Linguaphone Language Courses Established nearly one hundred years ago, Linguaphone is the leading supplier of self-study language courses across the world. The success of Linguaphone is based on the simple Linguaphone method of 'Listen, Understand, Speak', which is designed around the principles and manner that we learned language as a child. With courses in 30 languages, Linguaphone products are sold in over 60 countries worldwide with principal markets in Europe and Asia. We are currently offering the Linguaphone Complete Course, the allTalk Complete All-Audio Course, and the Pro Bundle.
History | Academic Background | The Linguaphone Method | Packages Available
Established nearly one hundred years ago, Linguaphone is the leading supplier of self-study language courses across the world. With courses in 30 languages, Linguaphone products are sold in over 60 countries worldwide with principal markets in Europe and Asia. Linguaphone's global network has been built up principally around third party distributors but in recent years they have established distribution companies in Hong Kong, Malaysia and the UK. Much of the marketing and distribution in the UK is through Linguaphone's own highly successful in-house direct marketing division supported by current advertising campaigns on national TV, Press and Radio. In London, Linguaphone has its own Language Centre opposite Harrods and in Japan there are 20 Linguaphone branded booths in the largest Japanese bookshops.
The Linguaphone Institute was founded by Jacques Roston, a translator and language teacher who emigrated from Russia at the turn of the century and set up business in High Holborn, London.
Roston was one of the first pioneers to recognise the potential for language teaching of Edison's invention of sound recording (1877) and Alexander Graham Bell's development of wax cylinders (1888). The first Linguaphone courses combined authentic native speech with the illustrated texts of Rees Pictorial Language books, which also incorporated vocabularies and grammatical notes. These he acquired, together with the International Linguaphone Company and the Rees Linguaphone records, then on wax cylinders. By adding to the range of languages and skilfully promoting the distinctive Linguaphone name, Roston created a new and intriguing product of wide appeal both to the home study hobbyist and the growing band of travellers to the Continent and beyond. This commitment to the progression of self-study language material has continued throughout the century and Linguaphone has developed a wide range of language courses that cater to many different needs.
The Linguaphone Institute has always had close links with the academic world. Jacques Roston, founder of the Institute and pioneer of the use of sound recordings in home-study language learning, was advised by distinguished scholars in the field of languages including Daniel Jones, probably the best-known phonetician this century and author of the definitive English Pronouncing Dictionary.
In 1967 Linguaphone's relationship with the academic world was formalised with the appointment of an Academic Advisory Committee (AAC) chaired by the former Provost of University College London, Ifor Evans (Lord Evans of Hungershall), and included among the members A.C. Gimson, André Martinet and Randolph Quirk.
During the 1970's and 1980's Linguaphone, in consultation with the Committee, published a successful new series which forms the basis of its current range of self-study courses in thirty languages. The total number is now over eight hundred courses and includes travel, business and children's specialities.
The success of Linguaphone is based on the simple Linguaphone method of ‘Listen, Understand, Speak.' You learned a language as a child using just this method, and you can learn a new language as an adult too. Irrespective of what course you are using the method will be built into the overall design of the course.
The audio parts of your course introduce you to listening to a foreign language at an easy pace. Your ears soon become accustomed to the new rhythms and sounds. Listening to a foreign language enables you to start thinking in the language and with a little imagination you can start to realise how you will sound in that new language.
The more you listen the more you begin to understand the tones and meanings of your new language. All the course components will help you to develop your comprehension of the new words and phrases you are discovering. Relating sounds to pictures will encourage you to understand exactly what is being said. Initially you will have an image and a word but very soon you will learn to associate the image with the word and construct the word's meaning. Over time, creating that image in your mind's eye becomes second nature and you will understand without conscious thought.
With Linguaphone you will start speaking in your very first lesson, imitating then later taking part in conversations. Listening carefully to new words and phrases will give you the confidence to imitate the sounds you have heard. With practice and repetition your speech will become more and more similar to the native speakers you hear on the recordings in your course. In the same way that understanding becomes second nature, pronunciation and speech also starts to be more natural as you become familiar with the new language.With each step forward, your conversational skills develop as you listen, understand and speak.
Note: Deliveries will take from two to three weeks.
Linguaphone allTalk Complete All-Audio Course This revolutionary product is dramatically altering how language-learning is approached. The allTalk course is a favorite with language learners because of its combination of effective and entertaining learning that helps you learn a language and enjoy it! Plus, with the allTalk Complete course you learn more and spend less. allTalk Complete is like three comprehensive all-audio courses together in one course. Sixteen hour-long all audio CDs let you learn in your car, while you exercise, or while relaxing at home. Learn 2000 words with the allTalk Complete course - much more vocabulary than any similarly priced course ... or as much as three levels of other comprehensive all-audio courses that cost many times more! Available for French, German, Italian, and Spanish. $350 French German Italian Spanish Linguaphone allTalk Complete All-Audio Course...
Linguaphone Pro Bundle If you're serious about learning French, you won't find a more sophisticated home study package than the Linguaphone Pro Bundle. This unique combination of self-study CDs, course books and online support gives you the flexibility to learn at your own pace whilst providing one of the most highly effective and structured courses on the market today. You will learn the language that is relevant to you, and gain the confidence and skills to express yourself in an infinite variety of situations. With the Pro series you will learn to speak, read and write to approximately degree standard; enjoy unlimited access to learning material containing exercises based on newspaper articles, television and radio clips; develop and perfect your accent listening to native speakers; master practical, everyday words and phrases; and progress quickly and easily with structured language tuition and clear guidance. Comes with 12 audio CDs; 6 professionally-presented course books; and a 12 month subscription to their online resource material. $750 French Spanish More about the Linguaphone Pro Bundle...