Whether you love or hate it, artificial intelligence has drastically altered the way the world does many things. Its influence on education is particularly pronounced, as evidenced in AI-driven software platforms like Duolingo Max. For college students, this platform is a game-changing tool; for others, it can spell the end of their academic career.
Are you in trouble at your college for misusing Duolingo Max? The Lento Law Firm Education Law Team doesn't think you should have to handle it alone. Call their offices today at 888.535.3686 or filling out this contact form to see how they can protect you.
What is Duolingo Max?
Most people have heard of Duolingo, the app famed for helping its users learn new language (with some persuasion from its notorious owl mascot). Duolingo Max is the premium version of that app.
In addition to personalizing lessons, removing ads, and promising unlimited hearts, the Max subscription provides users with extra helpful AI-driven tools. One popular example is “Explain My Answer,” which gives users feedback on their responses to questions or exercises.
There's also Roleplay, an interactive feature that lets users practice what they've learned by speaking with an AI-powered character in real time. Such practice is essential for language mastery.
How Can Duolingo Max Cause Problems for College Students?
Plenty of language teachers welcome Duolingo and its subscription tiers, including Max, to enhance the learning process and assess a student's strengths and weaknesses. Nevertheless, there is some concern that it could help students cheat on assignments or tests. Teachers might take the following as signs:
Slightly Incorrect or Repetitive Terms or Phrases
If you've ever read AI-generated papers or articles that were never edited, you might notice that AI sometimes sounds a little unnatural. You may not even be able to put your finger on it, but there might be sentences here and there that is technically correct but phrased awkwardly, or it may sometimes use a synonym for a different word that would have worked better in that context. AI also tends to repeat the same phrases, sentence structures, or speech patterns.
If it can happen with English AI, it can happen with other languages, too—even with Duolingo Max. After all, every language has its idioms, conventions, and exceptions to grammatical rules, and small deviations are usually noticeable to fluent speakers. Individual people also tend to favor certain ways of saying things, so they might sound like broken records occasionally. Students might become proficient enough with a language to develop their own ways of using it, and their usage patterns could be mistaken as AI.
On the other hand, some students might write like AI because they do not yet know the language well enough to be familiar with all its intricacies. They're simply modeling what Duolingo Max's AI taught them without having the experience to know how unnatural it is.
Despite this innocent explanation, your college might not be convinced, or they wouldn't consider it a good enough reason for sounding like AI rather than finding your own voice. You would need legal assistance to help with that.
Plagiarism or Similarities to Others' Work
Some students might rely so heavily on Duolingo Max's AI to speak a language correctly that they end up copying a previously published paper, article, or other document word for word. Also, if more than one student is using Duolingo Max as a study tool, they might use the language similarly.
Teachers commonly run assignments and tests through online plagiarism checkers. They also tend to notice if two or more students' results are almost the same.
If one student's work has enough in common with that of another student or something else that already exists, they could get into serious trouble with the school, whether the plagiarism was an accident or done on purpose. Either way, the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team would have to defend you if you want a chance at remaining a student.
Rapid Improvement
Of course, the point of Duolingo Max and college language courses is to see improvement in a student's skills. However, if a student struggles initially and then suddenly excels, teachers might suspect that they're using Duolingo Max to cheat rather than to simply learn and practice.
It wouldn't be fair for a school to assume that cheating is the only explanation for hard work, dedication, and the huge academic boosts people have when something just finally clicks. Still, it can happen without the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team to stand up for you.
What Should You Do If Your School Accuses You of Cheating?
Most schools are harsh on students who are guilty of cheating. It can overshadow your entire academic and vocational future. Your first instinct might be to panic or get angry if your school accuses you.
However, do your best to stay calm and quiet. Begin to immediately gather evidence to support your side of the story. It could transcripts or scores from your Duolingo Max account, or copies of your work that show your personal edits or demonstrate your genuine progress over time.
Also, refrain from trying to defend yourself without first consulting with the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team. You could accidentally say or do something that would implicate you or worsen your penalties. Let your legal team determine the best defense strategy for your case and present it to the school on your behalf. They care as much about your future as you do; given their stellar track record protecting students accused of using AI to cheat, you can trust that they'll fight well for you.
The Lento Law Firm Speaks the Language of Justice
Duolingo Max features many of the greatest benefits that AI software platforms can offer. You should be able to use it to enhance your academic career, not end it. The Lento Law Firm Education Law Team is ready to support you, so call their offices today at 888.535.3686 or fill out a contact form to schedule a consultation.
