The trouble with learning software
We live in exciting times, where all the knowledge in the world is just one click away. So if you want to learn a new language, easy: just Google it, and find the right software. Learning French is that simple...or is it?
Chances are, if you buy or download one of these learning software, you'll stick with it for a few days, weeks, maybe even a few months, and then you'll give up. You'll have learned a few things in the process: basic vocabulary, a few sentences, but that's it. The ugly truth that language learning software vendors don't want you to know is that software doesn't teach French (or any other language), people teach French.
The good news is: who writes software? That's right, people. So maybe people can teach French through software. It's all a question of design.
How NOT to learn French efficiently
When software vendors concentrate more on the tech wiz that on actually teaching languages to their customers, the result can be nice, but often feels cold and unfriendly. Providing nice interactions, good-looking pictures and all, even though helpful and necessary, only goes so far. This is why most people don't stick with the software for long: it lacks a certain human touch. Sadly, this means that the tremendous effort spend in the software design is wasted. It's a shame for everyone: the client doesn't really benefit from the software, despite the hefty price he paid for it, and the developers at the software vendor's company spend their time building a huge system ultimately used to its full potential by very few people.
Ultimately, customers will realise that the software might not be worth the price, and even give up on the idea of learning French entirely. This is not good for the software vendor in the long run. Is there a way out of that cycle? Do we have to give up on the whole idea of using technology for language learning? Maybe not. Maybe there's another way to build language learning software.
Going back to basics
So, what kind of software can we design to really teach languages? Well, think about it: what's the best, time-tested way to learn a new language? Think about it, how did you learn your own language? Through listening, reading, speaking and communicating with people. In one word: we learn language through conversation.
Starting from there, it's probably a great idea to create language learning software designed to support conversation, instead of focusing on fancy tech and funny learning activities. Cool technologies, animations, graphics, and proper instructional design are great, but to really learn, you have to feel that you are discussing something with real human beings. It doesn't have to be in real time (email and online forums are great examples of real discussions that happen asynchronously). It doesn't even have to involve voice (text chats are great to practice your spelling and reflecting on your sentences. They are also very good if you are a bit shy about talking to a stranger in French). It just has to be a genuine, human-to-human conversation. To design efficient language learning software, that's the direction we need to take: enabling conversation through design and technology.
Do you want to be a part of the conversation?
Unfortunately, few language software systems take the approach of learning through human conversation. I am currently in the process of building a web software enabling interactive conversations through text, audio, graphics and live chat. I need your help to test the content, interactions and other elements, and if you've been involved in those test, you will be given free access to the whole software for free.
If you're interested, please contact me at jr.duboc@gmail.com, or call me through skype (pseudo: jrduboc). I'm waiting for your feedback!
Have fun, enjoy life and discovering French with us. See you soon!
Jean-Remy Duboc is a French eLearning developer living in England.
He created http://refrench.net to share his passion of the French language through eLearning, audio tools and brain-friendly books.
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