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ShowHN: Tandemio(24h hack), chatroulette for language learning. Comments,ideas?

3 points by razvvan 13y ago

packetbeats 13y ago
I like the idea and could use the product, so I hope you continue working on it after the 24h. Of course, the tricky part will be getting enough traction that people can use the site as soon as they discover it. When I tried it, there was only one other person "searching" and apparently not my language combination.
- razvvan 13y ago
  Yeah, this is a bit of a problem. I was thinking of adding a "suggested time" in the hopes that the few people visiting are at least online at the same time. I also added that notification by email if nobody found thing but I don't really see it as being the right solution.
NKCSS 13y ago
Not directly topical, but I'd recommend changing the typography/whitespace usage of the landing page; it took me a few times where I needed to re-focus to read what it said.
- razvvan 13y ago
  The 24h limit kind of backed me into the lazy corner of using a default bootstrap but I agree.
pourqoi 13y ago
Hey! Like your idea... if Skype crashes I'll know where to go (as long as we choose obscure enough languages)
- razvvan 13y ago
  err... I took the languages list from a wikipedia page, not sure if it includes ALL the obscure languages but I saw something about phoenician, so I'm going to assume we have most of them covered. Problem is finding two people that are interested in said obscure language.
  - michaelmior 13y ago
    I believe the OP was suggesting that two people could use the service as an alternative to Skype if the two parties picked a very rare language such that the odds are that they would be the only two.
miruna_popa 13y ago
I really think this is a fun way of learning new languages, without all the blablas and grammar. Although usefull, I'm kind of like a kid who wants something here and now. The only difficulty from my point of view is bringing enough people online at the same time, at least until it is popular enough. Maybe some promoting (aka posting the link with a small description) on university groups? Just a thought.
razvvan 13y ago
somebody just mailed me to ask we do a spinoff but with programming languages :)
ancu 13y ago
The concept is nice. Just like that curly guy.
- algiox 13y ago
  Thanks ;-)
VaninaBotezatu 13y ago
I think this is great idea. I also think that promoting it on students' Facebook groups would be very effective. (I know that from my own experience- this concept has been implemented by my host university to help Erasmus students learn German/other languages and to help regular students learn whichever language they wanted. And I know the program has been having a great success. Lots of students were discussing on Facebook groups about this topic, trying to find tandem partners after the deadline set for signing up for the program. That's why I think you should take this approach to promoting this platform)

3 points by razvvan 13y ago

I like the idea and could use the product, so I hope you continue working on it after the 24h. Of course, the tricky part will be getting enough traction that people can use the site as soon as they discover it. When I tried it, there was only one other person "searching" and apparently not my language combination.

razvvan 13y ago
Yeah, this is a bit of a problem. I was thinking of adding a "suggested time" in the hopes that the few people visiting are at least online at the same time. I also added that notification by email if nobody found thing but I don't really see it as being the right solution.

NKCSS 13y ago

Not directly topical, but I'd recommend changing the typography/whitespace usage of the landing page; it took me a few times where I needed to re-focus to read what it said.

razvvan 13y ago
The 24h limit kind of backed me into the lazy corner of using a default bootstrap but I agree.

pourqoi 13y ago

Hey! Like your idea... if Skype crashes I'll know where to go (as long as we choose obscure enough languages)

razvvan 13y ago
err... I took the languages list from a wikipedia page, not sure if it includes ALL the obscure languages but I saw something about phoenician, so I'm going to assume we have most of them covered. Problem is finding two people that are interested in said obscure language.
- michaelmior 13y ago
  I believe the OP was suggesting that two people could use the service as an alternative to Skype if the two parties picked a very rare language such that the odds are that they would be the only two.

miruna_popa 13y ago

I really think this is a fun way of learning new languages, without all the blablas and grammar. Although usefull, I'm kind of like a kid who wants something here and now. The only difficulty from my point of view is bringing enough people online at the same time, at least until it is popular enough. Maybe some promoting (aka posting the link with a small description) on university groups? Just a thought.

razvvan 13y ago

somebody just mailed me to ask we do a spinoff but with programming languages :)

ancu 13y ago

The concept is nice. Just like that curly guy.

algiox 13y ago
Thanks ;-)

VaninaBotezatu 13y ago

I think this is great idea. I also think that promoting it on students' Facebook groups would be very effective. (I know that from my own experience- this concept has been implemented by my host university to help Erasmus students learn German/other languages and to help regular students learn whichever language they wanted. And I know the program has been having a great success. Lots of students were discussing on Facebook groups about this topic, trying to find tandem partners after the deadline set for signing up for the program. That's why I think you should take this approach to promoting this platform)