Hello! I've recently picked up learning Spanish because I work with a ton of dudes from Mexico. How much can I reasonably expect to learn from this app? I looked at their "curriculum" and it seems pretty short compared to what I think I'll need. What are some resources beyond "talk to your coworkers", that will put me on the right track?
I would recommend Language Transfer's Spanish course. You'll learn way more than with Duolingo and it will stick better. Just follow the instructions and pause the recording to formulate your sentences or you won't get anything out of it.
How does it meaningfully differ?
It's audio based, for one. The format is the instructor introduces concepts in a logical order such that they build upon each other. As new concepts are added you are instructed to make sentences with them. You pause the recording, formulate your sentence, and then unpause to check if you're right. There's a lot more thinking involved than picking things from a pre-made list. It's much more helpful for conversation since you have to do everything in your head.
Is there a video or reading component to it at all? I've always had more success as a visual learner. If not what would you recommend as a supplement that includes that aspect?
I would look for a textbook (I keep seeing Madrigal’s Magic Key to Spanish mentioned as a great one) and some simple story books/graded readers. Once you know enough to express yourself a bit, start a journal. News in Slow Spanish seems good for keeping up on current events in easy Spanish but they have a subscription model. Telesur for native level stuff when you feel you're ready.
Weirdly enough, I've been wanting Telesur to put out a podcast for awhile, and I'm just finding out about it now. Thanks for that, I suppose. I'll definitely check that book out as well.
Part of my end goal is to take up freelance translation as an side-income source, which is why I'm stressing written works as well as audio.