The year 2005 is nearing its end. We are about to begin the holiday season. It is a time to think about what we have achieved at The Linguist. I mean you the learner, our tutors and all of us here at The Linguist headquarters.
Our mission at The Linguist is to help more people around the world to become fluent in new languages, in other words to become linguists. For the time being we offer only English as a language of study. We expect this to change in 2006 when we will offer our members the chance to learn other languages. That is when the real fun will begin.
In my view the world is one big potential classroom. All people around the world are potential classmates and teachers. Modern technology is making this more and more possible every year.
More and more people have high speed Internet access. Telephone conferences and video conferences over the Internet are easier and easier. The production of excellent audio books in many languages is greatly expanding. Magazines and newspapers and even encyclopedias are available for download from the Internet in audio and text format. We at The Linguist, and others, are recording ordinary people speaking in different languages and posting this on the Internet. Blogging and audio-blogging or podcasting are growing. These new forms of communication are tying people together over thousands of kilometers and across different languages and cultures. The technology is getting better and cheaper. These developments represent a great opportunity for language learners.
In any language, the potential language curriculum is limitless. It consists of all the culture of a language, its literature, the conversations people have every day, the news, books, magazines and other media. Especially in English, this limitless curriculum is increasingly accessible to you the language student. Systems like The Linguist simply make it possible for you to take what you want from this vast potential curriculum and to improve your language skills from subjects of interest to you.
We make it easier for you to learn the key words and phrases needed for fluent conversation. We encourage you to use these words in writing and speaking, so we can give you feedback and guidance. We and you together keep track of your progress. With our tutors acting as coaches, we help you take charge of your learning. It is exciting to see the progress you are all making in writing and speaking English. It is gratifying to hear so many of you tell us that you have more confidence in reading, listening and speaking. Keep up the good work!
Traditional language teachers still work hard to develop courses for their students. They worry about which content and which aspects of culture to teach their students. Language educators discuss various theories of vocabulary and grammar teaching. They concern themselves with subjects like how to deal with "cross-cultural communication". The educators seem to assume that these decisions are for the teachers to make. I say these decisions will be made by you the learner, more and more.
