Last Updated: 02 April, 2024
In this age of globalization, learning a foreign language is no longer difficult. Non-native speakers can get in touch with native speakers to learn a foreign language with the help of online language learning platforms. These include Verbling, italki, Preply, Cambly, Livemocha, Babbel, Busuu, Memrise, Fluento, Mondly, LingQ, Anki, HelloTalk, Lingoda, and so on. Below we discuss a few top players.
Preply is an online language learning platform that successfully connects learners with language experts worldwide.
Is another online language learning platform that connects native speakers with learners in a one-on-one learning environment.
Lingoda provides online language learning classes by connecting learners with native speaker teachers in small group classes or private lessons.
An online platform that connects children with English-speaking tutors in-real-time for immersive, one-on-one language learning sessions.
Cambly is an on-demand English tutoring platform that caters to learners of all levels. It connects them to native speakers via video chat.
Is a leading online language learning marketplace that pairs individuals with teachers for language learning.
That said, In this blog, we discuss in detail the working of Verbling and how a similar language-learning platform can be built.
Headquartered in San Francisco, US, the company was founded in 2011 by Jake Jolis, Mikael Bernstein, and Gustav Rydstedt. The initial platform – Verbling Friends connected users who were interested in learning each other’s language via video chat. It was backed by Y combinator and in 2015, the company raised $2.7 million in series A round funding.
In October 2016, Verbling Enterprise was launched. It is a platform that is designed for corporates to upskill their workforce, i.e. employees can take language lessons online. Further, in 2017, Verbling launched iOS and Android apps. Currently, the platform has over 10,000 teachers in more than 70 languages. Besides some common languages like English, French, Spanish, and so on, there are some not-so-common languages like Turkish, Portuguese, and more.
Verbling provides individuals looking to learn a language with unparalleled convenience and for a fraction of the price in-house tutors or brick-and-mortar schools provide. Mainly, Verbling involves one-to-one sessions with native speakers of the chosen language. Learners can use Google Hangouts-powered chat to resolve their queries.
An online language-learning marketplace has three main entities –
Offering online language learning to individuals and organizations is a growing opportunity for revenue generation for businesses like Verbling. In this section, we have curated a list of all the possible revenue streams so that new entrants can have an advantage over the existing ones.
Building and launching an online language learning platform like Verbling may seem to be a cumbersome task. However, with the right planning, strategy, and information, this can be done seamlessly. Follow the below-mentioned steps to successfully launch your online language learning platform.
Before you delve into the development process of building an online language learning platform like Verbling, it’s pivotal to understand the market by conducting thorough market research. Identify the potential competitors, their strategies, and potential gaps in the market that your language learning platform can fulfill. Also, determine your target audience on the basis of:
Based on the market research, select a particular niche that your language learning platform will target. This could include a particular language catering to a specific type of learner like beginners, advanced learners, business professionals, or individuals simply seeking to learn a particular language dialect. Additionally, you can decide on the type of sessions you are going to offer like one-on-one tutoring, group classes, and so on to cater to different learning styles and preferences.
3. Identify the Right Technology to Build Your Online Language Learning Platform
Identifying the right technology stack is crucial for the success of an online language learning platform. Consider front-end and back-end development technologies, along with a robust database management system.
This is an essential step as determining the right set of features will determine the usability of the online language learning platform. First of all, listing a few interactive features that will make communication on the platform seamless.
There are some other impeccable features that enable learners to get trained in a versatile environment and increase productivity to a greater extent.
Before actually starting to build a language learning platform, it is essential to keep in mind that the design of the platform is key to providing learners with the best learning experience possible. Discussed below are some prominent pages that should be included in the language learning platform along with how they should be designed.
The homepage of a language learning website should have a simplified and intuitive design so that all the offerings are conveyed in an effortless manner. The best shot in this context is an eye-catching and informative first-fold area that allows visitors to navigate the website further. Some suggestions on how the home page should look like:
As for the layout and design of the Classes landing page, it should unlock a whole new range of options for learners. Below is a list of suggestions that you need to pay attention to while designing this page:
In addition to this, the language learning platform should support different types of classes. Here are the most common types of language learning classes.
This page will feature the tutors listed on the website. Like the classes page, the tutors’ page should also list tutors with a brief introduction and relevant filtering and sorting options. Here are the elements that the tutors’ page shouldn’t miss:
In addition to this, a tutor profile page in a language learning platform should offer detailed information about the tutor helping learners make an informed decision while choosing a tutor. A tutor profile page should have elements somewhat similar to this:
The page for tutors to signup on a language learning platform should be simple consisting of the following elements:
The registration form for becoming a tutor should include the following details:
PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM FOR LISTING ONESELF AS A LANGUAGE TEACHER ON AN ONLINE LANGUAGE LEARNING PLATFORM
The language learning platform should have the following value-added features for the learners.
PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM FOR BOOKING & SCHEDULING A CLASS
In addition to the pages mentioned above, there should be powerful user-level dashboards as they act as a centralized place to see information such as progress, classes scheduled, classes completed, goals met, and so on. The three interactive dashboards include a learner dashboard (mentioned above), a tutor dashboard, and an admin dashboard.
The next step is to develop and launch the language learning platform. Primarily there are two approaches:
While custom development is tailored to your specific requirements, off-the-shelf solutions have industry specific built-in features and functionalities that are time tested. Additionally, custom development can be time-consuming and expensive, whereas ready-made solutions are cost-effective and have quick time-to-market.
Marketing after the launch of a language learning platform is pivotal. It helps in building brand awareness to attract both language tutors and learners. Several marketing channels can be utilized such as:
Building a unique language learning portal requires in-depth planning about key features. There is no need to compete with the already existing language learning businesses like Verbling, as they are already established in the market. All a new business needs to do is discover the untapped potential and create a solution for it. The best solution is to come up with an MVP and validate the business idea. This is where Yo!Coach can come into play.
Yo!Coach enables entrepreneurs to build an online language learning platform with all the advanced features mentioned above. The software is open to customizations and can be tailored as per the business requirements. Its live demo is also available to get hands-on experience. Explore how Yo!Coach has helped its clients in transforming their business ideas into profitable ventures. View Portfolio
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Comments (5)
shahin naghizadeh
FATbit Chef Post author
Web Designing Company Denver, CO
FATbit Chef Post author
Joe
hi ,
i want an online language learning video chat platform for mobile applications (ios/android) and website .
can you help me ?
Hi Shahin,
Thanks for connecting with us.
Sure we can help you with this project.
Our expert will get in touch with you to discuss the project. Meanwhile, you can share your detailed requirements with us via https://www.fatbit.com/website-design-company/requestaquote.html
Regards,
FATbit Team
Thanks for sharing such an amazing blog. I must say you are doing a great job. Keep doing such hard work. Your blogs are really very informative. Keep posting! Good Luck for your upcoming updates.
Hello,
Thank you so much for appreciating. Stay tuned for more insights.
Regards,
Team FATbit
Different interfaces for different user types is a smart idea. Also, I have used CometChat so I believe that integrating it on your website can develop a viable online tutoring store (only if the tutors keep the pricing right).