Can a few employees make a difference?

For Green Practices in the office, the answer is a resounding YES.

April 22nd marked Earth Day. It provided an opportunity to look at our company’s Green Practices. When evaluating the company, I had the chance to look at several initiatives started by team members during our 5 years in business. It was very cool to see how they added up over the years, and how we continue to make contributions.

Top 5 Ways You’re Saving the World by Learning with InnovativeLanguage.com

1. Paperless Lessons: Forget about wasteful textbooks! Learn Japanese on your mobile phone, iPad, PC, or iPod. Think of all the paper you save when you switch to online Flashcards!

2. Paperless Communication: All communication, transactions and customer interactions are done electronically, the way it should be.

The first two are related to the nature of our product. We’re really happy about this, and choose to believe that green electricity is used to power student’s devices when using our programs. And while we know that we’re not there yet, we are hopeful that we’ll get that some day.

3. Green Office Practices (plus some pictures from around the office):

• Separation of trash: It takes a bit of practice and discipline, but makes a big difference in the big picture (the Japanese government gets credit for this one)
• Lights off during bright times of the day: Using what nature provides us, the essence of going green! (Team Member)

• Using Paper on both sides: We use every inch of paper before putting it in the recycling bin (Team Member)

• Office Thermometer: To help us regular office temperature and reduce power (Team Member)

 4. Green Office Admin:

• Electronic pay slips (Team Member)

5. Green Commuting Incentives:

• We pay for transportation, so if you bike to work, you keep the stipend (Team Member)

Of course, our environmentally friendly initiatives don’t stop there. Earth Day is a great reminder to reevaluate our practices and be more responsible citizens of the world.

Peter Galante is the founder of InnovativeLanguage.com and he’s currently learning Chinese. 

You did it!

Did what exactly? Well…

You’ve downloaded. You’ve tuned in. You’ve learned.

And iTunes has noticed!

Today, InnovativeLanguage.com is featured on the front page of the US iTunes Podcast section. The InnovativeLanguage.com iTunes page brings together 21 language 101.com sites, 19 Survival Phrases series, over 300 mobile apps, and much more.

But it’s not only a collection of language lessons, it’s a community of passionate language learners like you that download, tune in, and learn regularly. And we wouldn’t be on the front page without you.

Whether you tune in on iTunes or with a Free Lifetime Account on one of our websites, thank you for learning with us!

JapanesePod101.com, our Japanese language learning site is also featured in the New and Noteworthy Section! Check it out!

It’s kind of crazy to think that it all started with one podcast in one language back in 2005.

So once again, THANK YOU. You made this possible. Also, we’d like to thank Apple. We truly appreciate your products, services and support.

Innovative Language is back in the news! This time, it’s our French that is put to the test.

A Wall Street Journal article, Brushing Up on Your Japanese on a Small Screen, reviews a number of mobile apps for language learning and includes our own FrenchPod101’s “Advanced French for iPad” App.

Here’s an excerpt:

“An app that included basic French grammar was Advanced French for iPad, described as an “audio e-book.” The course consists of 25 audio blogs, each less than two minutes long. They included blogs from a French narrator, who goes by just by [sic] the name Christophe, on his country’s health-care system, rappers, telethons and foods.

There are over 690 Innovative Language Learning apps like “Advanced French for iPad,” and they span over 40 languages and cover every level from Beginner to Advanced. Each app is designed to bring practical, fun, and real-world style language lessons as well as their relevant vocabulary and grammar, to smartphones and tablets.

We’re happy to have been included in this review and will continue improving our mobile apps to teach language in the fastest, easiest, and most fun way.

Click Here To Read The Article!

Click Here to Get the App!

Last week, the InnovativeLanguage.com iTunes Provider Page went live! (Click here to view.)

The good folks at Apple allowed us the opportunity to showcase all of our language learning podcasts on one page! Presented with this incredible opportunity, the graphics team put together a pretty impressive page, if I do say so myself.

Some of the highlights:

• InnovativeLanguage.com themed Provider Page
• links to 21 our language course podcasts on iTunes
• links to 19 Suvival Phrase podcasts on iTunes
• showcase of all new artwork added over the past six months
• complete revamp of Survival Phrases artwork

In addition…

The page also centralizes a lot of our Apple product related activity. From the InnovativeLanguage.com Provider Page you can reach our iBooks, Audio Books, iOS Apps, pages on social networking sites and 101 websites.

While putting together this page, we reminisced about our roots of being a one podcast company. It made us appreciative of all of our users, who made this possible with their support, and team, who made this possible with the passion and performance.

So, this is a pretty good snapshot of what we’ve been up to for the past few years.

View our iTunes Provider Page by clicking here.

Looking forward to adding to a lot more to this page in 2012 and on.

Oh, hello there listener! We haven’t seen you in awhile! Is that a new haircut? Did you get contacts? Or maybe a tan from your winter vacation!  In any case, it’s nice to have you back!

You may have stopped by today because you’re thinking about picking up your language studies in the new year. Well, you’ve come to the right place. Starting January 2nd, 2012, we’ll be publishing some really great lessons that are sure to keep you busy and entertained all year long!

Here’s a quick look at what to expect on our 101.com sites:

• Learn Japanese in 2012! Click here for the JapanesePod101.com Weekly Schedule
• Get Fluent in Korean in 2012!  Click here for the KoreanClass101.com Weekly Schedule
• Master Spanish in 2012! Click here for the SpanishPod101.com Weekly Schedule
• Study Italian in 2012! Click here for the ItalianPod101.com Weekly Schedule
• Learn French in 2012! Click here for the FrenchPod101.com Weekly Schedule
• Brush Up On German in 2012! Click here for the GermanPod101.com Weekly Schedule
• Learn Russian in 2012! Click here for the RussianPod101.com Weekly Schedule
• Learn Chinese in 2012! Click here for the ChineseClass101.com Weekly Schedule
• Study Cantonese in 2012! Click here for the CantoneseClass101.com Weekly Schedule
• Learn Arabic in 2012! Click here for the ArabicPod101.com Weekly Schedule
• Bone Up On Portuguese in 2012! Click here for the PortuguesePod101.com Weekly Schedule
• Master Thai in 2012! Click here for the ThaiPod101.com Weekly Schedule
• Get Fluent in Greek in 2012! Click here for the GreekPod101.com Weekly Schedule
• Pick Up Polish in 2012! Click here for the PolishPod101.com Weekly Schedule
• Excel in Hebrew in 2012! Click here for the HebrewPod101.com Weekly Schedule
• Learn Indonesian in 2012! Click here for the IndonesianPod101.com Weekly Schedule
• Study Swedish in 2012! Click here for the SwedishPod101.com Weekly Schedule
• Learn Dutch in 2012! Click here for the DutchPod101.com Weekly Schedule
• Master Hungarian in 2012! Click here for the HungarianPod101.com Weekly Schedule

For free audio and video lessons to any of these languages, click here to sign up for a Free Lifetime Account! You’ll get 7-days of Premium Access, plus the Word of the Day, access to our newest lessons and the Core 100 Word List!

Good luck!

It all started with JapanesePod101.com, back in December of 2005.
6 years later, Innovative Language Learning is up to 22 language sites, 2 million registered users, and 4 million app downloads. But what does it all mean?

It means we couldn’t have done it without you. It means we’re very lucky to have a community of language lovers. It also means the world sees beauty in languages and cultures, and people wish to communicate with one another. And we’re happy to help.

Here are some key stats:

• December 2006 – 10,000 members
• December 2008 – 100,000 members
• April 2010 – 101 Million lesson downloads
• November 2011 – 2,000,000 members

So how exactly does a Japanese podcasting website grow? And how does it spread out to languages like Korean, Spanish, Arabic, and Dutch? Well, it’s quite a long story to tell. If you’re really interested, we can set some time aside, get some hot cocoa and tell the tale by the fireplace. But as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Click here to see the Timeline of Innovative Language Learning.

Good design is important. It communicates in ways text can’t. It is the visual delivery of what a website is about. With this in mind, the Innovative Language Learning website has been redesigned. We’ve thought about how we could best portray who we are and how we can help language lovers like you. And after long hours of tinkering in the lab, here is the result!

Visit the Innovative Language Learning Homepage! 

The sleek new design gets right to the point – you want to learn a foreign language. We help you master over 38 languages – including some rare ones like Mongolian and Swahili – in the fastest, easiest, and most fun way. However, fitting all of this under one roof and keeping it focused was no easy task:

• 21 language learning websites

• Over 200 iPad iBooks, Kindle Books, Nook Books, and Audio Books in 38 languages

• Over 700 iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and Android mobile applications in 38 languages

• Over 120 Mac and Mobile desktop applications in 38 languages

• Survival Phrases courses available in 20 languages

But there’s more to the website.

 Get quick links to all of our products – we admit, we have a lot of language learning material. This lets you access and browse through them easier.

Search either by language or product – to master as much material as possible for a certain language or if you’re going mobile and would like just the apps!

Like free stuff? Who doesn’t! – check the free resources section with free subscriptions to our language sites, apps, audiobooks, kindle books and more!

Harper Collins has joined forces with us, Innovative Language Learning. One of the world’s most respected publishers meets the world’s biggest language learning app maker.

They bring over 175 years of expertise. We apped it up.
The result is the best in dictionary software for the Mac.

After much tinkering in the lab together, we’ve brought the English Dictionary and Thesaurus to the Mac - the Collins Unabridged English Dictionary and the Collins Thesaurus of the English Language. And there’s more to come.

Most dictionary apps add on bells and whistles. The Collins Unabridged Dictionary and the Collins Thesaurus, however, have been designed, refined and streamlined for elegance and simplicity. With over 390,000 and 310,000 words, references, and examples in the dictionary and thesaurus respectively, they simply do what you need.

- Instant search: Begins when you type
- Bookmark words for later review
- Browse words by letter tabs
- Browse History: For stubborn words that refuse to be remembered
- Web Browser interface & navigation

The Collins Unabridged English Dictionary and the Collins Thesaurus of the English Language are both available for purchase now at the Mac App Store. Find out more details on our site here

Language acquisition, whether it’s your child’s first or your second (third, fourth or fifth!), is our passion. Using some of today’s most popular devices, Innovative Language Learning aims to bring you fun and effective language learning tools. As the biggest language learning mobile app maker in the world, we’re happy to share this online and print feature of our popular Alphabet Animals iPhone App!

New York Family is a monthly family lifestyle magazine and website focused on the interests, needs, and concerns of New York City parents. In the July 2011 issue, Gavriella Mahpour highlighted “15 Educational Apps That Inspire Curiosity And Learning”.

Innovative Language Learning’s Alphabet Animals was selected under the Spelling category, saying “Alphabet Animals is an easy way to teach tots their letters, while monkey-ing around.” We couldn’t agree more!

Thank you to Gavriella and New York Family.

More on Alphabet Animals

Alphabet Animals - Talking ABC Cards for Kids is the perfect learning tool for your toddler. Packed with colorful animations, animal sounds, and learning examples, Alphabet Animals - Talking ABC Cards will keep your child’s attention while they absorb the alphabet.

Parenting.com says that Alphabet Animals is “Perfect for your talented toddler, this game is packed with colorful animations, animal sounds, and tons of tips for learning their letters.”

Fully Animated

Each vivid flashcard has been created by a professional animator. When you touch them, they move in fun and surprising ways. Your child can discover the names of animals as he or she makes their way through the cards.

Educational Audio

Each card has three different kinds of sound! You can hear a friendly voice just say the name of the animal, the name of the letter, or a simple phrase matching the animal with colors and places.

Totally Interactive

Unlike expensive picture flashcards, Alphabet Animals - Talking ABC Cards is an interactive way to learn. Touching the screen causes animations and sounds, which keeps your child’s mind engaged and attentive.

Alphabet Animals - Talking ABC Cards is a great way to put your child on the fast-track to life with easier, simpler, and more fun learning!

Hej! Hallo! Sziasztok! That’s “Hello” in Dutch, Swedish, and Hungarian.
We’re really excited about our 3 new European additions to the Innovative Language Learning family and today we’re announcing yet another three languages. We’ve held our breath for so long to keep these a secret that we’re just about ready to faint!

Ready?

Starting July 4, Hindi, Hebrew, and Indonesian will be getting the complete Innovative Language Learning treatment with their own 101.com websites! Now, even though these languages are spoken by a collective 725 million people worldwide, they aren’t given enough attention online – or anywhere for that matter. Until now! If you’ve never had a good reason to learn these languages before, we’re about to give you some!

Why learn with Innovative Language Learning?
These brand new Hindi, Indonesian, and Hebrew lessons will use our fun and effective lesson format. And of course, you’ll also get our free and premium learning tools such as online Flashcards, line-by-line audio, video lessons, and mobile apps, which you can use to learn wherever you are in the world (except Antarctica.)

The first 101 listeners to sign up for the Founding Fathers Club will get a lifetime 50% off discount and to celebrate the addition of these new languages, we’ll also be having a Summer Celebration Sale where listeners can save BIG on current site subscriptions including to JapanesePod101!

So, why should you learn Hindi, Indonesian, or Hebrew?
Hindi is one of 22 languages spoken in India, and being the second most populated country with over 1 billion people, it’s just too big for us to skip. India is notorious for its traffic but showing some patience will pay big dividends when you try the food! If you’re in the mood for something a little more tropical, Indonesian is one of the world’s most spoken languages. After all, Indonesia is the fourth most populated country right after the United States, and a popular travel destination. Who could resist Indonesia’s tropical climate, beautiful islands, white sandy beaches…hold on, we’re getting carried away…

Lastly, did you know that Hebrew is one of the most requested languages from our Innovative Language Learning listeners? Well, we just couldn’t wait any longer! Travelling to Israel? Can’t understand your grandmother? (I can’t either) Or perhaps you’d like to take a dip in the Dead Sea? HebrewPod101.com will provide you with the resources to make sure you don’t open your eyes underwater – it’s extremely salty!

Stay tuned for more details to come on how to get in on all the discounts!

Thank you can handle all 6 new languages? Which one will you start learning and why?