The MEXICO Report
Technology
By Susie Albin-Najera
How many ways can you say hello? Let yourself count the ways:
Hello, hola, olá, konnichiwa, ciao, gi`a sas, hallo, bonjour, hallo, 喂 (wei4)
(English, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Italian, Greek, German, French, Dutch, Chinese)
Gone are the days of schlepping around your ‘I scream tourist’ Spanish dictionary while on vacation. It’s time to ditch your bulky book of words for a more inconspicuous solution, a translation mobile app. LangLearner, a new online and mobile communications technology company, recently launched its new translation apps making it quicker and easier for the world to connect through different languages and cultures.
The available language applications include lessons, translations and a spelling bee, and come with access to 10 different languages including English, Spanish, French, Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Greek, and Dutch. Each of these applications also feature audio and visual demonstrations to enhance learning comprehension, so you can see the language in action and hear how it’s pronounced in its native tongue. Very cool.
Right now, the mobile apps are available for the IPhone/ITouch, Samsung, Windows Mobile, and Android platforms, but don’t worry, one will be available for your BlackBerry soon! LangLearner is expanding across a wider range of Smartphones in the coming months.
Phone Apps:
Here are the three phone apps being offered by LangLearner:
Lessons: With 32 lessons and more than 1000 phrases, this app allows people from all levels to learn or practice the most important things for getting by in another language such as checking into a hotel or asking for directions. This function allows people to learn languages regardless of native tongue by allowing flexible language pairing. Cost: $ 0.99 (for a limited time and free demos)
Translator: Perfect for on the go translations, this handy app helps you translate words and phrases in 10 different languages. The settings translate to and from and correctly pronounce the audio in the supported languages. Cost $ 4.99
Spelling Bee: Practice and learn how to spell words at different levels and improve spelling of English words. Following established education patterns, each word is pronounced for users who can then either spell them or write them down. The spelling option is designed for quiet environments, where you can record quality audio and allow the system to detect letters for you using speech recognition. The application comes with 10 different levels – from spelling each letter to spelling words from top Spelling Bee competitions. The content is updated daily. Cost $4.99
To view a demo of the services, click here:
Directions for downloading the mobile apps to your phone:
- Go to the “App Store” icon on your phone
- Search for “LangLearner” apps
- When it comes up, it will give you a description of the product and show you where to click to download
- Proceed with options and payment (some of the services are free)
- Click download and you’re done!
Online
If phone applications aren’t your thing yet, these same features are also available for those who prefer a computer screen, with online learning. This is also a great function for travelers with laptops and internet connection. Pricing is very economical and can also be purchased by the day:
1 day = $1.99
1 month = $30
3 months = $25 per month
6 months = $20 per month
12 months = $15 per month
“Our focus is on keeping it simple and affordable,” said Tom Desloge, vice president of global sales at LangLearner. “We also don’t hit the user with banner ads while they are using our website. It makes for a better experience.”
All subscriptions include access to more than 3,500 words and phrases with audio and images, games and quizzes to test your knowledge, real-world articles and a chat feature to interact with other subscribers. Whichever method suites your learning comprehension best, it is always beneficial to be equipped in any case scenario.
Now, see how many ways you can say goodbye.
Goodbye, adios, au revoir, adeus, sayounara, arrivederci, ant`io, auf wiedersehen, tot ziens, 再见 (zai4 jian4).
And travelers….don’t forget the universal sign, a smile!
Go to http://langlearner.com for more information.
*All photos/logos used with permission.
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