Digital Language Tutor: Enhancing language learning through AI-powered conversation partners

Mateusz Jekiel
A business woman on her phone smiling, sat in a office with a laptop on her lap
Reading time: 3.5 minutes

With an ever-growing range of learning tools and applications being launched, choosing the right solution can feel overwhelming. However, the Digital Language Tutor for Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp distinguishes itself as an innovative solution aimed at helping corporate clients enhance their listening and speaking abilities in relevant business contexts.

The Digital Language Tutor is targeted at professionals who speak at least a B1 level of English (43-50 on the Global Scale of English). It employs AI-powered Conversation Partners to simulate corporate scenarios, providing users with an immersive and interactive learning experience.

In this post we outline the strategic design process behind these Conversation Partners, highlighting the importance of diverse representation, compelling and authentic personality trait development, and integrating level-appropriate language skills alongside essential corporate soft skills to create a comprehensive language learning solution.

Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp - Digital language tutor
Play
Privacy and cookies

By watching, you agree ÃÛÌÒapp can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

The need to speak in language learning

Mastering listening and speaking skills is paramount for professionals, as fluency and confidence in spoken English can significantly impact career progression, networking opportunities, and overall workplace effectiveness.

According to ÃÛÌÒapp research, 85% of respondents said English is important for their work life, and 88% believe its importance will continue to grow in the next years1.

Traditional language learning methods often fall short in providing real-life conversational practice, especially in specialized contexts like corporate settings. The Digital Language Tutor bridges this gap by offering personalized, scenario-based interactions with AI-powered Conversation Partners.

1ÃÛÌÒapp, 2024,ÌýHow English empowers your tomorrow: The life-changing impact of learning English on your career and beyond.

Designing conversation partners for the Digital Language Tutor

The primary objectives in crafting the Conversation Partners were to:

  • Create an authentic and immersive learning environment that reflects modern workplaces,
  • Represent a diverse range of characters to reflect the global nature of modern working environments, foster inclusivity and cultural awareness,
  • Develop compelling and authentic personalities for those characters to create immersive, interactive and engaging experiences that reflect real life,
  • Embed essential corporate soft skills into the creation of each character's personality traits to enhance the relevance of the conversations.

To achieve these goals, we customized ten unique Conversation Partners and designed their distinct personality traits that lend authenticity to each character and align with essential corporate soft skills like active listening, conflict resolution and teamwork.

Interacting with this diverse cast of characters exposes users to a variety of communication styles, enhancing their ability to adapt and respond effectively in real-life professional situations.

Fostering authenticity and engagement

The diverse backgrounds and personalities of the Conversation Partners contribute to an authentic and engaging learning experience. Our clients can practice speaking with characters who simulate the behaviors and communication styles of real coworkers, making the practice sessions more relevant, practical and beneficial for their professional growth.

Developing soft business skills

By embedding essential corporate soft skills into the creation of the character's personalities, our corporate clients can apply and transfer their business skills into an immersive English-only environment. This approach not only improves language proficiency but aids in the transfer of existing skills and provides further exposure to culturally relevant practices related to conducting business in our increasingly globalized workplace.

Promoting inclusivity and representation

The inclusion of characters from various ethnicities and backgrounds ensures that the Digital Language Tutor is inclusive and representative of today's workplaces. This allows us to foster a sense of belonging and cultural awareness, which is crucial for effective cross-cultural communication and collaboration in modern professional environments.

Empowering for success in the workplace

The Digital Language Tutor for Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp shows the innovative use of AI in language learning, particularly in enhancing speaking and listening skills through authentic and engaging interactions.

By designing Conversation Partners from diverse cultural backgrounds with embedded soft business skills, we have created a tool that not only improves language proficiency but also provides valuable skills practice in realistic and relevant professional contexts. This approach sets a new standard for language learning applications, emphasizing the importance of diversity, authenticity and practical skill integration.

As we continue to expand our educational solutions, we remain committed to providing our clients, customers and learners with the most effective and inclusive tools to achieve their language learning goals and thrive in their professional lives.

Explore Digital Language Tutor

Want to learn more about Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp and the Digital Language Tutor? Register for our webinar now, exclusively for HR and Talent Development professionals.

Register for the webinar here

More blogs from ÃÛÌÒapp

  • Two friends smiling at a person in front of them

    Exploring common English homophones

    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Navigating the tricky world of homophones can be challenging, especially for English learners. This guide aims to clarify some of the most common homophones and their meanings, helping you use them correctly in your writing.

    What is a homophone?

    A homophone is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but differs in meaning and often in spelling. Homophones can create confusion in writing since they sound identical, yet their meanings and spellings can vary largely. For instance, "pair" refers to a set of two, while "pear" is a type of fruit. Understanding homophones is essential for mastering both written and spoken English, as misuse can lead to misunderstandings.

  • Two friends stood over a book in a library reading it and smiling

    Why are English days named what they are?

    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Ever wondered why Monday is called Monday or how Wednesday got its name? The names of the days of the week in English have fascinating origins, rooted in ancient history and steeped in mythology. Understanding these origins not only enriches our language ability but also provides intriguing insights into cultural heritage.

  • A group of friends backpacking outdoors smiling and embracing eachother

    What are the most spoken languages in the world?

    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    Have you ever wondered which world languages are spoken by the largest number of people globally? Whether you’re a language enthusiast or someone looking to learn a new language, understanding the most spoken languages around the world can be incredibly insightful. In this blog post, we’ll explore the top languages by number of speakers, shedding light on languages with the most native speakers and widely spoken languages globally.

    Introduction to spoken languages

    Spoken languages are a vital part of human communication, culture and identity. With over 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, each language has its unique characteristics, nuances and significance. Understanding the most spoken languages globally provides valuable insights into geopolitics, economics and social dynamics. In this article, we will explore the top languages spoken in the world, their distribution and use.

    Why knowing the most spoken languages matters

    Knowing which languages are most popular worldwide can influence your language learning decisions. Enhancing your language skills in these widely spoken languages can significantly boost your communication abilities and cultural understanding. It can open up opportunities for travel, business and cultural exchange. Additionally, understanding global language popularity can give you a broader perspective of the world’s linguistic diversity.

    Criteria for measuring language popularity

    Measuring language popularity is a complex task that involves various factors, including the number of native speakers, global influence, and use as a second or foreign language. The criteria for measuring language popularity include:

    • Number of native speakers: This refers to the number of people who speak a language as their first or native language. Languages with the highest number of native speakers often have a significant cultural and historical impact.

    • Global influence: This measures the extent to which a language is used in international communication, business, science and diplomacy. Languages with a broad global influence are often used as lingua francas in various regions.

    • Use as a second or foreign language: This considers the number of people who speak a language as a second language or foreign language. Languages that are widely taught and learned around the world tend to have a larger speaking population.

    By considering these criteria, we can better understand why certain languages are more prominent and widely spoken globally.

    Top 10 most spoken languages in the world

    Here’s a closer look at the ten most spoken languages by number of speakers:

    When evaluating these languages, it's important to consider not just the number of native speakers but also the total number of language speakers, including those who speak it as a second language.

    1. English

    Speakers: Approximately 1.5 billion

    Native speakers: Around 360 million

    Regions: Widely spoken in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

    Highlights: English is the most widely spoken language worldwide when combining native and non-native speakers. It's the primary language in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. English is the dominant language in international business, science and technology.

    2. Mandarin Chinese

    Speakers: Over 1.1 billion

    Native speakers: About 920 million

    Regions: Mainly in China, Taiwan and Singapore

    Highlights: Mandarin is the language with the largest number of native speakers. It's one of the six official languages of the United Nations and has a significant cultural and historical importance.

    3. Hindi

    Speakers: Around 600 million

    Native speakers: Approximately 341 million

    Regions: Predominantly in India and Nepal

    Highlights: Hindi is predominantly spoken in India and Nepal, with approximately 341 million native speakers. It is one of the official languages of India and is spoken by a large portion of the Indian population. It has numerous dialects and is written in the Devanagari script.

    4. Spanish

    Speakers: Approximately 560 million

    Native speakers: About 460 million

    Regions: Spain, Latin America and parts of the United States

    Highlights: Spanish is the official language in 21 countries and is widely spoken in the Americas. In many of these countries, Spanish serves as the national language, playing a crucial role in government, education and media. It’s known for its rich literature and cultural heritage.

    5. French

    Speakers: Around 280 million

    Native speakers: About 77 million

    Regions: France, parts of Africa, Canada, Belgium and Switzerland

    Highlights: French is another of the six official languages of the United Nations. It's widely used in international diplomacy and has a significant number of speakers in Africa due to France's colonial history.

    6. Arabic

    Speakers: Approximately 270 million

    Native speakers: Around 310 million

    Regions: Middle East and North Africa

    Highlights: Arabic is a central Semitic language that is the liturgical language of Islam. It has many dialects, with Modern Standard Arabic being used in formal settings and media. Arabic has numerous spoken forms, with significant variations in dialects across different regions.

    7. Bengali

    Speakers: Around 265 million

    Native speakers: About 230 million

    Regions: Bangladesh and parts of India

    Highlights: Bengali is the official language of Bangladesh and the second most spoken language in India. Alongside other languages like Hindi and Urdu, Bengali plays a crucial role in the cultural and linguistic landscape of the region. It’s known for its rich literary tradition.

    8. Portuguese

    Speakers: Approximately 220 million

    Native speakers: Around 220 million

    Regions: Brazil, Portugal and parts of Africa

    Highlights: Portuguese is mainly spoken in Brazil, which is the largest Portuguese-speaking country. It has a growing number of speakers in Africa.

    9. Russian

    Speakers: Around 258 million

    Native speakers: Approximately 154 million

    Regions: Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia

    Highlights: Russian is one of the six official languages of the United Nations and is widely spoken in the former Soviet Union countries.

    10. Japanese

    Speakers: Approximately 128 million

    Native speakers: Around 128 million

    Regions: Japan

    Highlights: Japanese is predominantly spoken in Japan and is known for its three writing systems—Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji. It has a rich cultural history and is influential in technology and entertainment.

    Conclusion

    Understanding the most spoken languages in the world can provide valuable insights for language learners. Developing strong language skills in these world languages can open up numerous opportunities for travel, business and cultural exchange. Whether you’re looking to enhance your travel experiences, broaden your cultural horizons, or improve your career prospects, learning one of these widely spoken languages could be a significant advantage.

    Ready to start your language learning journey? Learn a new language with Mondly by ÃÛÌÒapp.