Yapper

Product Design

Team

Selina Song (PM)
Brandon Yoon (PMM)

Role

Product Designer

Timeframe

January 2025 - Present

Overview

Yapper

Yapper is a language learning app focusing on real life application and conversation. It utilizes social media and slang to allow users to learn practical terms and phrases used in real conversations. 

Problem

Many language-learning apps fail to prepare users for real-life conversations

Most apps focus on structured lessons and grammar drills but don’t teach natural, everyday speech. Key issues include:

  • Unrealistic Phrases – Teaches formal expressions rarely used in daily life.

  • Overemphasis on Grammar – Real conversations don’t follow rigid rules.

  • Low Engagement – Repetitive exercises feel unnatural and boring.

  • No Cultural Context – Fails to integrate slang, accents, and real-world speech.


As a result, learners recognize words but struggle to speak fluently, making traditional methods ineffective.

Research

Why Traditional Methods Fall Short

Conducing surveys and interviews with 1,600+ language learners revealed key challenges in traditional language learning.

  • Speaking is the Top Priority – 49.5% of learners struggle most with speaking, yet most apps focus on reading/writing.

  • Real-World Learning is Lacking – 60% prefer speaking & listening, but apps rarely provide natural conversations.

  • Motivation is a Barrier – 29.4% struggle with consistency; engagement drops when lessons feel unnatural.

  • Grammar Overload – 31.4% say grammar rules slow them down; they want practical usage instead.

  • Pronunciation is Overlooked – 13% find pronunciation a challenge, yet most apps don’t offer feedback.

Research

User Interviews: Real Challenges in Language Learning

Interviews with language learners reinforced the survey findings, highlighting the need for real-world immersion and speaking practice.

Research

The Need for a New Approach

Traditional apps fail to build real-world speaking confidence, focusing too much on grammar and structured lessons. Research shows learners improve most through music, movies, and conversations, yet these methods are rarely integrated. To address this gap, the next step was to develop a immersive learning experience with emphasis on conversational words that reflects real-world use.

Design Process

Ideation

Based on our research findings, we focused on designing an experience that prioritizes real-world immersion and seamless interaction. In the low-fidelity stage, we explored ways to integrate media, conversation prompts, and AI feedback while keeping the interface intuitive and engaging.

Moving to high-fidelity, we refined the design to ensure smooth navigation, minimal friction, and an immersive, social-driven learning experience. Our goal was to remove barriers to fluency by making language learning effortless, interactive, and deeply connected to real-life use.

Solution

Yapper: Practical Language Learning for Real Conversations

Yapper immerses users in real-world content, helping them learn slang, cultural nuances, and practical phrases naturally. With AI-powered speaking feedback, instant flashcard creation, and interactive games, users can practice pronunciation, reinforce vocabulary, and stay engaged. By blending social-media-style scrolling, real conversations, and gamified learning, Yapper makes mastering a language fun, intuitive, and conversation-driven.

Feature #01

Immersive Learning

  • Onboarding allows users to select interests

  • Users can learn from real content of their language

  • Real time captions to aid learning

  • Tap on words to add to flashcard

Feature #02

Flashcard

  • Create flashcard sets

  • Categorize words and slangs by context

  • Quiz yourself and track progress

Feature #03

Gamified Review System

  • Improve on various aspects of the language through fun games

  • AI powered speaking games to improve pronunciation

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