Primary Audience: Government/Adult Ed., Graduate, Undergrad, Community College, High School, Translators
Hallo is powered by advanced language models for learning 50+ languages through actual conversations with AI teachers. Hallo is designed by language experts to provide a scientifically proven method to improve speaking and listening skills by practicing anytime, anywhere. By focusing on conversation-based interactions, learners can overcome their fear of speaking and advance in their career opportunities. This app can also track learners’ progress and give feedback based on learners’ fluency and work.
LaunchPad Questions
During the LaunchPad, the audience had an opportunity to ask questions about the products. The Tech Center shared those questions with the entrepreneurs and here are the responses.
How do you know the content generated by AI is accurate?
Could you describe the assessment a little more? Is it automatically scored? How does it determine proficiency? Which skills does the test incorporate?
What kind of feedback does the app give? Is it usually grammar correction? Or does it help improve pronunciation and pragmatic use of language?
1. Real-time corrections during conversations.
2. Post-conversation transcripts with detailed feedback.
3. Monthly comprehensive language assessments for official feedback.
What about the excitement and motivation coming from (emotionally) connecting with a real person?
Is this intended to be used WITH language classes or INSTEAD OF classes?
If a user creates a virtual Taylor Swift to interact with on your platform, does that open you up to liability?
How is Hallo different from existing apps?
1. Offering practice in 50+ languages anytime, anywhere.
2. Providing real-time AI language assessment and feedback.
3. Supplying B2B tools for organizations to support teachers and students globally.
How does the Hallo AI learn? What sort of texts is it drawing from? How will you ensure that Hallo's AI doesn't enforce the biases from online text corpora?
Do you have to do the lessons in a certain order or can you choose the topic?
How have you measured retention if you claim that it helps language retention?
Why assess only once per month?
Do you have a sense of how long a person's motivation to use the app lasts, and after how long they start losing it?
What are the lessons based on? (How did you decide lesson topics/content?)
Are these conversations initiated by both the avatar tutor and the learner or just the learner?
Can kids use Hallo? Is content controlled?
Does your AI provide in-conversation feedback such as recasting as well as end feedback?
How do you ensure that no likenesses to real people are generated (for legal purposes)?
Could I customize speaking scenarios based on my organization’s needs?
How have the AI been trained? Do they feed from other larger AIs?
How are the proficiency levels pegged? With ACTFL levels? CEFR?
How can you sustain the “fun” and engagement and keep them coming back to the app after the initial novelty of “talking to Taylor Swift”?
Duolingo has DET test. So how is your self-assessment unique or even valid? Most of the language tests out there lack validity and reliability and research.
Duolingo:
– Languages: English only.
– Skills: Primarily speaking proficiency in English.
– Duration: 1 hour.
– Results: Available within 2 days.
– Price: $59 per test.
– API: Not available.
– Pros: Widely accepted, strong partnerships, beautiful UX/UI.
– Cons: English only, pricey, long test duration, no APIs.
Hallo:
– Languages: 56 languages, including English, Spanish, German, Chinese, and more.
– Skills: Speaking and writing, with plans for reading and listening in 2024.
– Duration: 10 minutes, instant results.
– Price: Approximately 4% of standard exam fees.
– API: Available, with white-labeling options.
– Pros: Many languages, affordable, short test duration, B2B partnerships.
– Cons: Speaking and writing only at the moment.
How did you achieve so many partnerships with organizations? (Maybe best addressed offline)
Can teachers create a classroom and invite students to the same platform for speaking practice?
For languages with standard and dialects, how does Hallo work?
How is it different from ChatGPT?
Here’s how Hallo stands out:
1) Structured Lessons: We offer curated lessons and scenarios, ensuring meaningful learning instead of random conversations.
2) Level-Appropriate Content: Our AI adapts to your proficiency level, providing unique and tailored conversations and lessons.
3) Real-Time Tools: Hallo includes translations, suggestions, and corrections in real-time.
4) Comprehensive Feedback: We offer real-time mistake corrections, detailed feedback post-conversation, and comprehensive language assessments aligned with CEFR and ACTFL.
5) B2B Tools: Our platform provides organizations with tools to manage and monitor student progress effectively.
These features make Hallo a comprehensive and practical choice for language learners and educators.
How are the pragmatics of the language addressed?
1. Simulating real-life scenarios.
2. Providing immediate corrections.
3. Incorporating cultural norms.
4. Adapting lessons to individual progress.
5. Engaging in role-playing.
6. Offering 24/7 practice.
7. Using data to refine teaching methods.
What exactly does Hallo bring to the B2B partnerships? Are they providing AI or something like the actual structure of the platform?
Contact Information
TECH CENTER
1890 East West Road
Moore Hall 256
Honolulu, HI 96822
tech.center@hawaii.edu
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The Language Flagship Technology Innovation Center is funded under a grant from the Institute of International Education (IIE), acting as the administrative agent of the Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO) for The Language Flagship. One should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project P.I.: Dr. Julio C. Rodriguez