Learning a new language is a daunting task for most adults. For years, these skills were gained primarily through full immersion experiences or in structured classroom environments where verb drills, grammar and writing exercises, vocabulary lists, pronunciation guides and conversation practice were used to teach mechanics and syntax. Beginning in the 1990s, auditory and visual products, such as tapes, CD‐ROMs and DVDs, were added to language instruction toolkits to introduce students, whether enrolled in a course or engaged in self‐directed learning, to other authentic or practical aspects of a culture. Most recently, language instruction has become both affordable and accessible thanks to the growth on the internet and popularity of Web 2.0 and social networking technologies.
Computer‐mediated tools can provide a more interactive and ubiquitous learning experience that is supported by a large social network of native speakers and language learners at all levels of proficiency. Although competing products, such as Busuu, Mango Languages, and Babbel to mention a few, offer similar services, Livemocha bills itself as the largest online language learning community in the world, with an estimated eleven million members in 196 countries. The company, which was founded in 2007 by a former Microsoft executive, is partnered with textbook publisher Pearson Education and Collins, a publisher of bilingual dictionaries.
Available to both individuals and organizations, first time visitors to the site fill out a registration form, indicating an active email address along with language speaking and learning preferences. After the account is activated, members login and are directed to a personal profile page to choose a course of study, initiate an online chat with a native speaker, or begin exploring a specific culture. Additionally, members have the option of helping others learn a language. Index pages can be viewed in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Russian, Turkish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Polish. Basic and intermediate courses are available in 35 different languages.
Once a language and level of proficiency is chosen, a selection of free materials and resources are available for use. In a Spanish 101 course, for example, there are three units comprising eleven lessons. Each lesson contains learning and review modules as well as writing and speaking skill building exercises in a variety of formats, including print worksheets, screen casts and video and audio clips. Using a diacritic‐enabled virtual keyboard, members may submit writing samples for feedback. Similarly, speaking exercises that use either an internal or external computer microphone can be recorded and then reviewed by native speakers for help with pronunciation. A timed quiz with immediate assessment accompanies every lesson. Members may initiate a chat with a native speaker at any step in the lesson.
Paid premium options in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish are available. At this level, more advanced lessons and individual interaction with native speakers and instructors are provided. Members may choose to purchase a gold key which enables access to instructional materials and private instruction. Additionally, virtual tokens that are earned by participating in lessons and chats can be used to purchase additional content and assistance.
The site is well‐designed for affordable, convenient, accessible basic language and culture instruction. Social networking functions and token awards add an element of enjoyment and extrinsic motivation that was missing from more traditional instructional methods. Whether at the end of the day, however, this site and others like it, is the most effective means of developing proficiency in another language remains to be seen.
