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Learnosity Connects Language Learners Worldwide via Voxbone

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 03/04/09
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Learnosity, a software company specializing in language learning, will be using Voxbone services to affordably connect language students around the world with their teachers and each other. Through its global IP network and store of access numbers, Voxbone will provide a means for Learnosity's students to share their native fluencies and accents with others on other continents, for the cost of local calls.

The company said in a statement that the Learnosity platform and hosted applications have been deployed in governmental education projects in Ireland and Australia and are under consideration in 10 other countries. In practice, students dial in on Voxbone numbers, enter their student IDs, and meet fellow students of their subject language on conference calls, where they conduct assigned role-playing conversations.

Teachers subsequently grade these conversations through a Web interface that indicates whose voice is whose. The system allows a few teachers to assess many students anywhere in the world.

One of Learnosity's major goals is to use Voxbone numbers to enable native speakers of French, say, to affordably reach native Italian speakers, taking turns switching teacher-student roles.

"We can't provide every student in a country with a laptop, broadband connection and headsets, but we can easily put a phone in the hands of every student," said Gavin Cooney, Learnosity CEO. "In fact, they already have one in most cases."

"Also, there is no learning curve for the student. And teachers don't have to book computer facilities within the school; they just ask the students to take out their phones and dial in," he added. "This removes a significant barrier to entry."

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

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