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History has taught us the value of foreign languages. Have we learned our lesson? Posted by Transparent Language on Nov 19, 2018 in Archived Posts
From the Cold War era to the 2014 Ebola outbreak, we need not look back too far to realize the scale of America’s language gap—and why we must fill it before history repeats itself. There is a reason we offer more than 100 languages in our learning platforms: we believe all languages matter. That’s not…
It’s time to spend less time on alphabet learning Posted by Transparent Language on Nov 5, 2018 in For Learners, Learning + Usage Tips, Learning Feature Updates
Alphabet learning is like the “accessory work” of language learning. A Crossfit athlete, for example, cares mostly about the big movements: squats, cleans, snatches, muscle-ups, etc. To improve these movements, dedicated athletes will do accessory exercises like hammer curls, rows, or glute bridges. Less fun to spend lots of time on, no doubt, but necessary…
Language training must embrace the next generation of e-learning Posted by Transparent Language on Oct 1, 2018 in Archived Posts
To get serious about skills training, organizations “need to embrace a new generation of e-learning.” According to the former head of Google France, Jean-Marc Tassetto, e-learning platforms are on “the brink of an engagement revolution.” He predicts that e-learning will be more personalized, adaptive, and aligned with individual goals. Less MOOC-style show-and-tell and more, well…
It’s time to invest in foreign language instruction at the professional level, too. Posted by Transparent Language on Sep 10, 2018 in Archived Posts
In a popular op-ed for the Los Angeles Times, Patrice Apodaca makes the case that it’s time to invest in foreign-language instruction, namely in public schools. We couldn’t agree more, but the buck doesn’t stop there. Apodaca wastes little time reiterating the need for foreign languages in the modern, globalized economy. That topic has been…
Language learning is the educational imperative of our generation Posted by Transparent Language on Aug 13, 2018 in Archived Posts
In response to America’s language deficit, a bipartisan Congressional report has called for the country to “to value language education as a persistent national need similar to education in math or English, and to ensure that a useful level of proficiency is within every student’s reach.” Earlier this year, CIA Director Gina Haspel included “emphasizing…
Can technology enhance human connection in the language classroom? Posted by Transparent Language on Aug 6, 2018 in Archived Posts
Confidence in classroom technology is growing, but confidence in how best to use it has not kept pace. According to one study, commissioned by Samsung, 90 percent of K-12 teachers surveyed believe that technology in the classroom is important to student success, but only 60 percent feel they are adequately prepared to use it. Another study…
Listening is the Black Sheep of Language Learning Skills Posted by Transparent Language on Jul 30, 2018 in For Learners, Learning + Usage Tips
When learning a language, there’s one skill that’s more neglected than the others. It’s underestimated both in terms of its complexity and its utility. It’s less glamorous than speaking, and more difficult to master than reading. Listening, unfortunately, is the black sheep of language learning. A recently-posted discussion thread on Quora began with the question…