Apr 20, 2018 | Blog, Language Services, Tips, Translation, Worldwide
Can I study online for free? MOOCs are online classes that anyone can take on the internet. Before the internet, students could take classes remotely, meaning they did not attend the class in person. This was called “distance education”. The first ever distance education class was advertised in 1728 in The Boston Gazette. The ad read: a new method of learning – lessons mailed weekly. The professor was Caleb Phillips and he taught “Short Hand” which, indeed, was a method of abbreviated writing. Since then, people have not stopped finding innovative and convenient ways to learn. Although this started with limited participation mailed lessons, we now have ended up with Massive Open Online Courses. MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) are the latest trend in distance education and learning. What are “MOOCs”? MOOCs are online classes available to people everywhere through open access on the internet. In addition, participation is unlimited so any number of people can take the same class. They can be on almost any topic. MOOCs often provide interactive education modules. Some MOOCs are worth academic credits, but most are not. Some may offer a certificate upon completion, like for instance, computer literacy. What MOOCs can I take? MOOC options are almost unlimited. Nowadays, there are so many online classes that it might be difficult to decide what to take. Options vary from the basics of digital photography, or arts and crafts like carpentry, however, you will find more complex topics like psychology, medicine or even physics and chemistry. Where do I find MOOCs of interest? There are many websites that offer them. Here is a list...
Apr 11, 2018 | Blog, Language Services, Tips, Translation, Worldwide
Free Online Language Courses Are you interested in learning a new language? Learning languages has never been easier: Free Online Language Courses are here to help you make your dream come true. When thinking about learning a new language, we usually make up a list of excuses not to. One of them is “I don’t have the time to go to a language school”. There is also “I do not have enough money to pay for it”. This may have been true years and years ago, but not now. Thanks to technology and the Internet, all languages are at our fingertips! We are now able to study languages for free, online, at our own speed, and as many as we want. Yes, it’s true! There are many free online language courses that you can look up before deciding on one. Here we made a list of the four most popular free online language courses. Read this information about the most popular and Free Online Language Courses: Website Pros Cons Languages Prices Duolingo Duolingo itself is free. Lessons go deep. Speaking, writing, listening and reading exercises are equally balanced in each lesson and each language. Good for long-term and committed learners. Mobile app and website offer the same. You can join clubs related to the language you are learning. Duolingo Plus, a more complete version of Duolingo, is paid. Fast conversational skills are not developed, so it is not good for tourists trying to pick the language up before traveling. There is no chat option to interact with native speakers. Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Irish,...
Jan 10, 2017 | Blog, Communication, Language Services, Tips, Translation, Worldwide
Trends for multilingual websites in 2017 according to numerology (Claim your free gift for a Happy New Year) 6 things to concentrate on while doing business in foreign markets in 2017 Dear friends, So there you have it. The year 2016 has ended and 2017 has begun. Thank you for following our blog, Facebook page, and newsletters in 2016. We believe that this year we will continue to learn something interesting about languages and translations. According to numerology, with the year 2017 a new 9-year-long cycle begins, wherein we build something new, invent new things, develop new projects, set up new initiatives, and sow the seeds of adventure that we will nurture for the next 9 years. What is your next business venture? Are you thinking of reaching out to global markets and expanding your business internationally? In this post, we’d like to introduce you to trends in foreign language websites and how to market them effectively to foreign speaking audiences in 2017. We have a small gift for you: a translation of Happy New Year wishes in 15 foreign languages. Please download it at the end of the article! What are the trends for multilingual websites in 2017? If it is your intention to create an online business in another country, you will need a website in a foreign language. It is important to build a global website with a local focus. If you wish to succeed in a foreign market while doing business online, do your best to act locally, however, think globally. When writing texts and launching products via a foreign language website, write...
Dec 19, 2014 | Blog, Language Services, SEO, Tips, Translation
Translation of a Website and SEO: How Important Are They? Dear language friend, the holidays are here and the LingoStar team wishes you and yours all the best this holiday season! We hope that the upcoming celebrations bring joy, happiness, and love. We also hope that you enjoy this newsletter and find a lot of useful information regarding the translation of a website to help your business prosper in 2015. Have you ever wondered why certain websites immediately pop up in Google when you are searching for information, and others fall behind even though they contain more useful content? It is not just a random ranking. The way websites are ranked is a result of the work of web developers and language specialists. In today’s world of globalization, where websites play such an important role in business and communication, it is crucial to always improve your website, so that it meets the interests of the target audience. What makes websites successful and attractive for international communities is website translation. The company that invests in the translation of its website gains credibility and trust and draws clients’ attention. However, translation of a website isn’t as simple as it seems. To target a specific audience, companies should create a strategy for search engine optimization (SEO). This is a wonderful tool that helps websites become visible and more appealing to customers. Search engines like Google rank web pages, videos, and other content based on what it considers to be most relevant to users. When translating a website, it is not enough just to translate its content into other languages. To...
Jul 22, 2014 | Language Services, Tips, Translation
Trends in Voice-Over Translation Businesses and organizations entering international markets naturally spend considerable time crafting their message and translating that message with care until the most fitting words and expressions can be found. Yet the act of translation is enhanced by voice-over translation professionals, artists that lend elements like tone and expressive nuances of voice to deliver the carefully-wrought message with an actor’s sensibility and a translator’s ability to convey meaning directly and accurately. Just as new technologies have complemented the field of translation services, voice-over translation has benefited from various trends that many companies with international interests may want to consider when they seek this viable service. It used to be that the main end of translation was to simply convey meaning between two languages. This is still the heart of translating services, but translated communication involving voice-over technique has advanced to encompass no small degree of art. While some will say that translation has always enjoyed an artistic component, it now features voice-over translation professionals who are also performers. Voice-over experts, for example, can embody a character that can bolster a marketing message. The voice-over translator may convey empathy in some way or create a connection with the audience that goes beyond translated speech. Performance elements aside, today’s voice-over translation and its translators are also increasingly supported by digital solutions that shorten or alternatively lengthen the performed translation. When a corporate video voice-over is needed, it’s important that the voice-over performer remain in sync with the video. Luckily, the technology allows for more ease of the syncing process. The result is a seamless representation...
Jul 7, 2014 | Blog, Language Services, Tips, Translation
How valuable is website translation? Do you know how much international traffic your website gets? Have you ever asked yourself how much more it might receive if it was translated into multiple languages? A world class translation service with linguists and professional translators at its disposal can be worth its weight in gold. The fact is, in today’s global markets, a multilingual website is increasingly valuable. Its importance is such that it requires the dedication of professionals–human and not simply machines–to craft and perfect its message to appeal to local markets and effectively market to them. On the importance of human, professional translators There are many benefits to a well-translated website. Firstly, it has an authoritative advantage over competitors who may not rely on a professional service. They may rely on crowd-sourced or automatic translation. This is risky, however, because incorrect and even improper translation can undermine a company’s authority by making them appear ignorant or inept. Few would call the Coca-Cola brand and its marketers inept, of course, but even such major companies have endured language faux-pas and accidental mistakes that actually made headlines. Not so long ago, Coca-Cola spent a considerable amount of money printing signs that sounded like their brand name in Chinese but the wording actually told consumers to ‘bite the wax tadpole.’ Why use a translation agency? Some companies may choose to hire their own translator, but there are added benefits to working with a translation service. For one, website translation typically requires ongoing maintenance. Each time you add new content to the site, it will require professional translation. A translation service has teams...
