About Us
I’m Orion, a father to a one-year-old baby and also the founder of a startup. We’re building a product called Ries, and its idea actually stems from my own language learning journey. For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted English to become my second native language. But as someone living in a predominantly Chinese-speaking environment, I quickly realized how challenging that was. Almost everything around me—work, life, entertainment—is in Chinese, and English has very little presence in my day-to-day life. I tried all kinds of traditional learning methods, like listening to audio, memorizing vocabulary, and attending classes. But each of these felt like isolated tasks—things I had to carve out time for and devote extra effort to. Worse still, the progress was fragile; as soon as I stopped, I’d quickly backslide. The cycle was frustrating and disheartening. I even tried tackling English head-on by reading original texts and watching content in full English, but it didn’t take long before I hit a wall. When the gap between what you can understand and what you’re trying to learn is too big, the process becomes slow, overwhelming, and stressful. That’s when I started to wonder if there was a better, more natural way to approach language learning—one that could fit into my everyday life. Then, during a trip to Hong Kong, I had an eye-opening experience. Many locals spoke Cantonese mixed with English phrases and expressions, seamlessly weaving the two languages together. Without even trying, I found myself picking up new English phrases and expressions just by listening. It was effortless and even enjoyable. Compared to my usual isolated and rigid learning experiences, this “blended” language environment felt organic and engaging. That trip inspired me to ask a simple question: why can’t we incorporate this kind of “blended” language input into our daily lives? For example, what if, when reading something in Chinese, part of it was seamlessly replaced with English expressions I could understand? That way, I could balance comprehension with gradual exposure to the target language. This idea resonated deeply with me, as it aligns with the principle of “comprehensible input,” which says that growth happens when what you’re exposed to is just slightly beyond what you already know. This became the foundation for Ries. I envision Ries as a language growth companion. What sets it apart is that it doesn’t require you to study boring textbooks or spend extra time on isolated lessons. Instead, it adapts to your interests, understands your language level, and subtly integrates English into the things you already enjoy. Whether you’re scrolling through articles or watching videos, Ries adjusts the content by replacing parts of it with English expressions that match your ability. Learning becomes a natural part of your routine rather than a separate chore, and your interests remain front and center, not forced exercises or drills. The idea for Ries also grew from my reflections on existing tools. Traditional language learning tools feel disconnected—they require dedicated time and specific environments to work, making them hard to stick with. On the other hand, translation tools are designed for efficiency, but they do nothing for language growth. They simply translate everything into your native language, leaving you with no opportunity to develop your own understanding of the target language. Ries aims to strike a balance between the two. It doesn’t disrupt your life or habits but quietly weaves itself into your daily routine, helping you grow without pressure. Over the past year, I’ve used this gradual input approach to take my English from A2 to B2. Looking back, I’ve realized that language growth is a process of natural accumulation. It doesn’t need to be stressful, and it doesn’t require you to restructure your life. With the right method, learning can be simple, enjoyable, and sustainable. My hope is that Ries can provide the same opportunity for others like me—people living in a native-language environment but eager to break through language barriers. Maybe it can help you realize that learning a language isn’t some distant or daunting goal but something that can seamlessly become part of your everyday life. And one day, I hope Ries becomes a trusted companion, helping you use language to open up a bigger world.