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| Photo Credit: www.img.xiami.com |
I would like to share my story with you. I learned German as
a language way back in 2001. I did stay in touch with the language for few
years, by watching movies, listening to music, radio, all in German. I was fortunate to work for one of the
largest German Manufacturing Company that helped trigger my memory and keep
German top of mind.
However, after moving jobs, I really lost touch with the
language. My husband was sailing in a similar boat (he had learned German few
years ago). We wanted to be in touch
with the language. We did attempt interacting in German language every now and
then, but with limited vocabulary from our memory, it was tough to sustain. So we devised a way to rekindle
our connection with the language. We switched the GPS instructions in our car to German language to navigate our way
through any destination. At first, it was funny but later, we started
translating and repeating the set of directions. We discovered a fun and
interesting way to be in touch with our second language.
As you are meeting new people online, having conversations,
posting, building exposure and handling new opportunities daily via social
media (Groundswell), it is essential to know a language or two other than
English. Today, there are several new ways to learn a new language. I am
listing three popular and interesting social networks for you to use if you’re trying to learn
a new language.
MindSnacks.com offers
six exciting and interactive games to build up one’s vocabulary in 13 different
languages. The founders are definitely approaching language learning in a
rather unconventional way, by using
addictive games to engage their customers. They believe that education is
unnecessarily associated with blandness and they want to change it with their
products. Not only are they educating their customers but also, asking them to
help them to vote for their favorite languages to be added to the existing set.
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| Photo Credit: www.mindsnacks.com |
In an interview with Mashable, MindSnacks.com founder Jesse Pickard said, “The idea behind MindSnacks is to make learning as much
fun as possible. Over 26 million words have been mastered because the games are
fun and addictive and users want to go back to beat challenges, unlock new
games and watch their scores improve.”
italki.com, pronounced
as i-talk-i, is free language learning website where you can find everything you need to learn a language online. It
boasts of having a global community of language learners and teachers with 100+
languages in 200+ countries. Using Web 2.0 concepts such as social networking,
user-generated content, and crowd-sourcing, italki.com
facilitates language learning. This website focuses on learning foreign
languages and uses features like multimedia chat, socially-driven questions and
answers, open-source file sharing, and collaborative knowledge-based wikis.
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| Photo Credit: www.italki.com |
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| Photo Credit: www.livemocha.com |
LiveMocha.com is a social network at its
core, located in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, Washington, it is the largest
online-based language learning service. With 9 million members in nearly 200
countries, Live Mocha.com was named as
one of Time magazine’s top 50 websites of 2010. All participants maintain and actively
manage a personal profile on the site (profile photo, friends list). Right when
you sign up, a simple questionnaire helps you build your profile. In your
profile, you can indicate the languages you wish to learn and the languages you
already know. Live chat is available with anyone that is online and you can use
it to practice the language of your choice.
Earning
points gives a huge incentive for learning as well. You can earn Mocha points
by being engaged in the site, completing coursework and helping other members
with submission reviews, flashcards, and translations. If you earn enough
points, you can also earn free course as well.
I have enjoyed myself learning new languages. Have you ever tried learning foreign languages? What apps or websites or social networks have you used to learn languages?
