Archive by Author
A Flurry of Snow Day Language Thoughts Posted by Transparent Language on Feb 23, 2015 in Archived Posts
You’ve probably heard the old claim that “Eskimos have dozens (or hundreds) of words for snow”… it was on my mind this morning as I looked out at the white stuff threatening to bury my driveway. Never having studied Inuit, Yupik, or any other Native Alaskan language, I’m not going to wade into that particular…
Transforming the Economics of Language Learning (Part 3) Posted by Transparent Language on Feb 18, 2015 in Archived Posts
In Part 2 we discussed how technology can transform the economics of language learning, but only if it’s the right technology. Now, let’s look at implementing the right technology in the right way. You’ve seen those clickbait web ads for “One Silly Trick…” to lose weight, relieve pain or whatever. There’s not usually much value after the…
Is Teaching English Abroad Right for You? A List of Pros and Cons Posted by Transparent Language on Feb 11, 2015 in Archived Posts
It’s something that has crossed the mind of every language lover: what if you quit your day job, packed your bags, and spent a year (or two) teaching English abroad? Indeed, the notion is a romantic one: in addition to satisfying your wanderlust, working abroad allows you to connect with an entirely new culture, and…
Transforming the Economics of Language Learning (Part 2) Posted by Transparent Language on Feb 4, 2015 in Archived Posts, Company News
Software that delivers just one course in a language is virtually useless for professional purposes. It’s like a delivery van that can only go to one address. In Part 1, we talked about how combining technology with human instruction can transform the economics and logistics of professional language training and maintenance. But it needs to…
Hacking Pronunciation in Any Language with the IPA, Part 1: Consonants Posted by Transparent Language on Feb 2, 2015 in Archived Posts
Jakob Gibbons writes about language and travel on his blog Globalect. He often shares his experiences with learning languages on the road, and teaching and learning new speech sounds is his specialty. One of the biggest hurdles to jump in learning a new language is getting control of new speech sounds you’ve never made before…
Days of Deutsch: Learning a Language through Labeling Posted by Transparent Language on Jan 28, 2015 in Archived Posts
They say that when you learn a new language you should label your day to day objects, stick a post-it on the fridge, on the oven, on your shelves. Then every time you’re in the kitchen you’ll start to memorise everything around you. My labelling obsession has gone into overdrive. Not satisfied with post-it notes…
Transforming the Economics of Language Learning (Part 1) Posted by Transparent Language on Jan 21, 2015 in Archived Posts
Learning another language for professional purposes takes too long and costs too much. For many recreational learners, the economics, logistics and reliability of acquiring another language are not all that important. For them, the joy is in the journey, and concepts such as time to proficiency, reliability of outcome, or the availability of personnel for…