Technology can change way we learn languages
Back when this site was first started, about a decade ago, the best you could hope to find online as a Spanish student were scattered lessons covering the basics — video was all but unheard of except for the technically most astute, and even audio files took unbearably long to download. Interactivity, aside from basic email, primitive bulletin boards or perhaps command-line chat rooms, was nonexistent.
The days when almost anyone who has a budget will be able to enter a virtual classroom with full-screen interactive video are still a few years away. But this week I had a look at what's very doable now — at a reasonable price and with no hardware requirements beyond a telephone and a typical home computer.
I participated in a one-on-one interactive class taught by one of the teachers for the Multilingual Center, a Phoenix, Ariz.-based language school that offers lessons via telephone and the Internet. Although in some ways the school's setup offers merely a hint of what is to come technologically, I was impressed with how effective something relatively simple can be.
Here's how this school works: You sign up for a regularly scheduled class, typically two days a week but with flexible scheduling for your life circumstances. Shortly before your class begins, you log onto the school's website and call your teacher by phone. Your Internet connection, then, provides the visuals for the lesson, while the phone takes care of the audio. It's very similar to the systems that some companies use to hold workshops for far-flung employees.
The Multilingual Center uses only native Spanish speakers, so you're guaranteed to be dealing with someone whose pronunciation you can imitate. The computer screen becomes the class' blackboard, so to speak, and the teacher can provide anything ranging from simple conjugation charts to complete magazine articles (useful for conversational groups). Meanwhile, you have a few fellow students to work with in conversation, and the teacher can provide you with instant feedback about your pronunciation and grammar.
System requirements are quite modest: The ideal setup is a Windows-based computer made within the past three or four years with Java installed (if you don't have Java, the school provides download instructions). And that's all. It helps to have a high-speed Internet connection, and of course you need to be able to be online and use a phone at the same time.
By using such a simple setup, the school is able to stay out of the computer support business and make classes available at a reasonable price to not just the techies among us.
From what I was able to find, there aren't a lot of schools running similar programs, although there definitely would seem to be a ready market for this type of convenient and easy-to-arrange instruction. Some schools in Central America and Europe have started offering instruction via Skype, a popular Internet-based telephone service. And still others are sure to follow.
Not all that long ago, it would have been a major hassle, possibly involving expensive travel, for the average foreign-language learner to get personal instruction from a native speaker. Innovative language schools are helping the Internet achieve its promise of making our world a bit smaller.
Comments
I have been taking Spanish lessons this way with www.linguameeting.com for several months now. It sounds like linguameeting is a bit more advanced, as they use WebEx, and the lessons are two way video and audio. (WebCam and a Microphone) They work closely with Wiley Publishing and use Dicho y Hecho, the current editions.
It has worked well for me and my scheduling which changes frequently.
Livit Escuela de Espanol (livitspanish.com) in Puebla, MX offers lessons by phone as well. Two years ago I attended their school for three weeks. Two weeks before, I had lessons by phone. When I arrived they knew me, my abilities and needs. A wonderful, intensive program, best of five I’ve attended. Lunch every day with the instructors, afternoon city site tours with Mexican students, etc.
Amazing! This metodology is the best option for me, I don’t have much time due to my job, if every Spanish classes would follow this interactive methods of participation more people would learn spanish, I think this will truly help me on my job, I will go through these lessons.
Gerald you are correct. When I leaned Spanish at Multilingual Center www.multilingualcenter.com, I felt like I learned faster because I had the teacher during the class answering my questions. The teacher was very encouraging, articulate, engaging, patient and easy to understand. It was great to be able to hear the language, and not just read it in a book. I enjoyed the interaction of the teacher and other students. It was an informal structure, where we could ask questions at any time. We learned from each other’s mistakes and we could help each other.
It’s very helpful to hear the teacher pronounce the words. Being able to clearly understand the pronunciation from the teacher over the phone really helped, plus the instantaneous screen action via Internet and the phone made the lesson more interesting and easier to learn. I was able to work on my pronunciation and learn more through live interaction with the teacher and others in the class. The pronunciation is the hardest part, so it was more effective to hear the teacher speak the words first.
I think learning Spanish is better with a tutor than listening to a CD. It really felt like I was in an actual classroom, but within the comfort of my home. I love that I can sit at home to take the class. I learned a lot more than I expected in such a short time. I was able to learn quickly and I highly recommend this program at Multilingual Center to anyone. Multilingual Center>
I was asked to BETA test the new Lejos Learning online Spanish lessons (http://www.lejoslearning.com). The method uses live teachers who can communicate with audio and Flash-based whiteboard and chat.
Via audio, the teacher and student can hold a conversation and the teacher uses the whiteboard to post interactive exercises, such as fill-in-the-blank and multiple choice questions that reinforce the material and test the language comprehension.
The first lesson is free and allows the teacher to determine your learning level. Teachers are Costa Rican. I would recommend other who are beginning online learning to give this service a try. It’s free to try.
I have been taking classes with LinguaMeeting for the past few months and this been the most effective Spanish course I’ve taken in my life. I took Spanish in highschool and never felt I could communicate. After the first lessons, I was able to use the language effectevely.
The virtual class is pretty cool and easy to use; we see each other through webcam, with audio, chat…We are 3 people in the class ( Germany, US and Canada) and we have a pretty good time in class while we are practicing the language.
We have access to WileyPlus which is an online learning center (ebook, videos, audio, exercises) where we study and then we meet once a week for 2 hours in the class with the tutor to practice what we have been studying.
I took private lessons are they are great too but I am a social person and I enjoy the interaction with other students.
I would highly recomend it and our tutor, Laura, from Spain, is super buena gente.
Jana, la alemana.