BeNative - Homepage
BeNative - Country Selection Page
BeNative - Country Map
BeNative - Real Time Conversation
BeNative - Country Map
BeNative - Real Time Conversation
BeNative - Real Time Conversation

Be Native

Inspiration

As international students, English became our second language. We quickly realized that while grammar rules can be memorized, real-world speaking experience is what truly matters—and it’s also the hardest to practice.

One of our developers grew up in a society where English was taught in schools but never truly learned in practice. This gap between knowing the rules and using them confidently inspired us. With the rise of AI, we saw an opportunity:

Language Learning Success = Grammar Knowledge + Speaking Practice times \α

Where (alpha = α) is the real-world confidence that only comes from interaction.

Be Native was born to bridge that gap, providing a fun and safe environment for learners to simulate real conversations.

What it does

Be Native is an AI-powered immersive platform where learners can step into different scenarios and talk with avatars in their target language.

Visit a museum → Chat with a virtual guide about art and history.
Stop by a café → Order coffee in another language.
Explore a city → Ask for directions and interact with locals.
Entertainment twist → Karaoke, storytelling, and playful roleplay.

Unlike Duolingo, which focuses heavily on grammar and vocabulary drills, Be Native emphasizes speaking practice in immersive, real-world contexts. It’s not about quizzes—it’s about conversations.

How we built it

Frontend: Next.js + TailwindCSS for a clean and interactive user interface.
AI & Avatars: Akool AI for video and avatar streaming, creating lifelike conversation partners.
Navigation Map: A lightweight map interface where users can select different scenarios and interact with AI-powered characters.

Challenges we ran into

AI documentation gaps → Limited resources made it difficult to fully understand how to implement certain APIs.
Integration complexity → Combining multiple technologies (Next.js, Tailwind, Akool AI) required careful design to make sure components communicated smoothly.
Design questions → We had to refine the user flow to ensure the product felt both intuitive and entertaining.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Built a working proof-of-concept immersive environment within the hackathon timeframe.
Learned how to integrate AI streaming into a real-world application.
Developed a strong idea refinement process, turning brainstorming into a functional product vision.

What we learned

How to integrate multiple AI-based technologies into a single project.
The importance of user experience in making learning not only effective but also fun.
Improved teamwork, communication, and navigating new technical libraries.

What’s next for Be Native

We want to expand Be Native into a more immersive and seamless environment by:

Finetuning AI models for more natural, responsive conversations.
Enabling users to track their progress and even receive evaluations of their speaking practice.
Expanding the world map with more diverse scenarios, cultures, and entertainment-driven interactions.

Our vision is a platform where anyone can confidently step into another culture and “Be Native” in any language they choose.