UX Guidelines for Computer Aided Language Learning

Trinity College Dublin research paper analysing the benefits of UX design for language learning applications.

UX Research

Interviews

Analysis

Academic writing

Introduction

As part of my MSc in Interactive Digital Media at Trinity College Dublin, I researched how UX design can improve English learning for Chinese users through computer-assisted language learning (CALL) applications.

This project earned a 70% grade (first class honours) and focused on creating actionable design guidelines for one of the world’s largest language-learning markets.

China has:

1 billion+ internet users
A strong cultural emphasis on academic achievement
Unique linguistic and cultural differences compared to Western learners

Thesis: What UX design guidelines should a designer follow when creating a CALL application for Chinese learners of English?

Click here to read the full research paper

My approach

I combined academic research with user insights to understand what drives engagement and learning in CALL apps:

Literature review: Explored UX principles (Jakob’s Law, Hick’s Law, Miller’s Law), gamification, cognitive load, and cultural factors.
Primary Research:Conducted 6 semi-structured interviews with Chinese students using CALL apps like Baicizhan and MoMo Recite
Analysis: Used directed content analysis and triangulation to combine academic research with real user insights.

Guidelines

Familiarity Reduces Friction: Users expect navigation patterns similar to other apps they use daily (e.g., social media). When UI deviates from these norms, it creates unnecessary cognitive load—especially problematic when the primary task is learning a new language.
Gamification Drives Motivation:Every participant highlighted gamified elements—daily streaks, leaderboards, and competitive word games—as critical for maintaining engagement. Social features amplified this effect, turning learning into a shared experience.
Dual Coding Improves Memory: Combining text with visuals and audio significantly boosted vocabulary retention. However, preferences varied: some learners favored visual cues, others relied on audio. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work.
Culture Shapes UX: Colour choices and academic goal-setting strongly influenced user perception. Blue tones evoked calm and positivity for Chinese users, while features that allowed setting exam targets aligned with cultural attitudes toward structured learning

Reflection

This project taught me how UX design intersects with psychology and culture. If updated today, I would integrate AI-driven personalisation and adaptive learning algorithms to make these guidelines even more powerful.