A Science Leveraging an Art: Putting Languages to Work Posted by Transparent Language on Apr 23, 2018 in Archived Posts
There’s a compelling post on the Collaborative Fund blog called An Art Leveraging a Science, which discusses how seemingly disparate skills complement one another in professional scenarios. Language skills surely fit into that formula for many fields, though perhaps it’s more a case of science leveraging art. An Art Leveraging a Science focuses on the…
Prepare for the American Citizenship Test with Transparent Language Online Posted by Transparent Language on Apr 16, 2018 in For Learners, For Libraries, Learning Material Updates
The United States has a long history of welcoming people from other countries and cultures. But before they can be welcomed officially in the form of citizenship, newcomers must pass the test. Proctored by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the U.S. Citizenship test include a civics section with 100 potential questions. Hopefuls are asked only 10, of…
Libraries Lead the Charge for a Multilingual America Posted by Transparent Language on Apr 9, 2018 in For Libraries
This week marks the 50th annual National Library Week, a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries—and librarians. The theme for this year’s National Library Week is: “Libraries lead.” This is not just a nice sentiment—it’s a fact, reinforced by our dealings with more than 1,000 libraries throughout the US and beyond. We…
New ESL Materials: Advanced Conversations in English Posted by Transparent Language on Apr 2, 2018 in For Learners, For Libraries, Learning Material Updates
Though we offer more than 100 languages in Transparent Language Online and the CL-150, our most requested language continues to be English. We’re excited to continue expanding our collection of English materials. We have traditionally supported beginner and intermediate level learners, from elementary students who need age-appropriate vocabulary to ESL learners preparing for life in…
When should language learners focus on the depth of their vocabulary? Posted by Transparent Language on Mar 19, 2018 in For Learners, Learning + Usage Tips
Last week, we discussed the importance of building vocabulary breadth—or the number of words you know—when trying to improve proficiency. To very briefly recap, we cited studies that demonstrate that of all the factors contributing to language proficiency, vocabulary size is by far the single most significant factor, accounting for anywhere from 50% to 70%…
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…