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Ask HN: Please review my language startup

14 points by mise 16y ago

http://www.bitesizeirishgaelic.com/ Submitted once before, but now I've added a "Learn a Little" free membership to check out. 10 people signed up for the free version overnight, which indicates to me that there's at least some market for it. It's very basic. The site is there to teach you some of the Irish language (Irish Gaelic). As you complete each lesson, you can mark it as finished or revised. Audio accompanies any Irish language text. It was launched last month, and I would appreciate any thoughts you have on it.

s2r2 16y ago
http://www.bitesizeirishgaelic.com/ http://www.bitesizeirishgaelic.com/ clicky
patio11 16y ago
When I think "Compelling reasons to learn Irish" (and my name is McKenzie), piranha shamrocks are not quite the image I think of. Maybe something more with Celtic crosses or other iconography, people, the Irish countryside, a castle/cathedral/hamlet/etc, etc. It will also make it impossible for you to get a boost from the most plentiful, most powerful link source for language learning tools: university professors. You need to be able to "talk the talk" to get the Notre Dame Irish Studies Department to recommend you to their students and the Internet at large. (If you're not a SEO, you might not understand this, but if I were you I give a kidney for that link.)
- wccrawford 16y ago
  I don't think his logo will make it impossible to be taken seriously by academics. It's a logo. Besides, from the comments in the lessons, he knows enough that he probably lives there and knows all about the culture.
iworkforthem 16y ago
I think you should have a short quiz at the end of each lesson. it could help to promote more interaction on your website.
wccrawford 16y ago
I've been considering learning Irish since Benny the Irish Polyglot did a post on it. I'm definitely going to try this, but I don't know if $12/month for 30 lessons is a good enough price compared to what I pay other sites. (I'm already learning Japanese.) BTW, lesson 2 has é twice, instead of having á.
- mise 16y ago
  Thanks, I've fixed that typo. Benny's a good guy (good crazy :) ). I will have to build up our value proposition over time. 20 new lessons are being launched this month. Better learning features will have to be introduced (suggestions welcome). Meanwhile, you may cancel at any time, so 1 month's access costs you $12.
BTBurke 16y ago
I'd hire a graphic artist to upgrade the logos. Also, I don't like the pricing strategy. You should pay for the content of the course, not month by month. If you want other ways to make money, try something like so many minutes on skype with a native speaker for practice, downloadable podcasts to listen on the go, side-by-side translations of news articles in both languages to practice reading and learn about the culture/current events at the same time.

14 points by mise 16y ago

s2r2 16y ago

http://www.bitesizeirishgaelic.com/ http://www.bitesizeirishgaelic.com/ clicky

patio11 16y ago

When I think "Compelling reasons to learn Irish" (and my name is McKenzie), piranha shamrocks are not quite the image I think of. Maybe something more with Celtic crosses or other iconography, people, the Irish countryside, a castle/cathedral/hamlet/etc, etc. It will also make it impossible for you to get a boost from the most plentiful, most powerful link source for language learning tools: university professors. You need to be able to "talk the talk" to get the Notre Dame Irish Studies Department to recommend you to their students and the Internet at large. (If you're not a SEO, you might not understand this, but if I were you I give a kidney for that link.)

wccrawford 16y ago
I don't think his logo will make it impossible to be taken seriously by academics. It's a logo. Besides, from the comments in the lessons, he knows enough that he probably lives there and knows all about the culture.

iworkforthem 16y ago

I think you should have a short quiz at the end of each lesson. it could help to promote more interaction on your website.

wccrawford 16y ago

I've been considering learning Irish since Benny the Irish Polyglot did a post on it. I'm definitely going to try this, but I don't know if $12/month for 30 lessons is a good enough price compared to what I pay other sites. (I'm already learning Japanese.) BTW, lesson 2 has é twice, instead of having á.

mise 16y ago
Thanks, I've fixed that typo. Benny's a good guy (good crazy :) ). I will have to build up our value proposition over time. 20 new lessons are being launched this month. Better learning features will have to be introduced (suggestions welcome). Meanwhile, you may cancel at any time, so 1 month's access costs you $12.

BTBurke 16y ago

I'd hire a graphic artist to upgrade the logos. Also, I don't like the pricing strategy. You should pay for the content of the course, not month by month. If you want other ways to make money, try something like so many minutes on skype with a native speaker for practice, downloadable podcasts to listen on the go, side-by-side translations of news articles in both languages to practice reading and learn about the culture/current events at the same time.