALL). It sounds fancy, but the idea is simple: using your phone to learn a language. And honestly, it makes perfect sense. Students already spend hours on their phones, why not turn some of that time into something productive? Mobile learning allows for short, flexible learning sessions that can happen anytime, whether you’re waiting for a class or commuting. Studies show that this kind of accessibility can significantly improve consistency in learning (Akram et al., 2021).
Now let’s talk about Duolingo, probably the most recognizable language-learning app out there. What makes it interesting isn’t just its content, but how it delivers it. Instead of traditional lessons, it uses gamification points, levels, streaks to keep users engaged. This simple design trick turns learning into something that feels more like playing a game than studying. And surprisingly, it works. Research shows that Duolingo is particularly effective in helping learners build vocabulary and basic grammar skills through repetition and immediate feedback (Loewen et al., 2019).
But Duolingo isn’t perfect. While it’s great for beginners, it doesn’t fully prepare students for real-world communication. Engineering students, for example, need to understand technical discussions, write reports, and present ideas. These are complex skills that go beyond tapping answers on a screen. Some studies even point out that Duolingo lacks depth in developing speaking and writing abilities (Kazu & Kuvvetli, 2025). So while it’s a great starting point, it shouldn’t be the only tool in the toolbox.
