ClickIndia: Indian Language Learning Mobile Application

Abstract

Loss of native languages among immigrant children is a well-known problem yet very little effort has been made to address this issue. This project aims to build an iOS mobile application to facilitate the vocabulary learning of such languages for English speaking children. Currently, two Indian languages, namely Punjabi and Hindi, are used as the testbed and therefore the mobile application is called ClickIndia but its scalable architecture allows to incorporate other languages including endangered languages in the future. The goal is to take advantage of smartphone technologies and constructivist principles of learning to allow users to easily master commonly used Indian vocabulary words. ClickIndia provides multi-sensory learning experience via multimedia presentation of vocabulary words using audio, text and pictures. Category-based vocabulary word list is formed to build a connection between word and group for faster learning. Also, social context is incorporated in learning environment by using location detection feature to teach location-specific vocabulary. Further, it uses the novel concept of machine learning object recognition technology to develop an engaging vocabulary learning game. The game-oriented learning keeps users motivated to learn more by performing tasks to construct their own knowledge. Moreover, ClickIndia generates crowdsourced picture tagging, i.e., pictures clicked by users are stored on the cloud to build a tagged picture dataset to be incorporated in future release. Overall, ClickIndia promotes self-management and construction of knowledge by engaging users in a multimedia learning environment.