Immersia

History

Immersia was co-founded in 2013 by entrepreneurs Guy Bar-ner, Karen Shlimovich and Paul Kuklis. Bar-ner and Shlimovich met at a French language course in a class which consisted of 30 students. After learning how to conjugate different verbs and after having to memorize table after table, for upcoming tests, the two became disillusioned with the fact that they still could not, in their words, "order 'La Soupe' at the Brasserie". The team, which consisted of an SAT teacher, an English teacher and a linguist, came to the conclusion that they were tired of memorizing words. They wanted to engage in conversation and simulate real-life situations as though they were on a trip to Paris and as hard-core gamers their solution was simple. Within a few weeks they released their first French language-learning game and soon to follow were games for learning Spanish, German, Chinese and Japanese.

Products

Immersia's initial self-titled series of online language-learning games is set within the animated backdrop of a bar. Different types of characters occupy the bar among which are an elderly bartender, an attractive blue-eyed woman and a couple situated at one of the tables. The object of the game is to engage in conversation with the various characters either via the built-in speech recognition technology or by typing words using a keyboard and thus progress through the game by scoring points and ultimately improving language skills. This method of language learning is known as language immersion.

According to Immersia's Linkedin page, their motto is: "Studies show that classrooms aren't as fun as bars. Learn a language at a bar."

In June 2015, Immersia launched their first Android app entitled Spanish Injection.