Imagine learning a new language not through flashcards or grammar drills, but by collaborating with someone across the globe to create something meaningful.
This is the rationale behind the creation of LangLink, a collaborative language learning platform that connects learners worldwide.
With LangLink, learners do not need to memorize the language word for word. LangLink empowers learners to engage in a peer-to-peer language exchange. Through authentic resources, adaptive tools, and creativity, a global network of learners transforms learning into a social, immersive experience.
Real people, Real talk, Real progress is at the heart of Langlink. Making language learning engaging, collaborative, and creative.
Check this short elevator pitch
Want to know more about this venture? Here is the longer and more detailed pitch
Thanks!
Hello Sinsi,
This is a great idea, your product addresses a real gap driven by globalization, where more people are eager to learn additional languages.
A few years ago, I took a course on dyslexia and learned that language acquisition is essentially a decoding process. For example, languages like English, French, and Spanish require the brain to decode sound and meaning, while languages such as Korean, Chinese, and Japanese require an additional step to decode visual shapes.
Grounding your product in this understanding makes it more pragmatic and user-friendly.
Thank you for sharing your insight. I appreciate how you connected your experience with dyslexia to the complexities of language acquisition. Thinking about how different languages require different types of decoding is important. This thought reinforces the need for a more flexible language learning platform. I agree that grounding a product in this kind of cognitive understanding not only makes it more effective but also much more inclusive and accessible.
FEEDBACK:
Thank you Sinsi, for your work on your venture, bringing a tool to market that could personalize and make language learning more intimate, relevant, and impactful.
I kept imagining a sophisticated, digital pen-pal platform — which is neat and I think could have been incorporated in your elevator pitch branding, to help draw in more potential investors. Doing so might quickly show your reimagining the potential of a respected, familiar and traditional writing practice to be more inclusive, impactful, and relevant in a digital, globalized capacity.
As for the elevator pitch, it felt text-heavy and fast-paced. I think reducing or slowing down the text — while perhaps adding audio narration — might help make sure that you don’t lose a potential investor in the elevator.
What would make me more excited about your venture, would be some hint as to how you envision your platform might target and support learning goals while measuring growth in language acquisition, in such an open and collaborative space. I started considering the following questions and became concerned about the viability of the venture’s design and function.
Would both learners share the same first language — connected to one another through their profiles in the platform — paired again with one another through their shared desire to learn the same language? Or would the speaker of one language be paired with the speaker of a language they want to learn and vice versa, working on a project of similar interest? Would there be an option for learners to work on their own with an AI? Could learning groups be set up like a MOOC, being completely open and collaborative, for anyone with a paid subscription to your venture being able to join that language learning space?
Thank you again for your work, Sinsi!
Hello Patrick,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and constructive feedback. It really made me reflect more on how I can make my venture pitch better. I love your comparison to a digital pen-pal platform; it actually captures the idea of connection and collaboration I am aiming for.
I appreciate your notes on the pacing and text-heaviness of the pitch. Regarding your questions around how users would be matched, I believe I have briefly explained in the pitch that they will be matched based on their goals, availability, and skill level. They will be guided through themed modules where they can have a conversation based on the topic. The discussions will be conversational, where they will talk about the client’s chosen topic for a blog, podcast, or any other needs. But, yes, I agree that clarifying how the pairs are formed and how the progress is measured is crucial for the platform’s credibility. I took note of these comments, and I appreciate the ideas you raised, like a potential AI integration and collaborative MOOC-style learning spaces. These ideas and feedback have sparked some new directions on how I could further develop the platform.
Thanks again!
Feedback
Hey Sinsi,
I like the idea as seen in your stats and the CAGR is outstanding for language learning, 17% is great. The social learning aspect of it intrigues me because in the age of AI, people still want to be with other people and your focus on this being a social first application. The micro income aspect of it sounds like a draw for some people and I wonder if there was a way to screen someone to be a good mentor (best value) instead of getting random people. I foresee something like a social media certification that ensures that someone is a verified mentor.
As for now I would invest in this venture pending the following questions being answered. What kind of accountability measures would you have to allow the mentors and mentees to keep ensuring that the interactions they’re having is educational in nature? And is there space for neurodiverse learners especially those with ADHD, dyslexia and autism spectrum?
Overall, I love the idea and I’m open to investing to it!
Hello Rico!
Thank you for your encouraging feedback. I truly appreciate your interest in the social-first and micro-income aspects of this venture. You have pointed out two points that are central to our vision: the human connection in learning and the importance of ensuring mentor quality.
On screening mentors, I have thought of a multi-layer onboarding process. This would combine skills verification, a short teaching demonstration, and peer reviews. The goal is to ensure that mentors bring expertise and skills that create value for learners.
Regarding accountability, the platform incorporates progress tracking and session feedback. I have also thought of integrating AI assistance, as also recommended by Patrick, to get this platform more valuable for learners and ensure that interactions remain educational in nature while respecting privacy. The progress report for both mentors and mentees would show their track record. Poor performance on the part of the mentor would trigger intervention or removal.
When I created LangLink, inclusivity was non-negotiable. I thought of a customizable feature that would allow learners to customize pacing and multimodal content (text, audio, and visual). This is also why I chose a conversational type of language learning where teaching is focused on interaction rather than a textbook style to allow all learners, neurodiverse learners included, to have access to the platform and enjoy an inclusive learning environment.