CONVERSATION PARTNER PLATFORM (CPP)

Old Dominion University Spring 2017 CS411 Red Team

Problem Statement

Current methods of teaching and learning English, lacking a live conversational component, result in students that struggle to speak and listen as well as they can read and write. It is difficult for ESL and EFL students to find native or fluent English speakers available to facilitate the practical mastery of listening and speaking.

Problem Characteristics

Consider the following two methods of language learning: 1. Classroom method and 2. Self-study method.

In the classroom method, language classes are populated by a large number of students, up to a couple hundred students per class. Therefore, the number of language students looking for native or fluent conversation partners exceeds the number of volunteers available. Language instructors struggle to help their students find native or fluent speakers of target language to converse with.

In the self-study method, language learners have the option of travelling abroad to benefit from the immersion method of language learning. While effective, for many, it is not financially or practically feasible. Apps for finding conversation partners exist, but with very few active users, language learners fail to find native or fluent speakers who are available to converse with and share similar interests.

Identification of Customer

Our primary focus is approximately 3,000 four-year universities, 1,700 two-year colleges, and 37,000 public and private secondary schools in the United States, particularly those offering ESL programs.
- Approximately 540 university ESL programs in the United States [ESLdirectory]
- Also, students in EFL programs in China, Japan, Korea[Raver-Lampman]

Our secondary market is anyone who wants to learn a foreign language, including but not limited to the following:
- Anyone who wants to learn a foreign language for personal pleasure, heritage, social reasons
- Parents who want to introuce foreign languages to young children
- Individuals learning foreign languages for business or school
- Individuals planning to travel or move to a foreign country

And native or fluent English speakers
- Individuals who want to interact with diverse group of people
- Individuals interested in learning about different cultures
- Individuals seeking volunteer experience and teaching experience

Solution Statement

Conversation Partner Platform (CPP)

CPP synchronously connects geographically diverse ESL and EFL students with native or fluent English speakers for instant opportunity to practice listening and speaking


matching example