HelloTalk is a language learning platform that pairs two users together who wish to learn each other’s native language. Users can also publish posts to the community for other users to read and practice with. Users can also connect with multiple other users to consolidate their learning or to learn a variety of languages.
The onboarding focuses on establishing which languages the user is interested in and already knows, and gives them an option to create a profile and bio. After onboarding they are brought through a short practice conversation with an AI to give an idea of how the app works, and then are paired with other users.
The social media feel of the app helps users stay engaged by incorporating learning into something most people already partake in on a regular basis. An issue some users brought up was that the UI was complex with some unnecessary features that detract from the learning experience.
It is also primarily text based, and some users found that to be a les immersive experience than similar products, such as Tandem that are primarily voice based. The community based approach also comes with drawbacks such as some users using the platform as a social app, with different goals than users they are paired with.