Learn English with Movies & TV Shows - Wordy

Inspiration

As a non-native English speaker, I often found myself watching TV shows or movies and stumbling upon words or phrases I didn't understand. However, I was usually too lazy to look them up while watching. This frustration sparked the idea for Wordy—an app that automatically translates and defines unknown words while you enjoy your favorite shows. Wordy takes the hassle out of language learning, allowing users to improve their English without interrupting their entertainment.

What it does

Wordy turns subtitles from over 500,000 movies and TV shows into personalized language lessons. Users can learn vocabulary in context, get on-demand translations, and build personalized word lists based on their preferences. The app adjusts to different language levels, from beginner (A1) to advanced (C2), helping users expand their vocabulary, understand dialogue better, and learn colloquial expressions and slang.

Monetization & Paywall

Pricing Strategy

• Initial pricing:
  • Yearly subscription: $30
  • Monthly subscription: $3
• A/B testing planned with higher price points: $40 and $60 yearly options
• Subscription model to cover server and API costs

Free Version Strategy

• Users can access definitions and approximately 80% of words
• Premium features (locked for free users):
  • About 30% of words
  • Translation option
• This strategy aims to drive conversions

Business Viability / Market Analysis

• Target market: Mobile-based language learning
• Market size:
  • 2021: Estimated $8.21 billion
  • 2027 projection: Expected to reach $24.57 billion
• Competitors: Duolingo, Babbel, Rosetta Stone..

Paywall Design

Implemented Superwall's best practices:

1. First paywall view:
   • "No payment now" text
   • "Start your free week" button
   • Comparison between free and pro features
   • Social proof (to be added as user base grows)
   • "View all plans" button
2. Second paywall view:
   • Displays all options without the "View all plans" button
3. Feature-gated paywalls:
   • Shown when clicking on premium features (e.g., locked words, translation)
   • Separate paywall views for each gated feature (Coming soon...)
4. Post-abandon strategy:
   • Discounted paywall shown after transaction abandonment
5. Free trial:
   • 1-week free trial offered

ASO Best Practices

App Store Optimization Strategy

1. Keyword Research:
   • Over 500 popular keywords researched
   • Utilizing 3+ App Store localizations for expanded keyword reach
   • Avoiding keyword duplication as per guidelines
2. In-App Purchases & Events:
   • Plan to include "Promoted In-App Purchases" on App Store
   • Implementing in-app events for increased visibility
3. App Name Strategy:
   • Future update: Include app name at the end of the title for better rankings and autocomplete (pending Apple approval)
4. Review Solicitation:
   • Prompt for app rating after first successful user action:
     • Adding words to favorites
     • Swiping flashcards

Additional ASO Tactics

• Quick Action implementation:
  • Holding app icon reveals "Need some help?" option
  • Allows for user retention before app removal
  • Plan to show a discount offer as a quick action

Innovation

Unique Value Proposition

1. First-of-its-kind functionality:
   • Shows translations without disturbing the user experience while watching English series or movies
   • Compatible with any streaming service
2. Content-driven learning:
   • First app to extract words directly from streaming content for language learning
3. Seamless integration:
   • Enhances language learning without interrupting entertainment

How I built it

I used a combination of AI-driven natural language processing and a large subtitle database to create Wordy. The backend was built with Nodejs, which handles word extraction, sorting vocabulary by difficulty, and providing translations. The frontend was developed with SwiftUI to create a user-friendly interface that works smoothly on iOS devices.

Built With

• node.js
• swiftui