Change is in the air at langolab.com. In the last week, we've had a major change of pace, complete with a change of scenery, a change in energy, and a change in support. In the next few months, the site will begin to take shape in ways we could only have imagined before. We're so grateful for the opportunity.
Shane, our rock star graphic designer in residence, is busy with a newer version of the site that will knock your socks off. You can help us, though, by telling us how we can design our welcome page better. The current version of our welcome page lets you watch a recently uploaded video immediately from the front page. You can also go directly to your language's homepage by clicking on it in the dropdown menu.
Our question to you is, what would you like to see on our welcome page? Would you like to start watching videos right away, or would you like more instructions about how to use them and our tools? What kind of videos would you like to see?
Please e-mail us at feedback@langolab.com - you'll never find ears more open than ours.
5.29.2009
5.28.2009
Lost in Translation
I always supress a giggle when bellying up to a table in a foreign restaurant. Infamous for misspellings, horrible grammar, and overall comical translations, menus are great for a laugh.
In an effort to help out clueless American tourists, many restaurants abroad are offering an English version of their menu. But are you really getting what you ordered? See for yourself.
I think I'll brush up on my culinary Chinese, thank you.
What are some of the funniest menu items you've come across in your travels? Weirdest response wins an all-expense paid culinary tour of Thailand... just kidding.
In an effort to help out clueless American tourists, many restaurants abroad are offering an English version of their menu. But are you really getting what you ordered? See for yourself.
I think I'll brush up on my culinary Chinese, thank you.
What are some of the funniest menu items you've come across in your travels? Weirdest response wins an all-expense paid culinary tour of Thailand... just kidding.
5.27.2009
User-generated versus professional content
As you all know, langolab.com aggregates a broad spectrum of foreign language content for your viewing pleasure. Up until a short while ago, the majority of it consisted mostly of popular songs and short skits uploaded from YouTube. Then, we began to see a surge in artists uploading their own original work, like imaj, Kirsten Lepore, and Pavel Kartaev. We like to believe that the shift from YouTube to user-generated video clips reflects a natural progression happening within our site. On a very fundamental level, users provide the base of our content and take an active role in foreign language teaching and learning through the question and answer and notes features. These videos are important because they show how native speakers use vocabulary and even play with it in their language. By watching these videos and using our tools, you are learning everything from correct pronunciation to word order to syntax. We think this approach is essential to language learning and want you to have as much exposure to it as possible.
We believe the next logical step in LangoLAB's evolution should include professionally-generated videos and full-length movies. How many of our users out there have ever watched ABC's "Lost" and thought, hey! I would learn Spanish a whole lot faster if I had something so compelling to watch. Our next major task is to get some professional content out on the site for you. As this is a monumental task, we ask for your continued support in posting your own videos to the site. We love your enthusiasm and are working hard to bring you EXACTLY what you need to immerse yourself and become fluent.
We believe the next logical step in LangoLAB's evolution should include professionally-generated videos and full-length movies. How many of our users out there have ever watched ABC's "Lost" and thought, hey! I would learn Spanish a whole lot faster if I had something so compelling to watch. Our next major task is to get some professional content out on the site for you. As this is a monumental task, we ask for your continued support in posting your own videos to the site. We love your enthusiasm and are working hard to bring you EXACTLY what you need to immerse yourself and become fluent.
5.20.2009
Employment and Foreign Language Fluency
According to a recent article on CBS MarketWatch, foreign language fluency is fast becoming a key factor to landing many U.S.-based jobs. Employers are exploring the global marketplace like never before, and, as a result, their employees are being put in direct contact with customers and colleagues overseas. But are they fluent enough? Fluency in a foreign language requires years of intensive study, ideally while being immersed in an environment where the language is spoken constantly.
These opportunities can be somewhat difficult to come by for the typical American. In many institutions, foreign language courses are slowly being phased out of the curriculum and not offered until very late in a student's academic career. The current two-year high school requirement is only enough for a student to superficially grasp grammar, if s/he is lucky. In the worst case scenario, the two-year college requirement only reviews what the student should have learned in high school. Study abroad might not be financially feasible.
Fluency in a foreign language is not just the ability to put words together in a sentence, but, more importantly, the ability to communicate ideas and concepts. It is an understanding of both language and culture. So how can we expect to compete in a global marketplace where foreign languages have been learned since childhood? I think we just need to be smarter.
We need more interaction with native speakers and foreign media. We have to learn how a foreign language is actually spoken, then emulate the accent that we hear. We should practice speaking as much as possible, with someone who speaks the language better than we do. Many of these components are already in place on our website - immerse yourself in texts and videos, ask questions and read notes. Meanwhile, we'll keep working on other ways to help you increase your fluency in the spoken language.
These opportunities can be somewhat difficult to come by for the typical American. In many institutions, foreign language courses are slowly being phased out of the curriculum and not offered until very late in a student's academic career. The current two-year high school requirement is only enough for a student to superficially grasp grammar, if s/he is lucky. In the worst case scenario, the two-year college requirement only reviews what the student should have learned in high school. Study abroad might not be financially feasible.
Fluency in a foreign language is not just the ability to put words together in a sentence, but, more importantly, the ability to communicate ideas and concepts. It is an understanding of both language and culture. So how can we expect to compete in a global marketplace where foreign languages have been learned since childhood? I think we just need to be smarter.
We need more interaction with native speakers and foreign media. We have to learn how a foreign language is actually spoken, then emulate the accent that we hear. We should practice speaking as much as possible, with someone who speaks the language better than we do. Many of these components are already in place on our website - immerse yourself in texts and videos, ask questions and read notes. Meanwhile, we'll keep working on other ways to help you increase your fluency in the spoken language.
5.13.2009
Travel List
Hey, LangoLABBers!I keep a running tab of countries I would like to visit to learn more about their language and culture. Here's my updated list!
- India
- Argentina
- Japan
- Azerbaijan
- Egypt
5.09.2009
Easy as A, B, C
Ever wonder how some people seem to learn a new language effortlessly, while you struggle with all your might to learn ba
sic vocabulary and pronounciation?
Maybe they know something that you don't.
A language can be learned anywhere and everywhere, at any time. The trick is to flip a little switch in your mind to be processing it at all times. In other words, surround yourself with language. Make it something that you can't put off and ignore.
One easy way to practice vocabulary in the language you're learning is to put post-it notes with vocabulary all over your house. This way, you'll be forced to associate the object with its name in the foreign language you're learning. When you see one, say it out loud. Don't forget to add accents and articles to help. As you get more advanced, you can start writing entire phrases.
Another way to help you learn a foreign language is to immerse yourself in media as much as possible. Watch t.v. or movie clips in the language, listen to music, the radio, and read everything you can get your hands on. LangoLAB is a valuable resource for this - just click, watch, click, learn.
A third great way to get to know how a language is actually used is to make friends with native speakers. Check your local university for language tables, where native speakers go to chat with people learning their language. They can shed light on things besides the grammar you're learning in the classroom and give you an insiders' view of culture.
Lastly, take every opportunity to speak the language. A typical problem with traditional foreign language instruction is that learners read and listen much more than they actually speak. So when you have the chance to talk to someone who knows the language you're learning, take full advantage! Talk their ears off!
These are just four ways to bring foreign language into your life. Please comment with your favorite way to learn a foreign language!
sic vocabulary and pronounciation?Maybe they know something that you don't.
A language can be learned anywhere and everywhere, at any time. The trick is to flip a little switch in your mind to be processing it at all times. In other words, surround yourself with language. Make it something that you can't put off and ignore.
One easy way to practice vocabulary in the language you're learning is to put post-it notes with vocabulary all over your house. This way, you'll be forced to associate the object with its name in the foreign language you're learning. When you see one, say it out loud. Don't forget to add accents and articles to help. As you get more advanced, you can start writing entire phrases.
Another way to help you learn a foreign language is to immerse yourself in media as much as possible. Watch t.v. or movie clips in the language, listen to music, the radio, and read everything you can get your hands on. LangoLAB is a valuable resource for this - just click, watch, click, learn.
A third great way to get to know how a language is actually used is to make friends with native speakers. Check your local university for language tables, where native speakers go to chat with people learning their language. They can shed light on things besides the grammar you're learning in the classroom and give you an insiders' view of culture.
Lastly, take every opportunity to speak the language. A typical problem with traditional foreign language instruction is that learners read and listen much more than they actually speak. So when you have the chance to talk to someone who knows the language you're learning, take full advantage! Talk their ears off!
These are just four ways to bring foreign language into your life. Please comment with your favorite way to learn a foreign language!
5.08.2009
What's the Best Way to Get Fluent in a Foreign Language?
During my last semester of undergrad, I asked my very old, very wise professor the best way for me to get fluent in Russian. This man, a graduate of Moscow State University and a highly regarded Philologist, didn't skip a beat when he said, "You must read! You must sit with your book out in front of you, and, with a dictionary to the side, compare every word!"
I was incredulous. Surely this man, with decades of teaching experience, would know true fluency in a language comes from learning more than just grammar? So I persisted.
"But, I have Russian-speaking friends! Isn't this a better way to learn to speak the Russian that's being spoken in real life?" Three years of my four-year instruction were spent struggling through short stories written by Tolstoy and Chekhov, and I was unable to utter more than a few short phrases at a time. My listening comprehension was absurdly low. My speaking abilities were a joke.
"No, you must read."
It was after this meeting that I really understood. I understood that, to be fluent in a foreign language and to truly understand the culture, I needed contact with native speakers. I needed contact with foreign media. I wanted to watch movies, then discuss them with native speakers of Russian. I wanted to listen to music and understand the lyrics. At that time, there was no way for me to do all of this in one place.
Fast forward four years, and I work on a website that offers all of these things. Like I could only dream about before, langolab.com not only aggregates media, but provides tools (like one-click dictionary look-up and flashcard sets) to help understand what the words on the page mean.
So what's the best way to get fluent in a foreign language? We're working on it.
I was incredulous. Surely this man, with decades of teaching experience, would know true fluency in a language comes from learning more than just grammar? So I persisted.
"But, I have Russian-speaking friends! Isn't this a better way to learn to speak the Russian that's being spoken in real life?" Three years of my four-year instruction were spent struggling through short stories written by Tolstoy and Chekhov, and I was unable to utter more than a few short phrases at a time. My listening comprehension was absurdly low. My speaking abilities were a joke.
"No, you must read."
It was after this meeting that I really understood. I understood that, to be fluent in a foreign language and to truly understand the culture, I needed contact with native speakers. I needed contact with foreign media. I wanted to watch movies, then discuss them with native speakers of Russian. I wanted to listen to music and understand the lyrics. At that time, there was no way for me to do all of this in one place.
Fast forward four years, and I work on a website that offers all of these things. Like I could only dream about before, langolab.com not only aggregates media, but provides tools (like one-click dictionary look-up and flashcard sets) to help understand what the words on the page mean.
So what's the best way to get fluent in a foreign language? We're working on it.
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