Out From The Depths of the Innovative Language Learning Lab – Part One
Peter here.
For many JapanesePod101.com learners, it’s been a long time.
For many others, please allow my to introduce myself.
My name is Peter Galante, founder of JapanesePod101.com: the engine that allowed Innovative Language Learning to grow from one website into a full-fledged language learning company.
For several years, I’ve been locked in the language-learning lab working on a colossal content project. We’ve made some serious strides since our inception, and several product prototypes have begun to reach market. Our creation will power innovative language learning products for many years to come.
We’re seriously excited about sharing these with you, because frankly, we owe you. Actually, we owe you everything. Your support has powered our growth from a podcast to a language learning company.
Thanks to all of the support from all of our incredible learners, we’re counting down to two major milestones:
- 200 million lessons delivered
- 27 language learning websites
So, I thought it was a good time to get my head out of my lab, and…
First, say “Thank You!”
Second, share our story of how we got here.
Rewind to the Start of the Revolution – December 2005
In the beginning, there was one person. Writing, recording, recruiting, improvising, persuading, coding… whatever it took to release a language lesson a day, I would do. Growth was exciting and motivating. The community grew. The team grew. Passion for our product and its reception fueled the expansion from one language to two, and we didn’t stop there.
Fast Forward to the Present Progress – May 2012
A team of 20 incredibly gifted full-timers, network of hundreds more around the world, and an alumni of extremely talented people have taken the company from a Japanese language company to a language learning company. From 1 site in 2005 to 23 (going on 27 in July) in 2012, plus several hundred iPhone and Android applications, e-books, and iBooks. In short, if there is a digital language learning market, we’re probably in it.
You can view the time line here.
The Journey is the Best Part
Along our journey, there have been some remarkable stories that were never shared. There were successes and failures that we never took the time to talk about. Not sharing the story of how we’ve bootstrapped our way to this point without outside funding or investment is one of the biggest regrets I have.
It’s a story of passionate and clever people who have been pushing themselves to the limit to provide high quality language learning material.
Share Our Journey
Things are moving full-speed ahead. The goal of this series of blog posts is to introduce you to our team. Share our successes and failures as we strive to create a better product.
So, Part One: Say Thank You.
I would like to thank all the people who have supported us.
I would like to also thank all of the people that have helped build this.
We’ve met some incredible people in our journey, and we’re excited about the many others we’re destined to meet!
This entry was posted on Monday, May 28th, 2012 at 1:09 pm and is filed under Founder's Blog, General Announcements, ILL Office Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
May 30th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
i got a question,i think i suscribe but i dint want to suscribe i just wnted the free package,(the offer) that you show before one is going to suscribe.so i want to unsucribe but i want the free package how i do that??
May 31st, 2012 at 12:06 am
I find it troubling when you leave us a contact phone number and no one answers or responds. All you folks want is the credit card information. The other language companies actually answer the telephone!!!!
May 31st, 2012 at 6:29 am
I will soon want to learn Russian. Thank you!
May 31st, 2012 at 3:13 pm
I would like to thank you as well !
I’ve been working for years in books and Chinesesclass101 helped me realise that I needed a lot of pronunciation improvement. I was first surprised by your site… I felt that such a site would lack in tools and lessons but it’s quite impressive and complete.
What’s more, I’m french and I’ve never had problems learning with your website since the english spoken here is mostly easy to understand whether your are a native or a foreigner.
What I like the most about your sites though is that you really get a hand from your teachers and that’s what’s needed when you’re learning a language like me.
Thanks again and good luck !
May 31st, 2012 at 10:38 pm
This is the best learning method for the post-intermediate student. It has clarified things I thought I understood but didn’t fully. It has helped me to become fluent, given wonderful grammar and expressions to learn. I have wallowed at intermediate level for over 10 years, with no classes available. I have recommended this site loads of times. I only I had found it earlier. I wasnt even paid to say this.
June 1st, 2012 at 4:21 am
Peter, great idea to share the muck behind the scenes! I love these stories
I’ve been doing RussianPod101 off and on & it’s awesome!
June 1st, 2012 at 8:33 am
I can start , why it is so complicated ?
June 1st, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Peter: I’m your fan #1 !!!
1. Because all the effort you put in this project.
2. Because all the great team that you made and the way you have the best from them
and 3. because all the projection you have and all you are going to reach with POD101
Go for it! I’m so glad i found a language site as professional with people as committed as you!
Congratulations to all the team!
thank you for sharing.
June 5th, 2012 at 2:57 am
Thank you, Peter, so very much.
`
I find your lessons exceptionally well done. It’s word by word, then the grammar falls into place. The lessons are relaxed. I especially like how the teacher pronounces each word slowly, syllable by syllable so we get it right. I like the music, too.
In school, they force fed us grammar up front, conjugating, declining, tenses. I know parts of speech very well. But this way was so overwhelming and discouraging. (I took four years of Latin and three of German.) Now, I’m in basic HungarianPod101. We might move to Hungary and I’m getting ready.
June 13th, 2012 at 3:17 am
How could there be a site or a company so helpful to language learners??
Well, this is the BEST.. I feel like I know the hosts personally. I’ve been learning Korean and French.. Next year, I’ll start Italian.. I guess I’m crazy! haha..
Anyway, Thank you to the founder..
love love <3
June 14th, 2012 at 8:23 pm
your courses have been very helpful and i am really a big fan of how you expanded your business. i am also using my kindle now which is further helping me in learning languages. their website is worth checking http://www.etonphrasebooks.com/
June 14th, 2012 at 10:04 pm
Just wanted to say thankyou to the entire staff at innovativelanguage. You’ve really made me believe that it was actually possible for me not just to know other languages in theory, but to actually be able to use it to converse as well. I discovered you guy late, but now the challenge is to try to catch up to current lessons. Continued success!
June 16th, 2012 at 2:24 am
I need to pronounce ONE word in French and now I’m signed up (and have paid for ONE MONTH) and still cannot get what I want. How can this be?
June 21st, 2012 at 6:32 pm
Apologies for the late reply. I didn’t quite make it out of the lab…
Allan, please contact info [at] innovativelanguage.com. They can definitely help.
Dennis, please contact info [at] innovativelanguage.com. Truly sorry for any inconvenience caused. E-mail will get a prompt response.
Ronald, RussianPod101.com or any other of our Russian products.
Ulysse, thanks for the great comment. It truly means a lot to us. We always wonder how fluent, but non-native English speakers use our product. Our testimonial team would love to hear your story! Interested in sharing? They would love to hear from you.
http://www.innovativelanguage.com/forms/testimonial
Caroline, thank you to you too! Really appreciate the kind words and that you’re spreading the word. Our testimonial team would love to hear from you too! It’s really rewarding to here comments from advanced learners like you.
http://www.innovativelanguage.com/forms/testimonial
Fraser.Dk, thanks for commenting. Yes, RussianPod101 is very good. I’m particularly partial to Eric&Anna.
Faissal, can you contact info [at] innovativelanguage.com? They can help.
Eka ch, thanks for the kind words! Know that we’re very appreciative you’re using our products! It’s kind of crazy to look back on what we have achieved, but still a lot of work to do! Thanks for the support. It means a lot!
Sonya, thanks for sharing what you like about the lesson. I always felt like slowing the language down for an instant helps learners keep up. Great to hear you’re taking on Hungarian next! The teacher is actually here at our offices recording!
Cristine, thanks for the kind words! Yes, it’s like having your own personal teachers.
Great to hear that you’re going to be a polyglot! You keep studying new languages, we’ll keep creating them.
Ahmed, add as many tools to your language learning toolbox as you can.
James, thanks for letting us know your story. Hearing stories like yours really helps our motivation. Please continue to share!
http://www.innovativelanguage.com/forms/testimonial
V J, can you contact info [at] innovativelanguage.com? They can help.
Thanks for all of the comments. And will respond quicker in the future!
June 30th, 2012 at 7:29 pm
Enjoyed the blog, Peter.
I think you should definitely share the story, it’s a great one, and I was glad to be a part of it! The way the company grew over the years is really impressive, and I’m sure it’ll be inspiring to others. Congrats on making it this far and best wishes for continued success
July 23rd, 2012 at 7:16 pm
Thanks, Charles. Similar to all of the Innovative Alumni, we feel very fortunate we had the chance to work with you. Thank you again for all of your contributions! Best of luck with all of your endeavors.
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