Which are the World's Most Influential Languages?

At Best Language Learning Software we help people to achieve their language learning goals by helping them choose the best software for their needs.

But what if you are unsure about which language you want to learn? Or which language is the most useful?

An interesting objective/scientific analysis was made to determine which languages were the most influential in the world.

Here is an excerpt from the article which explains how they arrived at their results:

Every language, including Yanomami, is the most important language of the world - to its speakers. Rather than "important" we shall here, therefore, use the world "influential" in its stead. Chinese is a very influential language, no doubt about it, but is it more so than English? Clearly not. The number of speakers is relevant but quite insufficient for a meaningful ranking of languages in order of current world-wide influence, the stress being on the word "world-wide". There are many other factors to be taken into account and this is what we shall attempt to do in the following

Read the full article at http://www.andaman.org/BOOK/reprints/weber/rep-weber.htm

Once you have figured out what language you want to learn, whether you Want To Learn French or are looking for the best English Language Course check us out, 

Rosetta Stone former employee answers your questions (honestly)

At Best Language Learning Software we give honest review s of the most popular software brands like Rosetta Stone, Rocket Languages, and others to help you make the best choice.

For those who want to get the inside scoop on Rosetta Stone, you can't do much better than this. A former Rosetta Stone employee has a Reddit page where he answers your questions.

Here is an excerpt:

I worked for RS for years, and have used their programs in versions 2, 3, and 4 for 7 foreign languages. I know which of their programs work, which don't, and why.
I have invited a few other former employees to join me here, and will update with their usernames so you can keep an eye out for their responses

You can read more at http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/urxjv/iama_former_rosetta_stone_employee_who_speaks_8/

Enjoy!

Dog Commands in Other Languages

At Best Language Learning Software we know how fun and useful learning new languages could be.

When you get to live in other countries, you see all sorts of things you never really though of when you were learning the language in your home country.

For example, what about dog commands?

Mango Languages gives some tips:

What's the best way to look super cool at the dog park?
Telling Sparky to stay in five different languages of course.

Give these commands a try:

Read more at http://www.mangolanguages.com/blog/foreign-language-pet-commands/

Learn Languages With a Live Native Speaker

At Best Language Learning Software we give you advice on how to choose the best software according to your needs.

There are other ways of learning a language, too, of course.

One newly emerging method is by linking you up via mobile phone to native speakers in the language you want to learn.

Here is how the Verbling app is described:

After joining, the startup automatically pairs people that want to learn Spanish and are fluent in English, for example, with the opposite — those who are fluent in Spanish and want to learn English. It's immersion via reciprocity. Users are matched by their experience levels and are encouraged to switch back and forth between languages (by an accompanying timer), with the system suggesting various prompts and targets along the way.

Read more at http://techcrunch.com/2012/11/30/verbling-classes-new-languages/

Interesting stuff

 

Words That Don't Exist in English (But Should)

At our Best German Learning Software page, we help you choose the best program to learn German, according to your needs.

One of the great things about learning a new language is finding out words that don't exist at all in English, and are untranslatable.

Here is an excerpt from a fun article all about that subject:

#8. Kummerspeck (German)

Means:

Excess weight gained from emotional overeating.

"Kummerspeck" translates to "grief bacon," a word that finally acknowledges that when we are under a crushing weight of sadness or stress, many of us skip alcohol and narcotics in favor of delicious fried meats.

Read more: http://www.cracked.com/article_19695_9-foreign-words-english-language-desperately-needs.html#ixzz2E3VA5wJM

 

Hidden "Dirty Words" in Normal English!

At English Learning Course we help you choose the best software to learn English.

However, even native English speakers don't know some of the more interesting facts about the English language.

Like, for instance, did you know words like Orchid, Porcelain, Vanilla, Avocado and other such common words actually refer to male and female genitalia (private parts)?

Here is an excerpt from a very revealing article on the subject:

1. Orchid
Oops, you just said: Testicles
Take a look at certain orchids' roots, and you'll probably notice that they look like testicles. If not, you've set yourself apart from multiple generations of language-makers that simply couldn't help but name the whole plant family after this snicker-worthy observation. Our contemporary word for the flower, introduced in 1845, comes from the Greek orchis, which literally translates as "testicle." Speakers of Middle English in the 1300s came up with a phonologically different word—inspired by the same exact dirty thought. They called the flower ballockwort from ballocks, or testicles, which itself evolved from beallucas, the Old English word for balls.

Read the full text here: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/139380#ixzz2DuFcXoqM 

--brought to you by mental_floss! 

What a fascinating language English is!

US Marines pay $1000 per month if you are proficient in another language

On our I Want To Learn French webpage, we give you lots of good reasons to learn French.

Well, here is another one: the US Marines will pay you $1000 extra per month if you are fluent, not just in French but in any language. Your certification doesn't really matter, just your practical fluency.

Here is an excerpt from the online article:

Do you know any other languages? if you do, you may be eligible for an extra $1000 added to your paycheck every month. Master Sgt. Barvan Lav, the communications chief aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., does, and is one of the few Marines here who take advantage of the military's Foreign Language Proficiency Pay.
The FLPP allows Marines to earn up to $1000 extra a month for knowing up to three different languages, according to Marine Administrative Message 733/07. To qualify, the service member must pass the Defense Language Proficiency Test annually. 

Read more: http://www.dvidshub.net/news/98256/uncle-sam-wants-you-learn-language#.ULo_2OTHvoI#ixzz2Dp6mQhqi

So getting Rocket French or another language learning program can be a worthwhile investment, and pay you back many times over.