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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