As an adult learner, learning a new language has been a challenge: money and time for classes, software, books, and instructors. Although there are several online tutorials and practice sites, the element that has been missing is the social networking aspect. To learn a language, you need to not only learn about it, but hear it, read it, speak it, and practice. Short of a trip abroad for total immersion, LiveMocha offers a 21st Century learning approach to learning a new language -- a "web-based language learning solution integrating online instructional content with a global community of language learners". All you need is an Internet connection. According to the LiveMocha site:
"Lesson plans include over 160 hours of beginner and intermediate level content teaching everyday conversational language along with a full range of practical reading, listening, writing and speaking exercises. LiveMocha also leverages the native language expertise of its members by allowing them to enhance the content with grammar tips, alternative phrases and colloquialisms".
In true social networking format (leveraging the collective information and intelligence on the Internet), you can learn, listen, communicate, and interact with other learners, native speakers, and tutors from around the world. Chat with others, integrating writing, listening, and speaking skills and tap the expertise of native speakers. LiveMocha brings several skill levels together as you learn at your own pace, whenever you wish, for as long as you wish.
Currently, on the LEARN section of the site, you can enroll in one of four levels of online instruction offered in the world's six most popular languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Hindi, and Mandarin Chinese. Instruction in other languages will be added in the future, but with the PRACTICE and SHARE sections of LiveMocha, you can communicate in any language with anyone in the world!
Discovery Resources:
- Read this New York Times article Learning From a Native Speaker, Without Leaving Home
- Explore LiveMocha
Discovery Exercises:
- Log on to LiveMocha and click Get Started or Register to set up your account. You will need to activate your account through your email address.
- Blog about your thoughts on this type of e-learning experience and what you learned in exploring this site.
- What other language learning sites have you found?
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