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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Chuck McGonagle
603-262-6335
CMcGonagle@transparent.com

Future Educators Express a Need for Language Resources

Nashua, N.H., July 21, 2010 - Transparent Language announces its recent relationship with the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Under this partnership, graduating and matriculating students in the International Education Policy program have full access to Transparent Language’s Byki Online for Education system. This web-based system develops cultural understanding, as well as language proficiency, allowing all incoming and outgoing students to hone critical global skills.

Already, students have begun learning 40 different languages. There is a pressing need for language resources in the graduate community, as evidenced by the fact that adoption has reached about 50% among eligible students. Cole Farnum, a recent HGSE graduate, explains that a full semester course “would have been impossible to do with (his) courseload” but he believes “it’s important that teachers have at least rudimentary language skills”. Byki fills this gap for students who need to learn language but cannot commit to a full semester or year.

Fernando Reimers, Director of the IEP Program, is a strong advocate for the development of global competency within our educational system. In his paper, “Enlightening Globalization: An Opportunity for Continuing Education”, he cites the importance of three skill sets: an interest in other cultures, foreign language acquisition, and an understanding of global issues1. With these skills, our nation will more effectively navigate the flow of commerce, populations, and diplomatic initiatives. Educational institutions have an important role to play in fostering these capabilities.

Because Byki’s learning material covers over 70 languages, students are able to prepare themselves for a wide range of future endeavors. Some have undertaken the learning of a new language in order to prepare for the next stage of a career. Others hope to strengthen ties with loved ones—a significant other from abroad or a grandparent with limited English skills. Still others are choosing to take on language learning because they are committed to the idea of a global society. From French to Mandarin to Urdu, Transparent Language is proud to support the next generation of International Education leaders in their linguistic and cultural endeavors.

About Transparent Language, Inc.

America plays a prominent role in world affairs, and yet our longstanding English-centricity has left us weaker than we should be in our ability to communicate globally. At Transparent Language, we attempt to correct this problem by developing language-learning resources and systems that deliver more rapid, reliable, and engaging language learning to those who need language skills for work or school, as well as those who simply find joy in learning and using other languages. Each day we use our expertise in the research and practice of language learning to build programs that are licensed for use by all personnel of Foreign Service Institute, Defense Language Institute, US Special Operations Command, US Marine Corps, US Navy, and many other government organizations, as well as by thousands of schools, hundreds of public libraries, and millions of individual users.