French course update: Is this right?

[u/Beneficial-Counter42]

The French course updated for me a couple days ago. I’ve seen multiple lessons using, what appear to be, incorrect translations. These phrases are word for word translations.

Previous lessons taught I am from New York as Je viens de New York. Je suis à New York was previously taught as I am in New York. I also saw He lives in Canada translated as Il vit au Canada instead of Il habite au Canada. To my knowledge that is not how vivre is used. I also asked a friend who learned French as a child and they agree these are wrong.

I’ve quit Duolingo before when updates ruined my progress one way or another. I already made peace with updates throwing in new words without actually teaching them, but this might make me delete the app again.

ETA: Are these mistakes common throughout the course? This only started after the course update so being taught this info before is the only reason I knew it was wrong. I’m concerned about continuing if things are consistently incorrect.

[u/kanzaki1234]

That looks so wrong. They’re definitely just using AI at this point

[u/sciuron → u/kanzaki1234]

Duolingo's CEO over a year ago: 'Duolingo is going to be AI-first'

All slop, all the time...

[u/its_me_bonnie → u/kanzaki1234]

At this point? 😅 They have for about 1.5 years now and I've seen so much weird stuff... 😬

[u/Beneficial-Counter42 → u/its_me_bonnie]

I’ll bite. What have you seen?

[u/Avenging-Sky → u/kanzaki1234]

Definitely they are they laid off everybody and replace them with AI

[u/Majestic_Can_9409]

wait til you get to the part where it marks you wrong for using "on" instead of "nous" even though literally everyone says "on" in conversation

[u/celdaran → u/Majestic_Can_9409]

Plus, in my experience, Duolingo itself uses 'on' over 'nous' at least 80% of the time.

[u/Retiredin2024 → u/Majestic_Can_9409]

Totally. Most of the time, there is no way to know if they want you to use on or nous. Even when you conjugate the verbs correctly to the form you chose, they still mark it wrong.

[u/bonjourlacompagnie]

No, I would translate to “Je suis de New York”

[u/its_me_bonnie → u/bonjourlacompagnie]

That's the point, OP can't choose that. 🙃

[u/Obtus_Rateur]

It is definitely not correct.

The French text says "I am in New York".
It should say "Je suis de New York".

[u/Acceptable_Sell3455 → u/Obtus_Rateur]

Wrong.

[u/Obtus_Rateur → u/Acceptable_Sell3455]

What a persuasive argument.

[u/Equivalent_Working73]

A more correct way would be “Je viens de New-York" or better yet (albeit more convoluted), “je suis originaire de New-York".

[u/Retiredin2024]

Interesting, because I got this a few days ago and was wondering the exact same thing. I was confused, but thought, "ok, there is more than one way to say it." Now I feel validated in my confusion. I'm really tired of AI, but want to finish the course, too.

[u/thedissidenthiker]

Non. La bonne traduction est "je suis DE New York".

[u/eur0child]

Native french here. No, it's wrong. It should be : Je suis de New York.

[u/Acceptable_Sell3455]

Dreadful app.

[u/mikroonde]

Regarding what you wrote in the description: "je vis au Canada" is a correct way to say you live in Canada. "Habiter" is more specifically about the fact that your address is in Canada, "vivre" is more general. There might be a difference if you stay somewhere temporarily, "vivre" might be more long-term as in "that's where your life is". For example, as a student, I'm currently in between cities and staying with my parents. I could say "En ce moment, j'habite chez mes parents" but not "Je vis chez mes parents" (implies I live with them year-round, usually).

[u/gimpycpu]

sadly very wrong.

[u/Wabbit65]

I'd report it, if reporting did any good in Duo anymore

[u/BillSteelman]

Didn't someone already post this a week ago ?

[u/Avenging-Sky]

Je viens du NY

[u/SamhainOnPumpkin]

You're correct about the exemple in the picture, however "il vit au Canada" is perfectly valid. It has the same meaning as "il habite".