Hi! Langee
Making heritage language learning a vibrant part of every child’s routine
Key Contributions
User Research
Learning Design
Product Development
Branding
Project Management
Pitched Selected at SF Tech Week
Duration: 1 year, 2023
Backstory
Hi! Langee is an 11-month-long project was envisioned as part of the Learning, Design, and Technology program, in collaboration with my colleague Ana Marini at Stanford University, under the guidance of Guadalupe Valdes, Ramón Martínez, Karin Forssell & Brigid Barron.
What is Hi! Langee?
Hi! Langee is an AI-powered app that integrates language learning into daily life with curated activities, raising oral proficiency while fostering emotional bonds and cultural sensitivity.
How Does it Work?
During the onboarding, parents input their native languages, their child’s interests and routines. This information is used to generate personalized conversational prompts for them that they can choose from or regenerate with just a click!
The Native Language Gap
“I am trying to teach my daughter Spanish, she is picking it up but it breaks my heart a little when I speak to her in Spanish but she responds in English.”
Understanding Parents’ Existing Practices
To design a tool that helps parents sustain their heritage language, we set out to understand their existing practices. We began with 30-minute pre-study interviews to learn about their daily routines, followed by a 5-day diary study where parents shared audio reflections via WhatsApp. We concluded with post-study interviews to explore key themes that emerged.
Emerging themes from parents’ reflections
All the audio notes and interview recordings were transcribed and open-coded using an AI tool. During the open coding process, parents’ existing practices were categorized as enablers and disablers of heritage language practice or use.
Theory of change
Providing parents with ideas backed by learning sciences and rooted in their daily lives will encourage increased usage of their heritage language at home.
Do prompts really work?
Over a 5-day intervention study, parents participated in a process designed to explore their daily routines and engagement. The study began with mapping routines through a diary study and interviews. Parents then selected specific moments in their day when they preferred to receive prompts, which were delivered via WhatsApp. In response, they shared their reactions and reflected on the experience, offering valuable insights into their habits and interactions.
Learnings from the Intervention
Yes! Parents created more moments for interactions.. P1 created more moments and reported using the prompts. However, P2 reported a challenge during bathtime, as it was difficult for her to speak Spanish during this time because they were all tired by the end of the day.
Yes, prompts inspired new practices and reflections Prompts also inspired parents to repurpose existing practices and even places. P1 highlights that he never sort of imagined playing I Spy, the game we suggested incorporating Tamil into that and P2 also says she ha never really thought about playing the game in the car.
Reception
Ana and I had the opportunity to showcase our project to investors, tech professionals and learning designers at the LDT Expo at Stanford and at the “Women in Entrepreneurship” event at the SF Tech Week 2024!
