Inspiration

Kordly was inspired by my own experience learning Korean. I wanted an app that does more than show a word and a translation. Korean learners often need pronunciation, example sentences, grammar context, dictation, spaced review, and confusing-word explanations all in one place.

What it does

Kordly is a Korean vocabulary and grammar learning app built around flashcards. Learners can study TOPIK vocabulary, K-pop Korean, travel Korean, textbook word lists, high-frequency Korean words, and grammar cards.

Each card can include pronunciation, Chinese meaning, part of speech, example sentences, collocations, synonyms, antonyms, confusing-word notes, and cultural tips. The app also includes spaced review, strict practice mode, dictation, grammar exercises, favorites, dark mode, font size settings, iCloud sync, and membership features.

How we built it

Kordly is built with Swift and SwiftUI for iOS and iPadOS. The app uses local JSON wordbook resources, structured learning state, system speech synthesis for Korean pronunciation, StoreKit for in-app purchases, iCloud sync for learning progress, and AI-assisted generation for grammar exercises and contextual practice.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was content quality. Korean vocabulary examples need to match the real context of each word, and grammar cards need more than a short definition. They need usage rules, example sentences, comparison tables, common mistakes, and practice questions.

Another challenge was performance. Kordly contains a large built-in word and grammar database, so the app needs to keep startup fast while still making detailed card content available when learners open a wordbook.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I am proud that Kordly combines vocabulary cards, grammar cards, pronunciation, dictation, review, and learning statistics into one focused learning experience. I am also proud of the strict practice mode, which helps learners confirm whether they really remember a word instead of only recognizing it once.

The app also supports dark mode, adjustable font size, iPad layout improvements, and iCloud sync, making it more comfortable for different learning habits and devices.

What we learned

We learned that a good language learning app is not just a database of words. It needs to help learners remember, pronounce, spell, review, compare, and actually use what they study.

We also learned that AI can be helpful for generating practice content, but language-learning content still needs careful structure and review so that examples and grammar questions are meaningful.

What's next for Kordly

Next, Kordly will continue improving grammar exercises, expanding Korean grammar libraries, adding better cross-platform account sync, and preparing an Android version. We also plan to improve AI-assisted practice so learners can get more realistic Korean exercises based on the words and grammar they are studying.

Built With

  • ai
  • cloudkit
  • education
  • flashcards
  • icloud
  • ios
  • ipados
  • json
  • korean
  • language
  • learning
  • spaced
  • storekit
  • swift
  • swiftui
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