To further identify and validate the chosen opportunity space, generative user research was conducted. Six participants of varying Chinese speaking/reading/writing proficiency were consulted in an interview-style study.

Participant language skills ranged from complete beginner (new language learner), to native speaker (fully proficient in reading, writing, and speaking). They learned through varied courses and exposures, including structured academic classes in college or high school, learning the language at home as a child, using language learning apps, and attending special Chinese extracurricular schools in adolescence.

When asked questions similar to “how does your ability or inability to read and write affect your daily life,” pain points like the following were expressed:

Pain points expressed in the study are grouped into larger categories and summarized in the matrix below, with axes of external, internal, academic, and social impact on participants.