Interactive Subtitle Japanese Language Learning Service Idea
Here's a short video clip of the proof of concept:
TLDR - A Japanese language learning platform where, by watching popular anime and JDramas and interacting with subtitles (e.g. pausing video, clicking on word or clause to reveal translation, reading while listening, etc.) you incentivize language learning in real time, and reinforce audio, visual, and cultural-contextual comprehension simultaneously.
I've had this idea for a couple years now, and I saw another company (Lingopie) picked it up and executed with a couple of languages.
My very simple proof-of-concept (and maybe eventual product with your thoughts) is very similar, though at the moment I'd probably prefer to focus on English-to-Japanese language learning and perhaps construct lesson plans off of anime and JDramas based on proficiency.
Some background:
I was a Japanese language major undergrad and would often watch anime to practice. The Japanese language is spoken very quickly, however, so even if I understood individual words it would be hard to piece them together in context. I'd try to slow things down so I could pick out and translate individual words. It would be a slow, labor-intensive process, and the effort-to-reward ratio was low. I found myself wishing a service like this existed so I could speed things up.
Fast forward a decade or so later--I'm a software developer trying to rekindle a love for learning languages, and I'd learned just enough Flutter to create the extremely rudimentary proof of concept linked below on Youtube. I have some conceptual diagrams for where something like this go in the future, but first things first, as they say.
There are a couple of concerns even before I jump into this at all, namely:
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Developing something like this can be a lonely process. I'd like to have maybe one or two partners who're familiar with stateful app design in Flutter, and definitely someone comfortable with NLP (Natural Language Processing). Otherwise I might get demotivated and too far into my own head, building something nobody (except me) actually cares about.
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My conception of the app, as it stands, is that I'd like to use popular shows to generate interest and keep the attention of viewers--if they're only passive customers, at the very least they'd enjoy the show! Elephant in the room is that this would require licensing, the details and feasibility of which I have no clue. If anyone works at Funimation and might partner--or otherwise is familiar with overseas licensing--let me know!
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Global pandemic being what it is, the market for language learning--and Japanese language learning in particular--might be small as potential clients focus on more immediate concerns. For that reason a product like this could be poorly timed.
Do you guys see this as an idea worth pursuing, or should I delay or even abandon for more profitable pursuits? And if I should persist, would anyone like to partner and discuss? Even if I weren't the one to make this product a reality, I'd love for this to exist.
Again, here's the link to my proof-of-concept:
A wonderful New Year's to you all, and may each of you have success in your journeys!
