A newly published book, “The Gift of Tongues,” explores hyperpolyglots–people who learn 11+ languages; (an interesting review of the book is found here).

It turns out that many hyperpolyglots rely on good ol’ flashcards to develop these skills: “At the end of his story, however, he finds a surprise in Mezzofanti’s archive: flashcards. Stacks of them, in Georgian, Hungarian, Arabic, Algonquin and nine other tongues. The world’s most celebrated hyperpolyglot relied on the same tools given to first-year language-learners today.” No wonder people love our declarative method!

Tip 1: Learn One New Word Every Day

This tip is especially useful for those who want to learn a new language but are having difficulty finding the time. By learning just one new word a day, you can become a lifelong language learner.

Transparent Language offers language learners the opportunity to learn a new word each day with our FREE Word of the Day resource, which you can have sent directly to your inbox.

If you’re seeking a more structured experience, try Transparent Connect online classroom or self-guided courses, designed to really take your language learning to the next level.

Transparent Language, Inc. announces the full release of Transparent Connect, a complete language-learning solution that marries the two most important elements to foreign language acquisition: personal instruction and effective courseware. Now language learners are able to participate in one of the most unique online language courses available.

Transparent Connect provides a True Blended Learning™ experience. In 2009, the Department of Education reported that “blended learning” -in which face-to-face instruction is paired with online courses- produces better results than traditional learning or online learning alone. Combining top-of-the-line courseware with personal coaching from real, live instructors, Transparent Connect enables language learners to receive a better-than-classroom language education experience from the comfort of their own homes.

“Language learning strategies have changed, and the world needs a fast and effective solution,” said Michael Quinlan, CEO of Transparent Language. “It is a victory for language learners everywhere to have Transparent Connect available.”

Transparent Connect comes is offered in three different levels, all of which are accessible online, available directly from web-browsers.

•     For learners searching for the complete language-learning solution that blends personalized attention from experienced instructors with dozens of hours of supplemental learning materials, Transparent Connect Classroom courses are the perfect choice.
•     For learners searching for a language-learning program that gives access to the highest-quality learning materials, the option of speaking with an experienced, private language coach, and the freedom to work at their own pace, then Transparent Connect Self-Guided courses are the choice for them.
•     For learners looking for a quick way to either start a new language or refresh a language they’ve at one time studied, Transparent Connect Workshops are an ideal option.

With multiple program options, flexible scheduling, and an ever growing number of available languages – all available directly from a web browser – Transparent Connect offers an option for every language learner.

Pricing for Transparent Connect programs starts at $119. Program features include:

•     Personal coaching from real, live instructors
•     Over 50 hours of self-guided language-learning materials
•     The new Essentials™ courseware, a fully guided lesson plan packed full of pronunciation, speech, grammar, writing, and vocabulary building lessons
•     Byki Online supplemental, vocabulary-building learning material
•     Access to Byki Mobile for language learning on-the-go
•     Fun and engaging learning activities
•     Delivered online via your web-browser
•     And more!

You may have heard these language learning claims before: “Learn a language the way you did as a child” or “mimic the way you learned your very first language”.  Those of us in the language learning business see the fallacy in such arguments: learning our first language was actually quite difficult, not to mention slow!  Now, thanks to technology, language learning can be fun, efficient, and fast.  Technology is a game-changer, in that it allows us to add phrases to our lexicon more quickly and in a more targeted way. Why learn like a child, when adults have access to so many great tools and resources?

Well, research now suggests that adults have other advantages, aside from access to great technology.  Adults are better able to understand why language is structured in the way that it is.  We perform better on certain tasks, in terms of both speed and accuracy: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/inside-school-research/2011/07/study_older_students_may_learn.html  Adults shouldn’t be daunted by a new language, given the natural advantages we have.

Here’s to learning like an adult!

So you’re interested in learning a new language? Congratulations! Learning a new language can be exciting but, often times, daunting. Never fear (and we mean that!); here’s a list of five things successful language learners do differently. Read on to find some useful tips to help you reach your language potential.

1.Set goals: Successful language learners define exactly what they want to achieve when they start learning a new language. Before you begin tackling a foreign language, take a few minutes to outline your personal expectations. Say, for example, you are planning a trip to Spain next spring. During the first month of lessons, set a goal to learn some basic greeting and dining phrases. If you do not set goals, you may find yourself straying from your initial intentions, and taking on too much at once. Transparent Connect online language courses can help you avoid such problems; our experienced language instructors can assist you in defining your goals, and staying on track.

2.Do a little bit every day: This might seem like a no-brainer, but for many, finding the time to dedicate to learning a new language can be tricky. One of the keys, as successful language learners know, is that you must reserve a little bit of time every day. For example, many Transparent Connect students report tackling one lesson every morning while drinking their coffee. Be realistic; as part of your goals, set a reasonable amount of time you want to spend learning a new language each day. Transparent Connect features an interactive curriculum that allows you to work your way through learning activities, and pick up right where you left off.

3.Have the right learning aides: We’re all different. Therefore, there is no “one size fits all” method to learning a foreign language. Successful language learners realize that tools suitable to your learning style provide a better language experience. If you’re an auditory learner, try listening to native music and radio, watching native television, and buying audio books in the target language. Transparent Connect features activities, such as pronunciation and dictation tools, where a native speaker helps you get a proper sense of the language. If you’re a more visual learner, it will be to your benefit to relate words and scenarios to pictures. Transparent Connect also features flash card games to help jog your memory of words and phrases.

4.Gain real-life experience: Whether that means going to a foreign country or finding people in your area who speak the language you are learning, successful language learners know the importance of immersing themselves with native speakers. At Transparent Connect, our online instructors are either native-born to their language or have spent an extended period of time in the corresponding foreign country. With Transparent Connect, you will be sure to gain experience with instructors who are not only qualified to teach their language, but can also give you the native interaction you need.

5.Set all fears aside: The most successful language learners are not afraid to make mistakes. One of the biggest problems beginners have is that they are afraid to make mistakes, whether in an online classroom or in person. Successful language learners make themselves vulnerable in a classroom; they learn from their mistakes, and use that knowledge to further their education. According to Transparent Connect Spanish instructor David Carmona, those students who make mistakes and continue to try again are able to advance more quickly than those who sit silently in a classroom.

Transparent Connect helps people of all ages to reach their full-language potential. With Transparent Connect, an experienced online language instructor can help you to follow these five tips and become a successful language learner.

If you’d like to take a look at these programs, drop in for a Live Open House session on Thursday at 11:30 am - 12 pm EST. Just join a session through this link at 11:30 am EST to meet our instructors.