The International Mother Language Day emphasizes "the significance of the native language, promotes linguistic diversity and the awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions," says the UNESCO. Already since 2000 the Organization of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) celebrates on February 21^st, the "Mother Language Day". Around the World many events take place. The date goes back to 1952 when students in Pakistan were shot and killed because of demonstrating for the recognition of Bangla language.

There is even the Society for Endangered Languages, which however does not save languages, but at least documents the endangered languages, which may be useful for future revival of the language. Particularly suitable for the documentation of languages are also videos. Because videos show not only the pronunciation, but also the important features associated with facial expressions and gestures as well as other cultural properties. Figuratively speaking, it is possible with video, "to look at the mouth of" the native speaker. This is one of several reasons why LinguaTV relies within its language courses on videos, showing how native speakers speak their language and apply it in practical situations.

On the occasion of the "Mother Language Day" you´ll save EUR 10 with discount code "motherlanguage" (written as one single word) at LinguaTV.com. Or just try it with a free demo lesson at www.LinguaTV.com.

Author: LinguaTV / pg
Image source: Gerd Altmann / pixelio.de
Source: German Commission for UNESCO e.V.

Did you know that a language dies out every two weeks? Of the 6,000 languages ​​spoken today in the world, around 2500 are threatened according to UNESCO. Since 1950, this was already the case with approximately 230 languages. In the UNESCO atlas of endangered languages endangered languages are listed ​​by name, level of threat and the region. Even in Germany there are endangered languages: for example Frisian, Sorbian and Yiddish are at a heavy risk. In addition, there are a number of other languages ​​in Germany that are considered threatened in the medium term, such as The Bavarian and Franconian different dialects.

There are many reasons why a language disappears. War, displacement and migration play a role, but also pushed aside by globalization and new media like the Internet, which benefits the "big" languages, like English.

There is even the Society for Endangered Languages, which however does not save languages, but least documents the endangered languages , which may be very useful for future revival of the language. Particularly suitable for the documentation of languages ​​are also videos. Because videos show not only the pronunciation, but also to communicate the important features associated with facial expressions and gestures as well as other cultural properties. Figuratively speaking, it is possible with video, "to look at the mouth of" the native speaker. This is one of several reasons why LinguaTV relies on videos as an central part of its language courses, showing how native speakers speak their language and apply it in practical situations.

Try it yourself with a free demo lesson at www.linguatv.com. On the occasion of the "Mother Language Day" you´ll save EUR 10 with discount code "motherlanguage".

_{Source: German Commission for UNESCO e.V.
Image source: Gerd Altmann / pixelio.de}

Dear LinguaTV members, the LinguaTV team says

Thank you, Danke, Gracias, Merci, Grazie

for an exciting and successful year 2011.

In 2011, we’ve greatly expanded our course offerings, were honored to win some awards, and what makes us especially happy is that we’ve received positive feedback from numerous customers from all over the world. Your comments have touched us and spur us on to ensure that LinguaTV will continue to be a language-learning experience for you in 2012.

We’d like to share the five most interesting and amusing comments we’ve received from you:

“Your videos have brought smiles to the faces of me and my students.”
“I’ve fallen in love with your leading lady. Can I have her autograph?”
“You’re better than my community college and cheaper.”
“You weren’t exaggerating – this really is the best way to learn a language.”
“I like this story! What happens next? Will Alejandro and Patricia get together in the next course?”

We’d love to hear from you as well!

Now we’d like to give you a little joy and our most heartfelt thanks for your loyalty.

Our Christmas gift for you: a 30% discount!

Until January 15, 2012, when you buy a LinguaTV language course of your choosing, you’ll receive a 30% discount.*

We wish you a Merry Christmas with health and happiness for the year 2012, and of course, much success in your language learning!

Your LinguaTV team

*To receive your 30% discount: When making your order online with LinguaTV, in the field “Coupon Code”, enter the following discount code: weihnachten2011
Your discount will be automatically deducted from the regular price.

You can find all the LinguaTV language courses here

毎年４月１日は“エイプリルフール(April Fools’ Day)“ として世界中でジョークやユーモラスな嘘を友達や家族、また先生や同僚に言い飛ばす日として知られています。テレビ、ラジオ、新聞、インターネットなどのメディアも信じられないニュースを報道したり、公開したりするので気をつけてください！

この日はただ単にジョークを言うだけではなく、おもしろい風習がある国もあります。
フランスでは、子供たちが紙で作った魚を気づかれないように他人の背中に貼り付けます。これは“プワソン・ダヴリル(Poisson d’avril) “と呼ばれていて、“４月の魚“という意味です。この風習はイタリアにも“Pesce d’aprile“という名前で広がっています。スペインでは、魚ではなく“Muneco“という紙で作られた人間です。友達にハグする振りをして、紙の魚や人間を貼り付けます。

あなたの背中にも何かついていませんか？

エイプリルフールのジョークを私たちにお送りください。

_{Photo: http://www.animaatjes.de/bilder/0-bis-9/1-april/1.jpg}

Dear LinguaTV customers, we currently recommend that you please wait with your upgrade to the new version of Mozilla´s internet browser (Firefox 4.0), since there is a small chance for incompatibility with some of the features at LinguaTV.com. We are already working on solving the problem and keep you informed. Best regards LinguaTV Team

３月１１日に発生した東北地方太平洋沖地震から２週間が経ちました。地震によって多くの尊い命が失われたことに深くお悔やみ申し上げますと共に、不自由な生活を余儀なくされている被災者の皆さまに心よりお見舞いを申し上げます。

ベルリンは日本から遠く離れていますが、私たちLinguaTVチームの心は常に日本にいる私たちの友人、パートナーの皆さま、またお客様の皆さまと共にあります。一日も早い復興を心からお祈りすると同時に、微力ではございますが被災者の皆さまのお役に少しでも立てるよう、ドイツ赤十字社を通じ、義援金を呼びかけております。

Pray for Japan from Berlin… 被災者の皆さまのもとに一日も早く希望と笑顔が戻ってくるよう心からお祈り申し上げます。

LinguaTVチーム

脳の情報伝達に関する多くの研究結果において、外国映画をオリジナル言語字幕付きで見ることによる語学学習の効果の高さが証明されています。これは、字幕を利用することによって、無意識のうちに単語の音とテキストを結びつける感覚が得られ、学習効果を高めることができるからです。映画の音と字幕によって、単語の発音を高め、コンテキストから新しい語彙を学ぶこともできます。

多くの映画館またDVDで、„Harry Potter“ や „Avatar“、また „フレンズ“ や „ER 緊急救命室“などのドラマシリーズをオリジナル言語による字幕付きで見ることができますが、こうして映画を見ながら語学も同時に簡単に学ぶことができるのです。字幕が語彙と正しい発音を結びつける役目を果たし、効率的に言語を学べます。さらにアメリカ・イギリス・オーストラリア英語など一言語における国や地域による異なる発音の違いも分かるでしょう。

LinguaTVは、言語教授法にこのような言語学における有益な研究結果を駆使しています。専門家が制作したビデオでは、学習言語を母国語とする俳優が演じるリアリスティックで楽しいシーンを見ることができ、オリジナル言語による字幕も搭載されています。学習者の様々な語学レベルに見合うように字幕表示の有無を選択でき、フレキシブルな学習メソッドで学習効果を高めることができます。

これで字幕付きの外国語学習ビデオで簡単に語学力を高められることがお分かりになったことでしょう！

In order to be in the first place in the race for good jobs, one has to offer some extra skills. In Germany, Business English courses are very popular. And in the U.S. "Business German" attracts more and more students.

Susi Lax for example occupied a Business German course at her university, a course far more specialized than usual language courses: "This is a course where you learn more than German grammar or some basic words," she says. "This course is really useful and helpful for my future."

German courses are very popular in America. At the foreground of "Wirtschaftsdeutsch" or "Deutsch im Beruf" (how Germans would call this course) are negotiations and the formulation of business letters. Instead basic vocabulary students learn relevant phrases and about the economic role of Germany.

Tim Baston teaches Business German at a famous US college and tells us, that his German courses are always full. The reason for the attractiveness of learning German is obvious: "German is the most spoken language in Europe. Germany also plays an important role in the global economy."

The motivation for his students: to differentiate themselves with additional communications skills in an increasingly tough and international race for the best jobs. "There are many German companies based in America," said Susi Lax "and they offer interesting jobs and great carreer opportunities. Why should I miss out on these opportunities?" Most Human Ressource Manager of US-based subsidiaries of German companies would agree. Although the official company language at most U.S. sites is English. But: "If I see through the applications, the most important for me, are German language skills. It´s not only helpful, it´s strategically important for your carreer."

But only about ten percent of the candidates can prove that they are fluent in the German langauge. "It would be nice of course if many more applicants could speak at least a bit German." Not only the headquarter in Germany but also some of the entire corporate network function in German.

Since it helps the company, many offer German language courses to their employees. That it is worth the trouble, confirms Wayne Sibbs. A few times a year the engineer is traveling to visit partners and customers based in Berlin, Cologne, and Stuttgart. Then about a few months ago he began to study German. "Even if I do not know very much German yet, I have the impression that the German colleagues appreciate that I am trying to learn German," he says.

Although negotiations were conducted in English anyway, but especially for short conversations with colleagues, it was quite an advantage to speak German, as this improves the working atmosphere and communication between colleagues. He confirmed: "German is becoming increasingly attractive to many Americans." This might be true for all nationalities all over the world.

Find out more about the German courses of LinguaTV.

Image: 485666_R_K_B_by_Jim-Pfeffer_pixelio.de

私共のビデオ学習プラットフォームのリニューアルにあたり、お客様、パートナー企業の皆様、およびプレスの方々から多くの喜ばしいコメントを受け取り、大変光栄に感じております。また同時にコメニウス・エデュメディア賞のような国際的に名高い賞において、“教育的価値の高いマルチメディアプロダクト”として表彰されたことにおきましてもとても満足しております。 “ホテル・観光業のための英語”コース、 “ビジネス英語” ５コース、さらに“ビジネスドイツ語”コースの開設によって、英語・ドイツ語・フランス語・スペイン語・イタリア語による多種多様な語学マルチメディアプログラムを提供できるようになりました。来年はさらに充実したオンライン・ビデオ学習－ホームページだけでなく、携帯電話におけるサービス－を皆様に体験していただけるよう更なる努力を続けてまいります。どうぞご期待ください！

皆様に今年１年間の感謝の気持ちを込めまして、全ての外国語プログラムにおいて年末特別20%割引サービス*を提供いたします。次回のコースお申込みの際に、クーポン・コード入力欄に“xmas2010” とご入力ください。

では、メリークリスマス、そして良いお年をお迎えください！

LinguaTV チーム

_{*こちらの割引は2010年12月31日まで有効です。また、他の割引サービスと併用できません。}