yas
Listen to English as it is

The Listening Problem

If you have ever started to learn a new language and been around a group of native speakers while you're still learning it, you probably know the struggle of trying to keep up with the conversation in real time. Even when students can make sentences and speak, it is hard to fit in a conversation where one cannot understand most of what is happening. In fact, approximately 40% of our interviewees said the hardest part of learning English is learning listening.

What’s more, language learning programs (courses and apps) usually help students train listening with unrealistic audio clips – usually too slow. In other words, course/app audio files show English “how it should be/sound” rather than what it is. In our interviews, we found that students who spent more time on Netflix were more likely to be better at listening than most participants (who did not have such habit). That means streaming services may be doing a better job than language programs when helping many learners train listening.

Another problem is that these programs usually standardize a single accent as a “neutral” one. Although that has been the norm for decades, newer approaches suggest different accents should be featured in language programs so learners can be exposed to diversity and understand that there is no such thing as the “right accent”.

After 12 years in the language learning space, I still hear this from people who then become my clients: “I studied this language for 7 years but then when I went abroad, I saw I didn't know anything.” Or “I couldn't communicate because people just spoke too fast.”

Early on, I abandoned the traditional audios from language learning courses and started experimenting with videos (news, interviews, and shows) and built an approach based on it. Classes became much more engaging, fuller, interesting, fun... we were even featured on American television because of that.

Although classes with this approach are interesting enough to keep learners engaged and their learning experiences effective, there is one thing classes still cannot solve, which is the fact that many teachers will choose a topic/video to bring to class that not all learners are particularly interested in. Learners are interested in what's new and relevant to them, but they are all different from each other.

Why the Listening Problem Matters

Today, most programs (courses and apps) follow a traditional grammar-based curriculum. Over the recent decades, innovative programs have shifted to context-based approaches, seeing as learners become more interested in and motivated by stories and personal contexts than grammar-focused materials. Additionally, programs in the past focused more on reading and writing. Now, innovative programs have shifted to focusing more on speaking—as it is the first language skills consumers are looking for. Despite recent improvements, there is still a hole in current language learning offerings, which is the listening skill. This article explains how listening is clearly the weakest skill of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners.

Globally, over 1.5 billion people are learning English. Out of these, more than 100 million are in my home country, Brazil. Yet, only 5% of the Brazilian population cannot speak English. In South America, around 1% can speak it. What’s striking about thinking of Brazil as a market for language learning is the fact that more than 50% of our population is currently studying the language, and that English is a required subject in high schools.

As aforementioned, many programs offer unrealistic audio clips (mostly because they are form scripted readings, rather than actual conversations). Additionally, language learners need enough input that will allow them to communicate more confidently and effectively. Of all 4 major language skills, native speakers train listening during most of the time. Also, when learning one’s native language, individuals develop speaking, writing, and reading at the same time they are listening. It is the one skill that cannot be left out. This article highlights what listening-effective language learning strategies look like.

Theory of Action

If learners focus on training listening to English as it is, in contexts that make sense to them,

Then they will be more engaged, motivated, confident, and prepared,

So that they can communicate effectively with other English speakers.

The Listening Solution

yas will be an English listening app that connects learners with actual English by letting them choose whatever topic they like and train listening with a pedagogy that works.

In other words, I intend to “appify” exercises that have been done in the classroom for at least the past 7 years. There are essentially 4 types of exercises learners can do with each video: one where they fill in the blanks by writing, one where they fill in the blanks by speaking, one where they unscramble sentences, and one where they need to write a transcription of the video.

The idea is that they will pick the activity that works best for them and instead of having a linear course with Unit 1, unit 2, unit 3 and so on, they will have access to a library of videos they can choose from, and which will feature new videos added every day — with content related to what's happening around the world and whatever hot topic that comes up!

One application example is a “news” page (which could potentially even be a partnership with a news outlet or content creators from basically any field) that learners can follow and always practice English using that content. All of these lessons will be crafted to be super short and engaging, with audios ranging from 10 to 30 seconds. And the best thing is that learners do feel they are learning each time they can complete and understand something new — which also means they are going to be prepared for the real world with real English!

yas will evolve into an English language learning app that creates adaptive, and unique language learning experiences, tailored to the learner's goals and preferences. Self-regulated and brain-friendly learning lie at the core of this approach. This way, someone who's a beginner and needs to learn English for business purposes can start by learning a few sentences about marketing rather than spending their first two weeks going through lists of animals and vegetables.

During onboarding, learners will:

Check their proficiency level.
Choose context-based learning goals (that means, choose topics they would like to see on the app).
Choose how much they will use the app and set daily activity goals.
Pick activities they feel teach them better.
Gain access to a library of videos, accounts they can follow, and English as it is.

Initially, no transformative tech will be used. A speech-to-text API will need to be used for the activity that involves speech recognition. Recommendation algorithms will also be adopted in order to increase engagement and offer unique learning experiences. Later, Natural Language Processing (NLP) could be used to enhance speech recognition on the app.

Previously, I used an app built with Wix to allow learners to test the app, which had other EdTech offerings embedded. Although it was clunky, more than 160 users had downloaded the app after the second week.

Here are some UI screens of the app concept: