The document summarizes research on an app called Chatmunk, which allows users to practice speaking foreign languages without judgment. It includes: 1) User research showing most learn languages for personal enrichment or education, and prefer classes but find them lacking for real-life interactions. 2) Competitive analyses comparing Chatmunk's features to other language learning apps and translation tools, finding it unique in allowing unscripted conversations with natives. 3) Personas of potential users - a student studying abroad, traveler who wants immersion, and someone restarting a dormant language - who need affordable, stress-free practice.

1. By Justin Araujo & Elise Tang
Chatmunk

2. What is Chatmunk?
Chatmunk is an app which enables users to
practice speaking a foreign language without fear
of judgment or embarrassment.

3. User Research

4. 0 20 40 60 80
Why did you learn a foreign
language?
Personal Enrichment
Educational Requirement
Travel
Communicating with
Friends / Family
Other
73%
58%
58%
50%
12%
Learning Techniques Used
0 25 50 75 100
Classes 92%
Immersion
Phrasebook
35%
42%
46%
31%
Tutor
Flashcards
Language
Application
Other
19%
12%

5. "You can study for weeks and realize
later that you can't even ask what time
it is or introduce yourself. Not nearly
enough focus on useful questions and
answers that would make a real
dialogue. Instead you learn sentences
like “the dog does not drink milk” and
useless drivel.”
- Northofamerica, Duolingo user
"Classes and phrasebooks don't practice
real-life interactions or situations enough.”
- Mauricio Tenorio, survey participant
“You need to apply what you know [about
language] in a real way by speaking.
Most things that you'll talk about and use
at first is about daily life.”
- Patricia Fackina, spanish teacher
"The key is that mistakes help language
learners by showing them the limits of
language, and correcting errors before
they become ingrained. The more
learners speak, the quicker they improve.”
- Anne Merritt, from “Learning a
Foreign Language: five common
mistakes”, UK Telegraph
Research Data

6. Competitive &
Comparative Analyses

7. Features Duolingo Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone
Travel
Hello Talk Phrasebook Chatmunk
Free, Paid or Freemium Free
Freemium - free first
lesson in any language
Freemium - buy
additional categories
(shopping, emergencies,
basics plus)
Free Freemium Free
Dictionary Companion App
Vocabulary Section X X
Repeat a phrase in a language X X X X X
Evaluates pronunciation X X
Reading Comprehension X X
Question & Answer (scripted) X
Question & Answer (unscripted) X
Record your voice X X
Phrase Picker X X
Language Packs X X X X
Speak with Natives X
Slow speech pace X X
Basic Lesson before speaking Integrated X
Offline Capabilties Some X
Main language different than
English
X X
Listening Comprehension X X X
Language Learning Apps

8. Features Phrasebook iTranslate Voice Say Hi Google Translate Chatmunk
Free, Paid, Freemium Freemium Paid
Paid; Monthly Subscription on
top
Free Free
Male/Female Option X X X X
Change voice speed X X X
Offline voice X
Available offline X
Dictionary X X X
Favorites X X
Export words X X X
Export conversation X X
Suggested responses X
Walkie Talkie Translation
Function
X
Conversation mode X X
Handwriting Translation X
Photo Translation X
Translation Apps

9. Technology

10. A.I. Chat Bot
• Chatbot (n.): A program that utilizes natural
language understanding and processing
technology to have human-like conversation

11. Textalytics
• Multilingual
• Gammer, Spelling, Style check
• Continues to evolve with use

12. Hipmunk & Chatmunk
• Market Position of Hipmunk: Highly rated app to
find and book flights and hotels
• Adorable mascot makes clients feel comfortable
and want to engage with the app
• Current customers are part of targeted user base
for Chatmunk
• Chatmunk would provide an additional related
service to current Hipmunk customers who are
traveling abroad and attract more users to the
Hipmunk brand.

13. Personas

14. James
James is a college student who has been studying French since high
school. He not only has studied it for a long time but he has true
passion for French culture. That’s why he’s decided to study abroad
next semester in Paris! James wants to practice his speaking skills
before he goes, but doesn’t feel like he’s getting good practice with his
peers as they are all on the same as or lower level than him. Being a
student, he can't afford personal tutors nor does it fit into his already
busy academic schedule. James wants to be able to build his skills in
short bursts between his classes, lectures and extra-curricular
activities.
Pain Points:
- Not enough practical application
- Regional dialect
- Lack of student discounts
- Clunky interfaces
Needs:
- Comfortable environment
- Affordable
- Simple navigation
- Offline support
Tools / Resources:
- Rosetta Stone
- High school Spanish
- College level Spanish
- Flash cards
Technology: iPhone, Mac Air, iPad Air | Tech Proficiency: High
“I need help excelling in class”
Languages &
Proficiency:
- English: fluent
- French: intermediate to high
- Italian: low

15. Margo
Margo is an avid traveler who likes to find herself in foreign locales that
challenge and stimulate her senses. When it’s a country with a
completely new language, she relies on phrase books. What she really
loves to do is to put her previous language knowledge to practice.
When she goes on trips, she wants to feel as immersed as possible so
she practices conversational exchanges for common situations. By
trying to speak the language, she feels locals are more open to help
and converse with her. This makes Margo feel like she got to the heart
of a place. She is always keen to see a new place and try a new
experience and feeling comfortable speaking the language helps her do
that.
"I want to mingle with the locals"
Tools / Resources:
- Duolingo
- Phrase book
- Google Translate
- Classes
Technology: iPhone, iPad | Tech Proficiency: High
Pain Points:
- Classes are expensive
- Large time commitment
- Lessons too scripted; doesn’t feel
like a real conversation
Needs:
- Affordable
- Portability
- Slang usage
- Conversational tone
Languages &
Proficiency:
- German: fluent
- English: fluent
- French: intermediate
- Spanish: intermediate
- Italian: low

16. Kelly
Kelly took language courses in school and even studied abroad in
Madrid, Spain. It's been a long time since she's used her language
skills but she doesn't want to feel like she's wasted her previous efforts.
Her new neighbor recently moved here from Sevilla and she thinks it's
a perfect time to resume her language study. The vocabulary is slowly
coming back to her and she is comfortable reading and writing, but
she's rusty with speaking. She would love to get to know her new
neighbor and practice with her but she feels embarrassed. She wants
a way to practice without feeling self-conscious.
Pain Points:
- Not enough practical application
with language apps
- Expensive
- Awkwardness when speaking
Needs:
- Comfortable environment
- Affordable
- Flexibility to fit her schedule
Tools / Resources:
- Rosetta Stone
- High school L3 French
- Flash cards
- Foreign films with subtitles
Technology: iPhone, Mac Book Pro | Tech Proficiency: Medium to High
"I don't want to lose my language skill"
Languages &
Proficiency:
- English: fluent
- Spanish: intermediate
- Italian: low

17. App Map
Home
May I help you?
Hi, nice to meet you
Main
Navigation
-Langauge Selection
-Home
-Saved Chats
-Recent Chats
Recent 1
Recent 2
Recent 3
-Current Chat
-Settings
-Help
My Settings
-Notification
-Change main
language
-Send Feedback
-About
Chat Screen
-Individual
Statement playback
-Conversation
Playback
-Playback Speed
Slow, Normal, Fast
-Translation to user
native language
-Correction page
-Speak button
Suggetions
Screen
-Users response in
foreign language
-Users response
translated to native
language
-Corrected
response in foreign
language
-Corrected
response in users
native language
-Speak button
Saved Chats
-Chat List
-Individual Audio
feedback
-Share Chat
-Delete Chat

18. Task FlowStart New Chat
with Bot
Reply to Bot
Receive
Feedback
about Reply
Bot Replies
Click to see
mistakes
See error and
possible
correction
Record Reply
Again
Save Chat
Clear Chat
Incorrect Reply Correct Reply
Play Back
Audio
Bot Asks You
Question in
Selected
Language to
Learn
Return to Saved
Chat
Play Audio for
Saved Chat
Open
Application
(1st Time)
Select Primary
Language
Select
Language to
Learn
Open
Application
(Not 1st Time)
Change
Language to
Learn
Select Question
Bot will ask you

19. Mock-Up & Usability
Test Results

20. Usability Test Results
Function /
Interaction
Items Involved v1 User Feedback v1 Result
v2 User
Feedback
v2 Result
1
Start a
conversation
Dual choices on the
Home Screen
75% of users didn't understand how to
start.
May be due in part to low fidelity.
Made the questions choices into buttons.
Changed the language to be more
instructional.
OK
2
Record a
response
Record button OK
Made changes to fidelity and shape.
Added "Record Response" to
microphone icon.
OK
3
Users'
expectations after
replying with an
incorrect
response.
Chat bubble with wrong
words underlined (like in
Microsoft Office)
40% of Users did not understand the
correctional feedback and were
expecting a response from the bot.
Once explained that there was an
error, all clicked on the chat bubble to
get additional information.
Add additional visual feedback whether
User response is correct or incorrect.
OK
4
Re-record an
incorrect response
Error page and record
button
70% of users wanted to tap the
sugested response instead of re-
record an answer
May be caused by low fidelity of
prototype.
Add instructional language and raise
fidelity.
OK
5 Play audio Audio Icon
Play icon understood by most. A few
said Audio Icon was too much like
WiFi symbol.
80% Users also wanted to be able to
Play All.
Play All added to chat screen. OK
6
Change the speed
of the audio
Speed slider at bottom of
screen
100% of users understood function of
slider.
65% of users wanted it at the top
A few users were concerned about
the range of fast and slow that could
be played.
Moved the function to the top.
Defined speed as "Slow, Normal, Fast"
buttons instead of a slider.
Buttons were
confusing to some
users who thought
they represented
the pace of the
conversation
Added "Playback
Speed" indication
above buttons.
7 Save current chat
Hamburger Icon and
Drop Arrow
95% of users went to Menu Icon Move action to Menu. OK
8 Other
Chatmunk's speech
bubble
25% of users wanted the Chatmunk's
speech bubble to be translated if they
didn't understand.
Included ability to translate Chatmunk's
speech through a long-press of the chat
bubble. Translation replaced text in
Chatmunk bubble.
Wanted to have
translation and
original both
shown.
Have translation
underneath the
original. Changed
color as additional
feedback.
9 Other
"Error Correction" screen
taxonomy
Sounded very harsh Changed to "Suggested Response". OK

21. 1
Home Screen and
Language Picker

22. 2
3
4
5
6
7
3
8
9
Chat Screens

23. 7 Menu Flyout,
Settings &
Notifications

24. Saved Chat Screens

25. Prototype

26. • Additional languages
• Chatting live with native speakers
(Premium)
• Continuity across multiple devices
Next Steps

27. Thank you
Justin Araujo:
Elise Tang:
justinaraujo@gmail.com
elise.tang@gmail.com