ZUBKOV MICHAEL
User
Interviews /
Research -
Vocabulary
apps
CAREERFOUNDRY 2024
01
Objective
Conduct a comprehensive needs and wants
assessment to gain a thorough understanding of
user preferences and expectations.
Analyse the transcripts and undercover what the
users feel, think and do
02
Greeting and Introduction:
1. I will introduce myself and ask them to do the same.
Interview 2. Explain the purpose of the interview is to understand the experience
of individuals actively learning a foreign language and using language
Script
learning apps as at least one of the modes.
Exploring the user's background,
thoughts, feelings and behaviors:
1. What methods have you used to learn new words in the past?
2. Was there anything that was frustrating about the study method you
used previously. If so, can you tell us more about it?
3. What language learning apps have you used in the past?
4. What language learning apps are you currently using?
5. How often do you actively use language learning apps?
6. Tell me about your daily routine, how and when you use a language
learning app.
7. How long have you been learning foreign languages?
8. How do you rate your progress in learning new words?
9. What were the biggest challenges for you when you started using the
app and why?
10. When was the last time you had to learn a lot of new vocabulary and
why?
11. In what situations have you had to use foreign languages?
12. What did you like or dislike about your experience using the language
03 learning app?
13. Are there any factors that prevent you from successfully learning with
12. What did you like or dislike about your experience using the language
learning app?
13. Are there any factors that prevent you from successfully learning with Interview
Script
the app?
14. What difficulties did you experience when learning a lot of new
vocabulary?
15. What changes would you like to make to the app to make it more
effective for learning?
16. Why do you think learning new words is difficult?
17. Have you purchased paid language learning apps before?
18. How do you feel if you can't remember the words you learned before.
19. What do you like about learning new words and increasing your
vocabulary?
20. What features do you find most useful in the programs?
21. Is there anything that would make it easier for you to learn languages?
22. How useful do you think such apps are for learning new foreign
words?
04
Interviewees
NAME ALEX OLEG MARK
GENDER Female Male Male
OCCUPATION BU-Controller Lawyer Self-employed Entrepreneur
DESCRIPTION Busy Professional Confident Creative Inspired Educator
AGE 37 years old 36 years old 55 years old
LEARNING German English Polish
05
Interview (Alex).
1. What methods have you used to learn new words in the past? 12. What did you like or dislike about your experience using the language learning
Before using apps, I used to use notebooks where I wrote down words and vocabulary app?
rules. I also used forums where people share their knowledge. They are only suitable up to a certain level of language proficiency. They are mostly
Then I used different programs that help me improve my vocabulary. suitable only for beginners. The only good ones are the ones where you can write down
your own words and further improve them.
2. Was there anything that was frustrating about the study method you used
previously. If so, can you tell us more about it? 13. Are there any factors that prevent you from successfully learning with the app?
I was getting frustrated with all the methods. I did not find a single platform that suited Laziness and lack of time due to busy work and family.
me 100%. Maybe it's because I have never used paid platforms and programs. Of the
14. What difficulties did you experience when learning a lot of new vocabulary?
free ones, I believe that they do not fully cover my language learning needs.
When there's a lot of new vocabulary, you start to get confused about words. The word
3. What language learning apps have you used in the past?
is familiar and you've learned it before, but you can't remember the translation.
I've used Duolingo before, and Multitran. And I've also used Youtube with subtitles.
15. What changes would you like to make to the app to make it more effective for
4. What language learning apps are you currently using?
learning?
DW for learning grammar and German by ear and for learning German words
That there would be an integrated opportunity to practice your spoken language. Not
FunEasyLearn.
just to memorize words and sentences, but also to communicate with someone.
5. How often do you actively use language learning apps?
16. Why do you think learning new words is difficult?
I used 4-5 times a week about 20-30 min. except on weekends.
It's hard to learn a lot of new words, and you often have to go back to the words you've
6. Tell me about your daily routine, how and when you use a language learning app. already learned.
In the restroom when bored, on the road and in the evenings when you have the time
17. Have you purchased paid language learning apps before, why?
and desire.
No. Because I haven't found the right app for me.
7. How long have you been learning foreign languages?
18. How do you feel if you can't remember the words you learned before?
More than 25 years intermittently.
I'm not really upset, but I guess I feel disappointingly.
8. How do you rate your progress in learning new words?
19. What do you like about learning new words and increasing your vocabulary?
Pretty good. I have no problem learning languages and new words when you have a
My language is becoming more versatile. I am able to talk about a wider variety of topics
goal.
and express myself in a more colorful way.
9. What were the biggest challenges for you when you started using the app, why?
20. What features do you find most useful in the programs?
The difficulty is that at first you don't understand how the logic of the program and its
A reminder to complete daily tasks to learn new words.
functions are built. And it happens that after you understand it, you realize that it is not
what you need and you start all over again. 21. Is there anything that would make it easier for you to learn languages?
A good free program that will help you learn new words effectively.
10. When was the last time you had to learn a lot of new vocabulary?
Last time 7 years ago Turkish. 22. How useful do you think such apps are for learning new foreign words?
11. In what situations have you had to use foreign languages? I find them very useful and helpful in learning new words. Maybe not always super
For work, moving to a new country, and on vacation, traveling. effective, but definitely useful.
06
Interview (Oleg).
1. What methods have you used to learn new words in the past? 12. What did you like or dislike about your experience using the language learning
I read texts, if I didn't know some words, I wrote them out in a notebook and then app?
memorized them from the notebook. I used a dictionary. I liked that there was an option to watch videos of different performances, such as Tedd.
2. Was there anything that was frustrating about the study method you used Where there are subtitles, and you could click on an unfamiliar word and immediately add
previously. If so, can you tell us more about it? it to your dictionary and practice it separately.
It wasn't. It's a matter of willpower and the ability to fight your laziness. 13. Are there any factors that prevent you from successfully learning with the app?
3. What language learning apps have you used in the past? Yes, I do. Laziness, busyness plus a love of spending time with friends drinking beer.
Lingualeo, it's the only app I've ever used. 14. What difficulties did you experience when learning a lot of new vocabulary?
4. What language learning apps are you currently using? I haven't problems. If I have to learn a lot of words, I have not experienced any
Right now I'm using DuoCards. It is the only application. difficulties.
5. How often do you actively use language learning apps? 15. What changes would you like to make to the app to make it more effective for
Several times a week 20 min. I'm not actively learning a language at the moment, so I learning?
don't use it very often. If there was some device that would force me to learn new words forcibly. Not just any
notice, but forced.
6. Tell me about your daily routine, how and when you use a language learning app.
Mostly in the evening when I have time. 16. Why do you think learning new words is difficult?
I don't think so.
7. How long have you been learning foreign languages?
All my conscious life, intermittently, of course. 17. Have you purchased paid language learning apps before, why?
Yes. I used to have a paid subscription to the app.
8. How do you rate your progress in learning new words?
I think not very good, one could even say bad. Since I am not actively learning a foreign 18. How do you feel if you can't remember the words you learned before?
language. And I can't really speak it well. I don't really feel much. Maybe sadness.
9. What were the biggest challenges for you when you started using the app, why? 19. What do you like about learning new words and increasing your vocabulary?
There was no hardship. Everything was quite clear and simple. There were also More freedom. I love new knowledge. So it adds to the comfort of communication.
functions where you could add friends and compete with them in learning the language. 20. What features do you find most useful in the programs?
10. When was the last time you had to learn a lot of new vocabulary? I'd like to compete with my friends.
It was a long time ago about 10-15 years ago at the institute. Otherwise, I used the 21. Is there anything that would make it easier for you to learn languages?
services of translators. Unless everything is very easy and simple to memorize and you do not have to put a lot
11. In what situations have you had to use foreign languages? of effort into it. And I wouldn't be annoyed by reminders.
When traveling abroad. But as my vocabulary is not very large, it was quite difficult.
22. How useful do you think such apps are for learning new foreign words?
Although everyone understood me in the end.
I believe that the best way to learn a foreign language is to communicate with live
people. But these apps can help to build or prepare for some dialog on certain topics. If
the topics are known in advance.
07
Interview (Mark).
12. What did you like or dislike about your experience using the language learning
app?
1. What methods have you used to learn new words in the past? There is no option to remove phrases that have already been memorized to the point of
Used worksheets, when I was at Goethe Institute I used worksheets, one side the word automaticity and replace them with new phrases. To be able to easily remove words and
on the other side the translation. phrases that you already know.
2. Was there anything that was frustrating about the study method you used 13. Are there any factors that prevent you from successfully learning with the app?
previously. If so, can you tell us more about it? Nothing more than laziness. Sometimes tiredness and lack of time.
Previously, you had to physically carry all these cards with you. Sometimes you forgot
where you stopped and you can’t track your progress. 14. What difficulties did you experience when learning a lot of new vocabulary?
3. What language learning apps have you used in the past? New vocabulary is poorly remembered. It is necessary to use more modern methods of
Previously I used the BXMemo program on my computer. And translators like Google memorizing words.
Translator, but this was for translating words in the text that I did not know. 15. What changes would you like to make to the app to make it more effective for
4. What language learning apps are you currently using? learning?
Right now I am using Duolingo sometimes Verbs and DerDieDas. Incorporate more modern memorization methods. And make it so that the better you
remember a word, the less often it would appear in the repetition program.
5. How often do you actively use language learning apps?
Every day. 16. Why do you think learning new words is difficult?
This is how the human brain works. He can't remember much information. This is a
6. Tell me about your daily routine, how and when you use a language learning app.
property of our brain, to forget.
Since the early hours of the morning. Sometimes as early as 5:00 in the morning. And
very rarely in the evening sometimes 20 mins sometimes 40 mins. 17. Have you purchased paid language learning apps before, why?
Yes, I bought a Duolingo subscription.
7. How long have you been learning foreign languages?
Some people don't live as long as I've been studying foreign languages. I learned English 18. How do you feel if you can't remember the words you learned before?
and German and then Polish. Some languages I learned intermittently. I feel stupid and not smart enough. This feeling can be called irritation.
8. How do you rate your progress in learning new words? 19. What do you like about learning new words and increasing your vocabulary?
I rate the progress as poor. Because the age is not right and memorization is very slow. You begin to respect yourself for knowing so many words. But when you come across a
And I attribute it to the fact that I'm not actively using the language. video in the original language and you don’t understand many words in it, you start to
think that not everything is as cool as you think.
9. What were the biggest challenges for you when you started using the app, why?
That was a long time ago. I can't remember now how it was and what I felt about it. But 20. What features do you find most useful in the programs?
there was definitely no shock or wow effect. For me now the most useful function is the training section. Where I can choose what
type of exercises I want to do, listening, reading or grammar.
10. When was the last time you had to learn a lot of new vocabulary?
A lot of new vocabulary I haven't learned in a long time. The last time I studied Polish. 21. Is there anything that would make it easier for you to learn languages?
When I study intensively, I learn a lot of new vocabulary. Live among native speakers. Or that a foreign language would surround everything.
11. In what situations have you had to use foreign languages? 22. How useful do you think such apps are for learning new foreign words?
On travel and business trips. I think such applications are certainly useful. If they use modern proven methods of
08 memorizing words.
DOING
I do exercises out 4-5 times a week for 20-30
minutes.
I regularly perform daily tasks to repeat new words.
I practices on the road and in the evenings when
ALEX there is time.
I try to communicate with native speakers to
improve my knowledge.
I struggle myself with consistency in practice.
I have trouble motivating myself to exercise more
than 3 times a week.
Since I have no active goals in learning a language, I
do it without much motivation..
OLEG I like to compete with my friends in learning
languages.
I have no problem with learning new words. I prefer to
practice my skills when traveling abroad.
I am highly motivated. And I study every day for 20-
40 minutes a day.
I exercise with Duolingo every day in the morning and
MARK very rarely in the evening.
I prefer the practice section where I can choose the
type of exercises: listening, reading, or grammar.
09
THINKING
I think that learning new words opens new
possibilities in communication and developing my
language skills.
ALEX I really think that choosing the right application is not
an easy task, but no doubt finds them useful.
I believe that learning new words is not a very
difficult task if you have the right goals.
I find that learning a new language is a slow process. I
often think that this is due to my laziness.
It's hard for me to stay motivated and practice
OLEG regularly. But I am sure that if I communicate with
native speakers every day, I will progress faster.
In my believe, if I compete with other people in
learning language it will help me to study harder.
I think learning new words is fun and I enjoy
practicing every day.
I don't think I am smart enough if I can't remember
some of the words I have learned before.
MARK I believe that surrounding yourself with a foreign
language is the best way to learn a language quickly.
I believe that apps for learning new vocabulary are
very useful, but only if they use modern methods of
memorizing words.
10
FEELING
I feel a surge of excitement, joy, and pride whenever I
successfully converse in a foreign language.
I sense pride in completing the day's assignments
and learning new vocabulary.
ALEX I feel myself more motivated from achieving new
levels.
When I can't remember the words I learned during a
conversation it makes me feel anxious.
I feel a sense of pride and accomplishment when I
surpass my rival or friend in the ranking table.
I feel frustrated when I am confronted with difficult
grammatical rules, which can hinder my progress.
OLEG I feel a sense of satisfaction when I learn new
information in a foreign language, which helps me to
expand my knowledge and understanding of the
world.
I feel sad and frustrated when I can't remember
words that I had previously memorized.
I like the game elements in my language learning
program. They make me feel learning fun and
MARK enjoyable and help me memorize new vocabulary
and grammar.
I often feel a sense of excitement at successfully
completing correct spelling assignments.
11
ZUBKOV MICHAEL
Thank You
CAREERFOUNDRY 2024
