Langcat

Learn languages better with langcat.

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Inspiration

Ever since I started my Mandarin learning journey, I tried several different language learning apps in hopes of achieving fluency. However, I consistently hit a wall, I could never fully learn the language due to lacking a conversation partner, not understanding which words to use in different contexts, and feeling frustrated by the lack of practice beyond simple vocabulary revision. When AI started gaining traction, I realized I could build an app to solve these exact problems.

What it does

The main selling point of LangCat is immersion, proven through studies to be the most effective way to learn a language by simply speaking it more. Gemini enables this by adapting to the user's fluency level and responding at their current proficiency. After each conversation, it provides personalized feedback on areas for improvement, such as grammar usage, sentence structure, and vocabulary application in different contexts.

How I built it

Given my previous experience with Expo, getting started was straightforward. I built the prototype in Figma as I usually do, then used Supabase for the backend and Expo to ship the app.

Challenges I ran into

I was working on an "auto-end" feature for the pre-built conversation scenarios, but determining when a conversation naturally ended felt too ambiguous. I decided to implement a manual "End Conversation" button instead for more predictable user control.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

Bringing my idea to life, especially the voice chat function, is something I'm really proud of. Seeing something I'd always imagined actually work brings a different kind of joy.

What I learned

I learned how much more accessible language learning has become with AI, and how powerful conversational AI can be for creating personalized learning experiences at scale.

What's next for LangCat

I want to expand LangCat to support more languages and bring in subject matter experts who can review the course structure and provide guidance on the accuracy and effectiveness of the lessons.

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