Language learning online is picking up again. We already have sites like Mango Languages and LiveMocha which offer new interfaces on languages, and often social networking features. LingQ, offers vocabulary and grammar drills. Then in Europe you have FriendsAbroad, VoxSwap and the LearnItLists widget startup. Not to mention italki from China.
So now Babbel, the Berlin-based language learning startup which we wrote about in January and which appeared at our London TechCrunch Pitch! event, has secured an undisclosed amount of funding from German investors Kizoo and VC Fonds Berlin.
Babbel has a different take again. It uses an entirely Adobe Air Flash Flex 3 framework and the schtick is that it has a design inspired by a game console, with puzzle-like learning incorporating user-generated images and human voices. So far it covers French, Italian, Spanish, English or German. But it’s about to release grammar feature and tools for educators to create their own tutorials.
By calling themselves Babbel I think they are tempting God to smote them?
Ever wondered what were behind all those links (13 in a 9 sentence post is quite a good score)? Here is a JogTheWeb track to see how the same post could be done:
http://www.jogtheweb.com/reade.....rackId=214
eduFire anyone?
I like the tool but not sure which one will really succeed
~r
http://www.pilotoutlook.com
thought that was tm by a film.
IMHO, ChinesePod, and Praxis Language’s other sites (SpanishPod/FrenchPod/etc) are hands down the best foreign language sites.
First of all, they produce fun, attractive shows, in which you want to listen and learn, over 800+ so far. Secondly, they have a huge active community, including tons of foreign speakers looking to connect and help, all without pointless social networking features. Instant Messaging and forum software suffices.
What I find interesting about the announcement is how they keep the amount undisclosed. Makes me wonder if the amount is really that small on the Silicon Valley scale.
this one’s been founded by some ex-eBay colleagues: myngle.com
Well, that’s good news for Babbel. However, up until now I’m still not satisfied with its services especially Japanese-language-inclined ones. I’ve just found out a lot of flaws there. So unreliable…
For Japanese, I’ve found that JapanesePOD101.com is the best by far. None of the others even come close.
Czar, check it out at: http://www.japanesepod101.com/index.php
if you are learning japanese, and you are serious about it, most of the online services are only useful as supplements, not as your primary education. and don’t get me started on textbooks or school courses, which are for the most part, completely worthless. if you really want to learn japanese, you need to immerse yourself, and not the “rosetta stone” way of immersion, which is ok. basically, go swing by this site. it works.
http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com
dive in headfirst, or don’t bother at all, unless you think sounding like dumb foreigner and not being able to read a damn thing while you are in japan is a fun way to impress the locals.
The language market isn’t that crowded give it’s market cap and relative to similar sized sectors. Phrasebase.com is also currently in discussions for angle funding. http://www.phrasebase.com. You can read the Phrasebase business plan here: http://www.jeffhock.com/blog/p.....estor.html
“Adobe Air Flash framework” ?? - what’s that?! Babbel is created in Adobe Flex 3 framework!
I’ve had my own personal language website up for around 2 years that was done as a hobby on the weekends. It astounds me that these full blown sites are the leaders of language study. Rosetta Stone and the like are amazingly poor in terms of web technology.
I was happy when I came across Babbel.com because it’s very savvy and the flex platform is perfect for this type of interaction. But it turned out it loads slow and has real limitations on what words you want to study. I’m not saying it’s easy to do, but with funding I don’t understand how these websites don’t come up with something more real-world useful.
I think something like http://vocabstudy.com or http://quizlet.com actually get closer to a real study tool even though they are not designed as a full fledged all-encompassing language centers. Maybe the larger sites are too focused on selling a methodology or product?
I’ve tried a bunch of language web 2.0 sites, none of them have been of any real help except for myhappyplanet which has a community of people that really want to add and interact with you, and still it doesn’t work that great
the sites launch and have great features, but when it comes to learning resources, they all lack
Put Technology first, forget Pedagogy and you have the best recipe for failure whatever funding you can get.
I registered and got invited to be one of the testers on a Chinese (Mandarin) learning service called “Studio Chinese” (www.studiochinese.com). Not really web 2.0, but it’s live tutoring, and it gave me what I wanted - a quick course before I go over to Beijing in 2 weeks. It was the first service I came across, so I can’t vouch for the others.
PS I agree with you, Michel, that any service that goes too techy will fail. In fact that was what was good about http://www.studiochinese.com - the platform if good, but it’s really about connecting people to teachers I think. Otherwise existing desktop software is as good if not better than any site out there.
It seems that Hindi is under represented in all these sites. I have a daily learn Hindi podcast I want to let people know about: http://www.Ispeakhindi.com