How much vocabulary is enough when learning a foreign language? Posted by Transparent Language on Mar 12, 2018 in For Learners, Learning + Usage Tips
I came across an interesting question on Quora recently. The asker wondered which was more important: speaking a language correctly and properly or successfully communicating an idea at the expense of eloquence. The consensus was in favor of communicating successfully, particularly in the beginning stages of learning a language. So, where should learners begin to…
Is there still a place for language labs in higher education? Posted by Transparent Language on Feb 26, 2018 in Archived Posts
When you hear “language lab”, you probably picture rows of computer desks, occupied by headphone-clad students working on some kind of project. But the modern language center has evolved far beyond a computer lab. Language centers serve as community and cultural centers on campus. The term “lab” is no longer an accurate title, as it…
Valdosta State University Leverages Transparent Language Online On Campus and Online Posted by Transparent Language on Feb 12, 2018 in For Educators
Nestled in the heart of South Georgia, Valdosta State University (VSU) is one of four comprehensive universities in the University System of Georgia. Valdosta’s Department of Modern and Classical Languages offers foreign language and language teaching degrees both on campus and online. Transparent Language Online is incorporated both on campus and in online degree programs. Valdosta State…
Why do we still teach foreign languages as a separate subject? Posted by Transparent Language on Feb 5, 2018 in Archived Posts
Languages aren’t used in isolation, so why do we teach them in isolation? In U.S. schools and training facilities, languages have long been taught as an individual subject—a set of words, grammar rules, and pronunciations to memorize and recall at the right moments. Not by coincidence, the U.S. has also been notoriously ineffective at producing…
Transparent Language Online Wins Third Modern Library Award Posted by Transparent Language on Jan 29, 2018 in Company News, For Libraries
It’s a threepeat! Transparent Language Online received its third Platinum Award in LibraryWork’s 2018 Modern Library Awards (MLAs). The MLAs were established to recognize the top products in the library industry in a truly unbiased format. Submitted products were sent to the LibraryWorks database of more than 80,000 librarians at public, K-12, academic, and special…
Is it time to turn the page on language textbooks? Posted by Transparent Language on Jan 22, 2018 in Archived Posts
Who has two hands and a device always glued to one of them? Almost every member of the younger generation. Today’s generation of students and young professionals are digital natives—they can hardly imagine a world before smartphones, Google, YouTube, or instant access to virtually any information. If they have a question, need directions, or want…
It’s Time to Invest in Employee Language Training Posted by Transparent Language on Jan 15, 2018 in For Businesses
“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin We recently made the case for more and better foreign language education in schools. Thousands of educators and students took interest, sharing the post and championing the cause. But employers should be paying attention, too. As businesses in nearly every industry—from energy to…