How to Learn Japanese

I love when someone submits a really detailed review or contribution.
One visitor who is learning Japanese, went into considerable detail on the methods he used and what he found was effective. This kind of insight from someone who has 'done it' is very helpful for those who are just starting out. He includes an outline of what materials he used, links to resources and how he put it all together. If you are learning Japanese and are interested, read his guide to learning Japanese here.

BYKI Review

BYKI is a flashcard/vocabulary program by Transparent Language. I've used BYKI for Spanish and Swedish (the two languages I've bought the software for) and also for Cornish and Esperanto (using the editing features of the Deluxe version), but also to study for the PTCE (Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam) for my day job as a Pharmacy Technician.

It's a versatile program that can really help fill in some gaps in your study routine if you use it regularly. Read my recent review of BYKI here.

Spoken Here Review

I've taken an interest in endangered languages for quite some time now. I've started searching out articles and books on the subject. One such book is Spoke Here - Travels Among Threatened Languages by Mark Abley. I actually found this book a few years ago in Candidas World of Books, an excellent language and travel bookstore in Washington DC that unfortunately is now closed.

Although the book had been on my bookshelf for a long time, I found it again and read it recently. I wrote a review of it here.

Recent Rosetta Stone Upgrades to Version 3

According to a press release from Rosetta Stone, they have updated Filipino (Tagalog), Latin, Turkish and Vietnamese to Version 3, which means they will have the same amount of material (levels 1,2 and 3) as more popular languages like Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.

I think this is a big step forward. These languages have very few published multi-media materials to study with, and I think it's great that they are given the same consideration as more popular languages.

There are still a few that haven't been upgraded yet. Thai, Pashto, and Welsh come to mind.

Rosetta Stone Version 3 is now available in 25 languages including: Arabic, Chinese
(Mandarin), Dutch, English (British), English (American), Filipino (Tagalog), French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Persian (Farsi), Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Spain), Swedish, Turkish and Vietnamese.

Languages on Lost

Lost is one of the hottest shows on TV now, and it's going into its last season next year. One thing I've found interesting about the show is the use of language. Over the course of the show we have seen numerous languages used, from just a sentence or two, right up to significant amounts of dialogue over several episodes.

There have been bits of German, Russian, Spanish and Latin - the 'secret' language of the Others. It was spoken briefly by young Charles Widmore and Juliet (in a typical modern manner of pronunciation) but also by Richard Alpert in a much more convincing tone. (Does this mean that he, Ricardus, is in fact a Roman?)

There was also the use of an African language in Mister Eko flashback scenes in Nigeria. Was it Yoruba? The actor who plays him, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje speaks Yoruba, although I don't recall him speaking any himself.

There has been more use of French (in the episodes with young Rousseau arriving on the island) but even more Korean. If you are learning Korean you must be overjoyed that episodes with Jin, Sun and her family, have included lots of Korean dialogue.

I just like the show, but find its inclusion of language an interesting and fun sidenote.

Assimil Dutch

I just ordered Dutch With Ease from Assimil. I am going to try using professor Alexander Arguelles shadowing technique using this course. I have not used Assimil before, and I have wanted to give the shadowing technique a good try for quite a while.

Although I have some decent materials to work with, I have a limited amount of time. I intend to finish up the Michel Thomas Foundation Dutch course, then use the time in the most intense type of studying I can. I think the most intense thing I could do is Assimil with the shadowing technique.

Miccosukee

I have an interest in endangered languages. So, I've been doing a little research about the endangered languages near to where I live, which limits me to Native American languages in South Florida. The only languages that meet this criteria are the Seminole languages of Creek and Miccosukee, both closely related Muskogean languages that I believe originate from Alabama and Georgia. (Interestingly, there were a number of tribes in Florida before the Seminoles, but were wiped out by disease, slavery and oppression of arriving Europeans, and conquest by other native tribes. The Seminoles arrived later.)

The history of the Native Americans, particularly those in the US southeast, is horrific. Just the fact that these people still exist is inspiring and makes me want to help document their languages, as there are more that have disappeared or died out than now exist. And those that speak them are very few - a few hundred for Miccosukee and not much more for Creek.

Resources to learn these languages are almost non-existent. I found a few texts with audio for Creek and other Muskogean languages. There are a couple of webpages with a few dozen vocabulary words. Not very helpful.

I read an article from 1999 that stated that Rosetta Stone was working with the Miccosukee (as they have with other tribes) to create software to teach their language. I have not heard if that project was ever completed.

I am finishing up a book called Spoken Here - Travels Among Threatened Languages by Mark Abley. It makes me want to contribute in some way and help save or at least document endangered or dying languages. But how can I help?

Rosetta Stone IPO First Day

Rosetta Stone (RST) had its opening day on the NYSE and it was a big one. One of the best IPOs in a long time. Why?

They are in a good market - the language learning market is fairly hot and it's growing.

It's at the right time - I know, everyone speaks English so there's no need to learn another language. Well ... when the whole crowd is thinking one way, it might be time to start looking in the other direction. You need every edge to compete and having command of at least one other language can help you do that.

Brand recognition - Rosetta Stone has it like nobody else.

Reliable and growing US sales but they are expanding aggressively into the global market. This is where they can see some really good growth for the next few years.

So, long-term prospects for the stock appear to be good. I'm not trying to rewrite history here. I thought they were crazy to do an IPO now and I said as much. I couldn't tell you why it worked so well for them.

Transparent Language Discounts

Transparent Language is offering 25% off any order for their software language products! If you aren't familiar with them, they make the popular Before You Know It (BYKI) vocabulary flashcard program, as well as the Language Now series for a variety of languages, and the Languages of the World software for a whole slew of uncommon languages.

Transparent Language, Tell Me More and other language product publishers often have discounts or promotions for some or all of their products, but since I have so little time to update the site as I would like, I can't post those coupons in a timely manner. So I am making a coupons page on the site that I can update whenever there is a new discount or promotional offer. I will also post free downloads and product demo links so that visitors have another way to find out about new products. If you are looking to buy some additional learning tools, check this new page of language product coupons and discounts to see if you can take advantage of an offer.

I wanted to post these discounts as soon as possible. This page is brand new and needs some work done, so bear with me as I finish working on it!

Michel Thomas Courses

Several visitors to the site have commented that I haven't used or reviewed Michel Thomas courses. I have in recent months worked through Michel Thomas Foundation Spanish, Advanced Spanish and a little of the Language Builder course.

I will include a full review of these courses and the Michel Thomas method in general in the upcoming months.

I also mentioned in my last post that I was currently working my way (slowly) through Michel Thomas Foundation Dutch. This is a better test of the course because I am a beginner in Dutch. I have been studing Spanish in small doses for a few years, so Spanish is not the best test of the methods effects for me. I will review the Dutch course as well when I am finished.