I just published a couple of articles on Freestyle Language:

Simple English Wikipedia is a Good Way to Practice English Reading Comprehension
The Swadesh List and Action-Oriented Language Learning

The second article has some information about action-oriented language learning, a theory that I am only just beginning to develop.

I use Firefox for browsing the web. Firefox has so many cool tools - known as "extensions" - for translating words, phrases and whole web pages on the fly with one click.

Free Language has published articles on two of these thus far...

Quick Translation Firefox Extension to Translate Single Words in 17+ Languages
FoxLingo Free Firefox Browser Extension Software for Translating Web Pages

...and there are loads more!

With this quick blog post, I just wanted to point out a pre-defined search for "translation" on the Firefox extension download site. Have a look, try out a few and find one or two that work best for your particular target language(s) and needs. These web browser extensions can be a huge time-save, making your language work online more productive.

Ni Hao, Kai-Lan, an animated series to help children learn Mandarin Chinese, will begin airing on February 7th, 2008 on Nick Jr.

This is just another sign of the times: the world around, people are waking up to the importance of Mandarin Chinese in tomorrow's world. I will be documenting this phenomenon and other such interesting goodies on Mandarin Chinese Info.

From Website

Ni Hao, Kai-lan is a play-along, think-along series that weaves together Chinese language and culture, preschool-relatable stories, and interactivity, with Kai-lan as your intimate friend and playmate!

"Ni hao!" That means "hi" in Chinese--and that's how Kai-lan greets you every day! Kai-lan Chow is an exuberant Chinese-American preschooler, almost 6, who wants you to come play with her and her best friends.

Kai-lan's world is infused with Chinese culture and is brimming with magical sights and sounds, and everywhere you turn there's something amazing and beautiful to see. Along the way, she and her bilingual buddies speak in English and Chinese, but they always need kids' help to find creative solutions to the daily dilemmas that come their way!

Find out more about the show on Nick Jr.

I just read a cool article about the rapidly growing market for Mandarin Chinese-speaking nannies in the UK.

This is yet another sign of the times...

From Article

Our clients tend be high-powered international business people who are making an investment for their children's future. They have realised that Mandarin will be an essential language for the next generation and they want their children to have a head-start.

I will be documenting this and a lot more on Mandarin Chinese Info and to some degree on Freestyle Language.

More on kids and language-learning will be added to Free Language as well.

A post on Omniglot.com led me to a cool resource with quick and simple one-minute language lessons you can subscribe to and plop right on your iPod or favorite mp3 player. This resource is produced by Radio Lingua and can be found at One Minute Languages.

As you can see in the image above, the four languages currently available on the One Minute Languages website are German, Irish, Polish and Russian.

Visit One Minute Languages.

This site has resources for learning basic phrases for travel and getting around in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, French, Korean, Vietnamese, Spanish and Swedish. The audio lessons are in podcast format, so you can subscribe and start learning.

Their business model is such that you can get the first ten lessons for free by signing up on the site. After that, you have to pay (not much) for the rest of the lessons. There are 60 lessons for each language.

From Website

SurvivalPhrases.com was founded on the premise that it’s the people that make the place. SurvivalPhrases.com is a dynamic language educational website focusing on the world traveler with minimal linguistic ability. Our goal is to provide people around the world with essential linguistic tools to allow them to enjoy their travels that much more.

SurvivalPhrases.com is designed to provide world travelers with essential phrases in multiple languages and cultural insight you will not find in a textbook. Our experienced teachers possess the linguistic expertise to help you comprehend the fundamentals of the language and the experience to help you navigate the pitfalls and pleasantries of their respective countries. At SurvivalPhrases.com we pride ourselves in providing you with the tools and know-how to make your trip, vacation or journey the most memorable yet! Make sure your trip starts with a visit to SurvivalPhrases.com!

Link

Visit SurvivalPhrases.com