When unit 4 started, I had an idea of building connection for people to help each other about living their life in London. But I was not sure about what this connection will be like. So my tutor suggest me to work from the beginning to make sure I am not forgetting any of the issues which is needed to be solved. So I made a list about all the challenges Chinese new sojourners that may encounter according to the secondary research and the other feedback I got from the previous intervention.
I made the mindset about it:
After this I felt more clear about what aspects should be involved in this solution. But it is still not a clear structure for the platform. So I tried to figure out the structure and information.
I decided to put information in four sectors as below:
Practical information sector:
- Purchasing stuff : supermarket (food and fast moving consumer goods, etc.), shops and shopping malls (furnitures, clothes, decorations, makeups, bookstores, recreation etc.), restaurants, SIM card.
- Accommodation: house renting process (apartment viewing, rental discussing, lease signing, cleansing, etc.)
- Transportation: tickets or card purchasing, different transportation information.
- Currency: bank (open bank account, withdrew or deposit money, money transferring), exchange rate.
- Climate: advise for clothes preparation for each season
- Application & Platform: event information, delivery, ticket purchase platform or website
- Safety issue: emergency number, precaution, information security, etc.
- Health issue: NHS registration, physical examination, etc.
- Regulations
Language sector:
- Resources: school language support centre, online English learning platform or application, translation application, etc.
- Skills: small talk, email, local idioms, different accents, etc.
- Language practicing opportunity: link to the connection part.
Social interaction sector:
- Culture: habits, festivals
- School: educational methods, get along with teachers and peers, enrollment process, etc.
- Work place: working atmosphere, get along with co-workers, duty, welfare, etc.
- People around: small talk, networking(skills, process)
- Strangers : boundaries, safety, jokes.
Mental health sector:
- Resources: mental health helping centre in schools or community, benefit associations.
- Experiences by other sojourners
- Basic suggestion from experts
Apart from these, there are one more sector which is the most important part. I named it Connection Building.
Then I draw this draft of the home page of this app to demonstrate these five parts.
Then I did the checklist to find out which aspect I should put more effort in. I rate these part from 0-5. Also I tried to find out how to complete the information it lacked.
To learn more about my stakeholders about how they would like this platform. So I talk with target stakeholders from the ‘experienced’ side
I got a chance to talk with James, who has studied Chinese for years as local in London, on Wednesday. James came to talk to us in a supermarket when he heard us speaking Chinese. He wanted to practice his Chinese by making friends with Chinese people. I thought he could be the one on the ‘experienced’ side in my project.
During the talk with him, I asked him some of my question about language learning personally, which is sometimes I felt I can not find the most accurate word to express my ideas. I was wondering whether the lacking of vocabulary is the problem related to this phenomenon. He told me that most Chinese students he reached out get this confusion, but he don’t think vocabulary is not the main problem. We should pay attention to the meaning of the words in certain circumstance.
From this experience, I found it I got a really useful advise from this guy, who can speak both Chinese and English and know what are the flaws in language learners. So I decided to ask him some question about my Project.
- Do you know someone else like you could be my stakeholders in the experienced side?
- What kind of reward you would like to have from the new comers if you join this platform?
- What kind of service of would you like to provide on this platform?
So I invite three people I know to have this interview and collect feedback from them.
Bullet points:
- They hope what they do could be rewarded financially.
- Most of them refuse to provide simple help like show people around in London. They prefer to work more valuable.
Additionally, I did some research about other platform that provide similar service.
Case 1: Hello Talk
This is a language exchange platform which could help people who want to learn some language. I downloaded one and choose I can exchange teaching Chinese for learning English. Then I got some message from people who want to learn Chinese. I did not expect I could get in touch with people that easy on this platform, which means they get a lot of users. I ended up talking to someone from Manchester. He told me the reason he came here is that he want to know what his coworker is talking in his back, which is a really interesting story. Therefore, I figured out that some people have the desire to learn a new language while making friends, or even teaching others while making friends.
For the platform, it is free for just chatting by message. If you want to see your visitor or try to talk with others by video, you need to become vip.
Similar platform: Tandem, InterPals…
Case 2: 7 Cups of Tea
7 Cups of Tea is an online platform connecting individuals seeking emotional support with trained listeners and therapists. Through chats, users anonymously discuss personal challenges, ensuring privacy. For chatting with people, it is free. But if you would like to have online therapy, it will be $150 a month, which is cheaper than other therapies.
Similar platform: Be my eyes
Case 3: Cambly
Cambly is an online platform that connects English learners with native English-speaking tutors for real-time video conversations. Catering to individuals of all proficiency levels, Cambly offers flexible learning schedules and personalized lesson plans. Paid activities include private one-on-one lessons, specialized courses (such as Business English or IELTS preparation), and daily practice sessions. Tutors hail from various backgrounds, ensuring diverse learning experiences. With its interactive interface and immediate access to tutors, Cambly serves as a convenient solution for immersive English practice.
For one to one English improving classes, the price would be $10-$20, vary from different set people choose. They also get other options for people to choose.
Case 4: Airbnb Experiences
Airbnb Experiences is a feature offered by Airbnb, extending beyond its primary home-sharing model. It allows locals and experts to host unique activities, tours, or classes in their city. Guests can book these experiences to dive deeper into the local culture, learn new skills, or explore hidden gems. Offerings range from cooking classes, photography walks, and historical tours to adventure sports and nature hikes. Each experience provides a personal touch, ensuring traveler’s get an authentic and enriching insight into the destination. Through Airbnb Experiences, visitors can connect with communities in ways that typical tourism might not offer.
People charge according to different services. What need to mention is that I noticed that this platform only provide a view of the local people who provide service, but not the people who may have requirements. Therefore I would provide a window for people who want to post what they need on the social media.
I try to use a website to build a mock up miniapp system, which could show the page jumps.
But I got stuck on designing the part of communication. There is some draft in my mind, but still confused on showing all the process and blocks. So I think I still need to interview some of my stakeholders about their expectation on this application.
I came up with some questions for the newcomers to figure out.
1.”What are the main challenges you faced upon arriving in the UK, and in what areas do you feel you need the most assistance?”
2.”Could you describe the types of services or support that would have been most beneficial to you when you first arrived in the UK?”
3.”How important is it for you to receive help from experienced individuals in adapting to life in the UK?”
4.”What is your budget for seeking professional services or assistance in settling into the UK, such as legal advice, language courses, or cultural orientation sessions?”
5.”Have you used any specific resources or services that you found particularly helpful as a newcomer to the UK?”
And I got some feedback from my stakeholders
Key point:
The main challenges faced by newcomers to the UK are consistent with previous feedback. New arrivals often struggle to grasp the practical knowledge needed for everyday living, such as understanding how to navigate the healthcare system, knowing the social media and legal requirements, and getting used to how things are done in their new environment. They also face difficulties in adapting to the cultural nuances, which include getting accustomed to local customs, humor, and social expectations.
In terms of the assistance they’re looking for, there is a clear need for support with medical services, which could range from registering with a local doctor to understanding how to access emergency healthcare. Legal assistance is also a common requirement, with newcomers needing help with everything from understanding visa regulations to renting or buying property. Help with daily life tasks is also sought after, including setting up utilities, finding the best shopping deals, and integrating into the community.
When it comes to budgeting for these services, there is an openness to invest in assistance that is seen as valuable. People are willing to spend money on language courses, which are essential for communication and integration, as well as on other practical forms of help that can ease their transition into UK life. Despite this willingness to spend, there is also a desire for a communal platform or service. Such a platform would enable them to ask questions and receive advice on the more straightforward aspects of living in the UK, suggesting a preference for a supportive network over navigating alone. This shows a recognition of the importance of shared experiences and community knowledge in the process of settling into a new country.
Therefore, according to these feedback, I first made the draft of this application. I try to link these pages and show them to my stakeholders.
Then, my tutor George suggest me to do a mind map showing the linking between the pages. And I also do the design of the layout of each page.
I also got a name for this app, which is Taoli. This is the spelling of its Chinese name: ‘桃李’, which comes from the slang in China（投桃报李: If people give me a peach, I will give a plum back.) This means people should help each other and be grateful. I use this name because most of my target group is Chinese. They could understand the meaning when they saw this and it indicates the function of this application.
Then I tried to test this application to find out if it is easy to navigate. I printed out the pages and let people act that they are using it as an app. And then I collect feedback from 10 people, some of them are my Chinese friends, and others are from people I met from school library.
For the testing part, I put the participants into two groups. One of them need to find a certain page. The other one just need to explore the application as they want to and give me feedbacks. But I only tell them what this application for instead of giving explanations to this application.
All the participants think this application is easy to navigate. They can find the page they want. They also tried to go browse in the second page which the part that other people post. I think that is a good sign for this application to work. But I still get some feedbacks from people that I could work on to make this better.
Feedbacks:
- People want more sections on the page that showing the issues. They are especially asking for the networking sector. People want to find job in London said they really need these opportunities to start their job seeking process which is totally different in their own country.
- Some people are asking for more local activities or chances to engaged with local culture. Some of them are not familiar using the social media abroad. So they cannot find these type of activities on most Chinese social media.
- This application could satisfy the most functional help in a new country and they can see the possibility to scale up. But as the solution to cross cultural adaptation, some of the people whose need is to engaging deeper in the local culture want more information in this application.