From Language Learner to Language App Creator

Part 1

Growing Up Multilingual

Hi, I am a sophomore at National Chengchi University, Taiwan. I am pursuing a degree in English Language and Literature. I am Malaysian Chinese; my ancestors were from China, and I am the third generation born and raised in Malaysia.

Chinese is my mother tongue, and I can speak with a Malaysian, Taiwanese, or Beijing accent depending on the situation. I also speak English, Malay, a bit of Cantonese, a bit of Hakka, and a roughly B1 level in both German and French.

English and Malay were compulsory subjects in school. I particularly enjoyed language classes because I didn't have to study concepts as in science, or memorize facts as in history, or do endless practice drills as in maths. I would score As without much preparation or revision, unlike other subjects. As a result, I developed a special fondness for languages.

Malay is the national language of Malaysia. However, since Malaysia is a multiracial country, I use English, Malay, and Chinese in my daily life, depending on whom I am speaking with. In my home, different Chinese dialects were spoken in addition to Mandarin and English, including Cantonese, Hakka, and Hokkien, mostly by adults. And we also watched TV shows in these dialects, so I was immersed in a multilingual environment from a young age, although I am much better at understanding the dialects than speaking them.

Part 2

My German Learning Journey 

I started learning German when I was 18, after breaking up with my (now ex) boyfriend, because I suddenly found myself with lots of spare time. I decided on German, because after some googling, I was convinced that German was the easiest language to learn for English speakers.

I used Duolingo, because at that time I did not know of or think of any other apps. I subscribed to the paid version to get rid of the annoying and distracting ads. Even though I disliked the repetitive and unrealistic content it offered, I managed to finish the entire German course.

I thought by then I would've reached B1 level and be able to at least hold basic conversations in German, but I couldn't. I felt frustrated and confused. I had even copied every sentence and its translation while going through the course, but somehow my efforts did not translate into tangible results. I was still very far from my desired level of proficiency.

I enrolled in a German course in my first semester of university, but it was too easy for me, I scored 100%. I then searched the library for books containing collections of everyday German dialogues, but I could not find any. Most books devoted only a small section to dialogues and focused more on grammar explanations, exercises, and reading passages.

Part 3

Discovering Better Ways to Learn 

Around that time, I decided to start learning French. I was planning to go on an exchange semester in Germany and hoped to visit my French friend. Although she speaks excellent English, I wanted to be able to speak French to gain a deeper understanding of her culture and make the most of the experience.

Looking for an alternative language app, I gave Busuu a try. It was much better, and I especially liked the conversation parts.

I would repeat each sentence aloud, but much of the time even the slow recordings were too fast for me. I had to replay them multiple times, shadowing the first half of a sentence, then the second half, and finally, the whole sentence. Though I struggled to speak at a native pace, I found shadowing helpful for my mouth muscles to get used to producing unfamiliar sounds.

Part 4

Learning Through Teaching 

During my second semester, I began volunteering as a language buddy at the Chinese Learning Center. I conducted both individual casual chatting sessions and small classes of around five students.

I noticed that many learners struggled with intonation. To help them, I would speak slowly and break phrases into smaller parts for them to repeat. It soon occurred to me that this was very similar to the shadowing practice that had helped me learn French.

I also sat in on their Chinese classes and observed that teachers frequently repeated words and phrases slowly to demonstrate correct pronunciation and intonation.

These experiences made me realize how important repeated listening and speaking practice are in language learning.

Part 5

The Idea Behind the App 

I was inspired to create an app that focuses on shadowing practice. Learners can pause and replay audio as many times as they need, at both normal speed and slow.

I also wanted the content to be based on authentic native conversations presented through a continuous story, so that grammar concepts are effortlessly acquired within context, rather than through isolated explanations.

I am still a full-time student, currently in my exchange semester in Germany, and I have no coding experience. My app is simple, but it includes essential features such as progress tracking and vocab explanations.

It is challenging to learn Chinese, and I hope my app can provide meaningful support in this rewarding but demanding pursuit.

Part 6

Dear Learners: 

I have a passion for languages, and I love Taiwan, so I am happy to be able to share with you the story adapted from my real experiences in Taiwan, to help you speak confidently like a local.

In each lesson you will learn some new words, not too many to be overwhelming, and specially designed so that you learn the words and phrases based on actual usage frequency.

Thank you for your support, and I wish you all the best in your language-learning journey!