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Design Process Overview
Conference poster available here.
This prototype was tested/demonstrated at the showcase.
Connecting people who are eager to practice or refine their second language skills with those who are fluent in particular languages. More specifically people are looking to be connected with similar interests in languages who do not have a medium available.
i. Language learners (18 years +) who are attempting to connect them with native speakers in order to refine their language skills.
ii. Fluent speakers who willingly volunteer to be conversation partners for language learners
“Design an online platform application to support comfortable and motivational second language communication practice with native speakers by language learners.”
i. "Gengo” connects language learners and fluent speakers for one-on-one setting communication practice in a particular language.
ii. “Gengo” has a filter function to let language learners choose their conversation partners based on their preferences
iii. “Gengo” provides a medium for texting, voice message, and video call as communication options.
iv. “Gengo” has a chatbot character to motivate learners by reminding them of their learning purposes every day, and support the conversation when necessary.
Background Research → Determined to focus on conversation aspect
▼ - Domain Research
▼ - Existing Solutions
▼ - Expert Interview
User Research → Identified Challenges
▼ - Interview for language learners
▼ - Academic research on language learners
First Prototype (low-fidelity) → Determined basic functions
▼ - User testing for the communication method
▼ - User testing for pair matching
▼ - Academic research to support the findings
Second Prototype (high-fidelity-1) → Improved Usability
▼ - User testing for usability
Final Prototype (high-fidelity-2) → Future design direction
Week 9 Standup → LINK
Week 11 Standup → LINK
Academic studies: LINK.
Existing solutions: LINK.
User research & Expert interview: LINK.
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Main findings to support our design decision: See “Background” section in the poster
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Main challenges identified through the research above:
i. Let learners communicate with native speakers (including all of the reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills) and let them use the language as a tool for communication
ii. Provide an environment for learners apart from other language learners
iii. Provide a comfortable environment for learners to communicate
iv. Encourage learners to keep learning through the social network system
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Basic Feature:
Prototype: LINK.
i. Log in
ii. Profile
iii. Pair matching (automatic, based on users’ interest)
iv. Texting as a main communication tool with options for video calls and voice messages
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Design rationale:
Design description & reqirements: LINK.
i. Mainly focusing on communicative learning because it is proven to be more effective than the traditional learning style (focusing on vocabularies and grammars)
ii. Introducing one-on-one conversation style with native speakers because it is reported to be motivating and suitable for adults’ learning
iii. Having multiple communication methods to enable users to practice all of the 4 skills (reading, listening, speaking, and writing)
iv. Having texting as the main function because it is the most common way of online communication today and it allows learners to have some time to think what to say, which is reported to be essential for them.
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The main focus for testing:
Testing approach: LINK.
Testing results: LINK.
i. To Understand users’ perception for pair matching and communication method
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Basic function determined through the first prototype:
i. To motivate language learners to keep learning
ii. To have conversation topics available for those who need them
iii. To provide a pair matching method that makes language learners feel comfortable to expose
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Changes for the next prototype:
i. Implement a smart bot to motivate learners by reminding them of their learning purposes every day, and support the conversation when necessary.
ii. Let language learners choose their partner based on their preferences by utilizing filter functions for common factors.
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Basic Feature: Prototype: LINK
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Design rationale: Design description & requirements: LINK
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The main focus for testing:
Testing approach: LINK
Testing results: LINK
i. To check users’ perception for the pair matching and the smart-bot, which have been changed/added from the previous prototype ii. To check the usability
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Changes for the next prototype:
i. To add “back” buttons to enable users to navigate to and from screens, also to update decisions made in previous steps
ii. Add a smart-bot as a floating element in the voice and text message sections so that the users can access directly to it
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Basic Feature: Prototype: LINK
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Design rationale: Design description & requirements: LINK
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The main focus for testing:
Demo approach: LINK
Demo results: LINK
i. To check users’ perception for the communication methods which is functioning for users’ input/output
ii. To check the usability
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Considerations for the future prototype:
i. Need to conduct more user testing for smart-bot to adjust its function to users’ needs
ii. Need to assess users’ retention which is one of the important success criteria
iii. Need to consider how to manage the pair matching if there is a gap between the number of native speakers and language learners
iv. Need to find a suitable medium to find volunteers for native speakers (One possibility is Facebook as an existing similar service utilizes it which they reported to be working well.)
Team Work Allocation: LINK