Tag Archives: Conversational AI for language learning

5 things we improved about Linguineo Pro that you need to know

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Summer is coming to an end. *Cries in Belgian weather* While we’ve enjoyed the occasional sunny moments, we have been working *read: the whole year* behind the scenes to improve Linguineo Pro. We know, summer isn’t done yet, but we sure are with the update of Linguineo Pro. We have done a major update to Linguineo Pro, incorporating all the most important previous user feedback. Yay! We literally can’t wait to share it with you! So, keep on reading to find out what we improved. Let’s start immediately with the big changes!

1. New conversation feature

The new conversation feature allows users to get started with having conversations right away. They can start conversations on any topic, select one of the pre-created scenarios or personalize conversations using specific filtering options. Moreover, with the ‘pick a topic yourself’ option, users can choose a theme or enter a custom one for the conversation.

When using the filter, users can choose between ‘open directed’, ‘not yet done’, ‘specific to my profession’ or ‘for everyone’. Through configuring conversations, users can now set answer types, activate automatic translation, and utilize glosses. They can even filter which conversations should be shown in the list.

2. New vocabulary feature

Having an easy to consult and interactive word list was after the conversation feature one of the most requested features for a long time. Ask, and you shall receive – that’s exactly what is happening here.

What can you expect from the new vocabulary feature? A multifunctional vocabulary list. Basically, the Linguineo Pro app provides a vocabulary list where you can favorite words, listen to them, filter for unfamiliar words or those under a certain label, all for your selected profession.

You can then do exercises directly related to that vocabulary list, all tailored to the vocabulary required for your profile. Also, with the filter, you can select which words you want to be visible. For example, when clicking on ‘start exercise’ an exercise is started with the words from the filter, and the same goes for ‘start puzzle’. 

Besides the big changes, we also made numerous small change that will also make a difference: 

3. More professional authentication

Yes, this is dedicated to all those who tend to forget their passwords – myself included, I must confess. Initially changing your password wasn’t an easy option with Linguineo Pro. However, after many “how can I change my password?”, we realized the need for improvement. Voilà, you can now change your password on the application, whenever, wherever you want. Now you can reset your password anytime you need to!

4. Content review

Did we read and test all conversations? yes! Did we even make them better? Absolutely! In Linguineo Pro, we not only reviewed and improved the conversations but also added new graphic elements for conversations. And if that was not enough yet, we even added ‘open conversations’ for supported profiles like nurses, cleaners, … It is now possible to have open conversations. Ready to talk? 

5. Reworked the progress tab

This means more focus on competences and making results available on demand. So, after an exercise is completed, it will be shown in the learning path with the exact date of completion. Now, by clicking on it, the results will be displayed without restarting the exercise. So easy to track progress! Perfect for staying motivated, right?

And last, but not least, the app and conversations are now available in 6 additional languages. We have included Farsi, Pashto, Armenian, Afrikaans, Vietnamese, and Nepali. That was it, all the big and small changes!

All these changes were made possible thanks to feedback. We genuinely appreciate the feedback we have received about Linguineo Pro. We value feedback as it is crucial for enhancing our product.

If you are a Linguineo Pro user and would like to provide us with feedback, feel free to contact us at linguineopro@linguineo.com. If you are not yet a Linguineo Pro user and curious about the app, feel free to try Linguineo Pro right here.

Also, after receiving many demands about online documentation, we have made it available. Now, all documentation is accessible online, and we are very happy about it. 

Building speaking confidence in a foreign language

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Man enters a local bakery. Due to speaking fear, he does not dare to speak in the foreign language. Therefore, he indicates what he wishes.

Learning a foreign language is challenging but rewarding. While learning, some of us may experience speaking anxiety. Overcoming this is not easy, but crucial to master a new language. In fact, according to scientific research from Defense Language Institute, it is one of the most important things to overcome to master a new language. Luis von Ahn, founder of our big brother Duolingo, says it in this video.

Overcoming speaking anxiety as a major challenge

Imagine yourself in a sunny village in the south of France, a remote but charming village. Everything is in French, no one speaks English. Fortunately, you have a good basic French knowledge. This immersion should in fact refine your French speaking skills.

On your first day in the morning, you decide to go look for a local bakery. You forgot to charge your phone and therefore have to ask locals for directions first. There are many people outside, but you don’t approach them. You don’t dare to ask for directions in French. The threshold to speak in French is too high. You decide to look for a bakery yourself.

After walking for a while, you come across a local bakery. Great! You would like some pastries, but again you can’t get over the threshold to carry out the conversation in French. With some pointing, you get rid of the uncomfortable situation. Although you supposedly know enough French, speaking it in real-life situations is very difficult for you. These situations highlight the importance of building up speaking confidence.

Task-based language teaching

To be better equipped to deal with situations like this and build up this necessary confidence, task-based language teaching (TBLT) has proven to be an effective method.

Tasked-based language teaching (TBLT) is a methodology where the focus is on learning skills rather than language knowledge. This by doing practical tasks in the language one is learning. Exactly what we are up against in our French village situation. The language knowledge is there, but in practice the language skills are lacking, after which the fear of speaking emerges.

One reference for this approach is the book ‘technology-mediated TBLT’ written by researchers Marta González-Lloret and Lourdes Ortega. It highlights even more benefits besides “doing it yourself”.

 A safe language learning environment for practice

Many people are too self-conscious when they have to speak a foreign language. Especially because they are afraid to make mistakes and therefore be judged by others. The threshold to speak that new language is then often too high. As in the case of the French village. Thankfully, that fear of speaking can be overcome. 

One of the ways to overcome speaking anxiety is by creating a safe environment for language learning. In a digital learning environment with chatbots and voicebots, there is no fear of being judged by another person and we can focus on actively practicing the language. Contextualised environments with computer-based game characters seem to provide an ideal context when teaching a language. This fits perfectly into the task-based language teaching method. That is exactly what we do at Linguineo. 

Digital learning environment with conversational AI to actively practise a foreign language in real-life situations. Scene: asking for directions in French.
Digital learning environment with conversational AI to actively practise a foreign language in real-life situations. Conversation for advanced learners with pronunciation feedback. Scene: Ordering at the bakery
Digital learning environment with conversational AI to actively practise a foreign language in real-life situations. Scene: asking for directions in French. Conversation for advanced learners with pronunciation feedback. Scene: Ordering at the bakery.

Our conversational AI enables language learning through games, apps and learning environments such as Language Hero and Linguineo Pro to practice speaking skills. Considering the time constraints teachers experience when supervising students in language classes, this can provide additional useful speaking opportunities. In this way, students or even employees can develop their speaking skills and accuracy with the support and feedback of our system.

Fear of speaking a foreign language is a difficult threshold to cross and yet it is essential for mastering a language. By identifying those problems and offering a solution, speaking anxiety will drastically reduce. 

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