Employees at a number of global firms now have access to a new perk—language learning. In a nod to the importance of language skills development, international companies Google, Rakuten and News Corp have recently chosen Livemocha to serve their global language learning needs.

In Google’s case, the agreement will afford employees company-paid access to Livemocha’s award-winning Active series of online language programs for English, French, Italian, German and Spanish.

“The need for conversational fluency in our increasingly global workplaces has never been greater,” said Livemocha CEO Michael Schutzler. “Leveraging a unique marriage of traditional multimedia curriculum with around-the-globe experiences of learning from real native speakers, Livemocha provides Google’s employees an ample amount of practice time that is neither boring…  read more

Teachers worldwide have discovered Livemocha’s unique, accessible and relevant learning space.

Possibilities with Livemocha are expansive—We’ve already heard from a Michigan mother who has overcome the challenges of homeschooling, university professors supplementing their curriculum with in-class live chat with native speakers, and a Washington State high school where students enjoy speaking practice and cultural exploration despite already-busy schedules.

That’s just the beginning. Teachers integrating Livemocha also report:

• Access to limitless practice with native speakers
• Engaging content
• Opportunities for self-paced learning
• Improved basic skills
• Increased enthusiasm from students
• Practical study opportunities for AP and other advanced tests

To hear more from teachers, check out our case studies at http://blog.livemocha.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/ACTFL-case-studies.pdf.

Already using Livemocha in your classroom? We’d love to hear about your experience—please add your comments!

The annual travel bloggers’ community fundraiser Passports with Purpose (PwP) has announced that it blew past its 2010 goal and raised more than $58,000 to support the non-profit organization Land for Tillers’ Freedom and their efforts to improve living conditions for the Dalit caste of India.

We at Livmocha feel honored to have had the opportunity to join individual donors and sponsors in raising funds that will go to build 25 homes—a village!—in Karunganni, located in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Construction will begin this month and the Dalit will be able to enjoy their new homes in June.

It’s all about building community and travel, as well as learning other languages and cultures, brings us closer to creating and…  read more

While foreign language programs nationwide have been slashed left and right all year long, high schools in school districts around midstate Pennsylvania have worked to boost their offerings.

Spanish, French and German are already regulars on most school’s lineups—of the remaining schools that even offer language study, that is—but students in the select Pennsylvania schools are also now enjoying Chinese, Russian, Japanese and Arabic coursework.

The new opportunities have come courtesy of Dickinson College, which is working cooperatively with a number of high schools and local universities to increase and share resources, including teachers.

One visiting professor for the Confucius Institute at the University of Pittsburgh, for example, is teaching Mandarin Chinese at a nearby high school via the partnership. A number…  read more

Even the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency has joined foreign language enthusiasts as it hosted a national Foreign Language Summit earlier this month.

The message: Foreign language proficiency is good for the nation and humanity, reported the International Business Times.

Bravo to the agency for hosting the event, which gives yet another nod to the importance of language skills in the global marketplace.

The Times article cites reports that point to a shortage of translators in the U.S. military and other agencies that work overseas, and how that shortage “affects knowledge, understanding of culture and an ability to work together with foreign people and organizations.”

CIA Director Leon Panetta called for a national commitment to strengthening America’s foreign language policy during the summit,…  read more