AI chatbots as personal language tutors
year
2024
Company
Articulate.AI
Role
Founding Product Designer
Conversation Designer
Target Users
Adult English learners
aiming for skill growth and exam success
Team
CEO
Front-end Engineer
AI Scientist
Designer
Learning Scientist
Overview
EduBot is an AI-powered English learning chatbot for non-native speakers, providing personalized support from general proficiency to TOEFL and IELTS prep through conversational AI and scaffolded learning pathways.
My Role
I owned and led the zero-to-one product design and end-to-end experience architecture of EduBot, creating adaptive conversational flows, personalized learning pathways, core platform features, and engagement-driven feedback loops to support user growth and retention.
01
Research & Ideation
03
Adaptive Conversational UX
05
UI & Interaction Design
02
Experience Architecture
04
Cross-functional Collaboration
06
Developer Handoff & Delivery
Impact
3000+ registered users
within the first week across 100+ countries.
87% would recommend
EduBot to others.
84% feel more confident
in their English skills after using EduBot in conversation practice
4.3/5 usefulness rating
based on participant feedback using a 5-point likert scale
EduBot offers the benefits of one on one tutoring through structured lessons, dynamic prompts, and real time feedback that keeps learners engaged.
We reimagined what language learning could look like by giving learners a space to actually speak, get feedback, and grow at their own pace.
Solution
where learners passively absorb content, get limited speaking time, and rarely receive personalized feedback. Many adult learners, whether preparing for English proficiency exams or working to improve their everyday communication, struggle to stay motivated and confident without clear guidance or authentic conversation practice.
Traditional English classrooms often follow a one size fits all approach
Problem
Highlights
Landing page introducing EduBot’s features, learning benefits, and how it stands apart from traditional language platforms
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A personalized dashboard where users manage their learning journey
Chat interface showing real-time feedback, dynamic prompts, and conversational guidance to keep learners engaged
User Research
Understanding Learners & Chatbot as Language Teachers
Generative Research - Field Observation
I conducted field observations in classrooms to understand how learners interact with instructors, peers, and materials, and to identify gaps in traditional classroom experiences that could inform our design direction
Secondary Research - Literature Review
I conducted literature review to understand common challenges adult English learners face and how conversational agents have been used to support language development
Secondary Research - Competitive analysis
I conducted competitive analysis of language learning platforms to identify common patterns, pain points, and opportunities to differentiate EduBot through a more conversational and personalized experience
Generative Research - Semi-Structured Interviews
I conducted 8 semi-structured interviews to understand learners’ day-to-day experiences, goals, and how they view AI’s role in supporting language learning
User Research
Findings
Learners are willing to try AI tools, but skepticism remains unless the system feels reliable, responsive, and aligned with their learning needs.
Learners lack real speaking opportunities in traditional classrooms
Responsive, natural-sounding chatbots help learners stay engaged and motivated.
Many learners use multiple tools but feel none truly adapt to their needs
HMW
How might we design an AI-powered language learning experience that supports both exam preparation and everyday English practice through personalized, engaging, and goal-driven conversation?
Ideation
Brainstorm Features
I brainstormed 20 feature ideas to support diverse learner needs and collaborated with cross-functional team members to evaluate feasibility, impact, and alignment with our goals. Together, we selected 5 core features to move forward with.
Ideation
Sitemap
Ideation
Brainstorm conversation flows
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Design & iteration
Working in an Agile Environment
Example Sprint 1
I collaborated with engineers, the product manager, and AI specialists in a sprint-based workflow, where each cycle focused on designing, testing, and refining key features through fast feedback and cross-functional alignment.
Design & iteration
Iterations
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Version 1
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Version 2
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Version 3
Final Design
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Learning
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