We're happy to announce that we've just released the Android and iOS versions of Chinese Language Mentor and German Language Mentor . But wait - while these new apps are listed as separate apps on the respective app stores, they're precisely the same as the "universal" Language Mentor app, except for the fact that the target language, i.e. the...
The Language Collaborative Blog
Greetings Dear Readers ... Quite a bit has been happening at The Language Collaborative lately! Language Mentor Version 1.4 Released We've just released a shiny new version of Language Mentor on the Apple App Store and the Android Play Store. We've been working on this update for the last few months. We haven't made major changes - j...
We're excited to announce that we've just published "Grammar - Pronouns 3 - Dative", a new Beginner level German language lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Pronouns 3 - The Dative Case Introduction In these sentences we use the nominative case for the pronoun that serves as the subject of the sentence, the accusative case fo...
We're excited to announce that we've just published "Grammar - Pronouns 2 - Accusative Case", a new Newbie level German language lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Pronouns 2 - The Accusative Case Nominative & Accusative In these sentences we use the nominative case for the pronoun that serves as the subject of the senten...
We're excited to announce that we've just published "Grammar - Pronouns 1 - Nominative Case", a new Newbie level German language lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Pronouns 1 - The Nominative Case Introduction This lesson is the first in a set of lessons covering German pronouns. In these lessons we take an approach that...
We're excited to announce that Nina Freebird of Vocal Creations Berlin has just published "An Unforgettable Gallery Visit", a new Beginner level German language lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script An Unforgettable Gallery Visit Ein Unvergesslicher Galeriebesuch Hi! Today I visit a gallery in Berlin. Hallo! Ich besuche he...
We're excited to announce that Nina Freebird of Vocal Creations Berlin has just published "A Nice Walk Ruined", a new Beginner level German language lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script A Nice Walk Ruined Ein Ruinierter Spaziergang Hi! My name is Nina. I live in Berlin. Hallo! Ich heiße Nina. Ich wohne in Berlin. This cit...
We're implementing new blog technology on our site using the Joomla EasyBlog extension. We'll be copying old posts into this new blog shortly and, hopefully, writing some new blog posts.
We're excited to announce that Mathilda Ren (任回驳) has just published "An Old Song About Sorrow", a new Advanced level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Notes: 1. Shū is usually translated as "book" but in this case it means "write". Bóshāndàozhōng means "Bo Mountain path", and bì means "wall of mountain". 2. O...
We're excited to announce that we've just released the newest version of Language Mentor (1.24) on both the Apple app store and the Android Play Store ! If you'd like to give it a spin, install it on your smartphone and select "Chinese, Mandarin" in the app's setup screen. This release is a milestone for us in two ways: It's our first release for t...
Lately I've run across several articles written by Idahosa Ness. With each article I've become more impressed. He combines (IMO) an excellent understanding of the language learning process with 'tech facility' – the ability to creatively use online resources to make language learning faster, easier, and less expensive. Here are a few of my favorite...
We're excited to announce that 席爱娜 Xi Aina (Diana) has just published "Newbie #6: Greetings", a new Introductory level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Announcer: Greetings A: Good Hǎo 好 B: Hello. Nǐ hǎo. 你好。 A: How are you? Nǐ hǎo ma? 你好吗？ B: I - very good. Wǒ hěn hǎo. 我很好。 What about you? Nǐ ...
We're excited to announce that 席爱娜 Xi Aina (Diana) has just published "Newbie #5: We Love Plural Pronouns", a new Introductory level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script A: We Love Plural Pronouns I Wǒ 我 We Wǒmen 我们 B: You - singular Nǐ 你 You - plural Nǐmen 你们 A: He - or she - or it Tā 他/她/它 They Tāme...
We're excited to announce that 席爱娜 Xi Aina (Diana) has just published "Newbie #4: I Love Singular Pronouns", a new Introductory level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script A: I Love Singular Pronouns B: I Wǒ 我 A: I love. Wǒ ài. 我爱。 B: I love you. Wǒ ài nǐ. 我爱你。 A: You love me. Nǐ ài wǒ. 你爱我。 B: Do y...
We're excited to announce that 席爱娜 Xi Aina (Diana) has just published "Newbie #3: Get the Tones Right! #2", a new Introductory level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Announcer: Get the Tones Right! #2 B: Sleep Shuìjiào 睡觉 Dumpling Shuǐjiǎo 水饺 A: The city of Shanghai Shànghǎi 上海 Hurt Shānghài 伤害 ...
We're excited to announce that 席爱娜 Xi Aina (Diana) has just published "Newbie #2: Get the Tones Right!", a new Introductory level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Announcer: Get the Tones Right! A: Book Shū 书 Cooked Shú 熟 Count Shǔ 数 Tree Shù 树 Bent Wān 弯 Finish Wán 完 Late Wǎn 晚 Ten thousand Wàn...
We're excited to announce that 席爱娜 Xi Aina (Diana) has just published "Newbie #1: The Sounds of Chinese", a new Introductory level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script The Sounds Of Chinese Initial Consonants shēngmǔ 声母 b p m f d t n l g k h j q x z c s zh ch sh r y w Finals 韵母 Yùnmǔ a o e i u ü ai ei u...
We're excited to announce that 章琦玮 - Zhang Qiwei has just published "Rigid Customer Service", a new Intermediate level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Announcer: Rigid Customer Service Sǐbǎn De Kèfú 死板的客服 Yuki: My cell phone is lost, ... Wǒde shǒujī diūle, ... 我的手机丢了，…… I'd like to - suspend se...
We're excited to announce that 席爱娜 Xi Aina (Diana) has just published "Talking About Weather", a new Beginner level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Announcer: Talking About Weather Tán Tiānqì 谈天气 A: Today the weather is really nice! Jīntiān tiānqì zhēnhǎo! 今天天气真好！ B: Yes! Shì a! 是啊！ A: How's ...
We're excited to announce that 席爱娜 Xi Aina (Diana) has just published "Visiting A Home", a new Beginner level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Announcer: Visiting A Home Bàifǎng Jiātíng 拜访家庭 Invitation Yāoqǐng 邀请 A: I'd like to invite you to come to my home this weekend. Zhège zhōumò huānyíng...
We're excited to announce that 章琦玮 - Zhang Qiwei has just published "What To Eat?", a new Beginner level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Announcer: What to Eat? Chī Shénme? 吃什么？ A: I'm hungry. Wǒ è le. 我饿了。 Let's go out and eat. Wǒmen chūqù chī ba. 我们出去吃吧。 My treat. Wǒ qǐng kè. 我请客。 B: Okay....
We're excited to announce that 席爱娜 Xi Aina (Diana) has just published "Taking A Taxi", a new Beginner level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Announcer: Taking A Taxi Dǎ Chūzūchē 打出租车 A: Sir, we go - Beijing Hotel. Shīfu, wǒmen qù Běijīng Fàndiàn. 师傅，我们去北京饭店。 Note: "Shīfu" is a courteous form...
We're excited to announce that 章琦玮 - Zhang Qiwei has just published "At Starbucks", a new Beginner level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Announcer: At Starbucks Zài Xīngbākè 在星巴克 A: I want a cup of white chocolate mocha. Wǒ xiǎngyào yìbēi báiqiǎokèlì mókǎ. 我想要一杯白巧克力摩卡。 B: Short, tall, gr...
We're excited to announce that 席爱娜 Xi Aina (Diana) has just published "Sending A Package", a new Beginner level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Announcer: Sending A Package Jì Bāoguǒ 寄包裹 A: I'd like to mail a package. Wǒ xiǎng jì gè bāoguǒ. 我想寄个包裹。 B: What's inside your package? Nínde bāoguo...
We're excited to announce that 席爱娜 Xi Aina (Diana) has just published "Haircut", a new Beginner level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Announcer: Haircut Jiǎn Tóufa 剪头发 A: I want to get a haircut. Wǒ yào lǐfà. 我要理发。 B: How do you want it cut? Nǐ yào jiǎnchéng shénme yàng de? 你要剪成什么样的？ A: I'd...
We're excited to announce that 章琦玮 - Zhang Qiwei has just published "At A Restaurant", a new Beginner level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Announcer: At A Restaurant Zài Fàndiàn 在饭店 A: I want a dish of cucumber salad. Wǒ xiǎngyào yìpán liángbàn huángguā. 我想要一盘凉拌黄瓜。 Note: Literally... I ~ w...
We're excited to announce that 席爱娜 Xi Aina (Diana) has just published "Bar And Coffee House", a new Beginner level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Announcer: Bar & Coffee House Jiǔbā Hé Kāfēitīng 酒吧和咖啡厅 A: Long time no see. Shall we chat this evening? Hǎojiǔbújiànle, jīnwǎn liáoliáo b...
We're excited to announce that 席爱娜 Xi Aina (Diana) has just published "Asking For Directions", a new Beginner level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Announcer: Asking For Directions Wènlù 问路 A: Excuse me, how do I go to the Bank of China? Qǐngwèn, qù Zhōngguó yínháng zěnme zǒu? 请问，去中国银行怎么走？ B...
We're excited to announce that 章琦玮 - Zhang Qiwei has just published "Pop & Piracy #4", a new Intermediate level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Announcer: Pop & Piracy, #4 Liúxíngyīnyuè Hé Dàobǎn, Sì 流行音乐和盗版，四 A: How much do you think that tickets for a May Day vocal concert cost? Nǐ j...
Our shiny new user forums have received their first post – chrisd has asked "where are you in the development process?". This is a big enough question to justify a blog post – on this shiny new blog. This update includes: Language Mentor Development Lesson Development Authoring Tool Development Evangelizing the Language Mentor Platform How You Can ...
We're excited to announce that 章琦玮 - Zhang Qiwei has just published "Pop & Piracy #3", a new Intermediate level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Announcer: Pop & Piracy, # 3 Liúxíngyīnyuè Hé Dàobǎn, Sān 流行音乐和盗版，三 A: The news media doesn't talk about this? Nèixiē xīnwén méitǐ bù ta...
We're excited to announce that 章琦玮 - Zhang Qiwei has just published "Pop & Piracy #2", a new Intermediate level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Announcer: Pop & Piracy, # 2 Liúxíngyīnyuè Hé Dàobǎn, Èr 流行音乐和盗版，二 Xiaoyin: Actually ... Shìshíshàng ... 事实上…… some part of the Chinese peop...
We're excited to announce that 章琦玮 - Zhang Qiwei has just published "Pop & Piracy #1", a new Intermediate level Mandarin Chinese lesson, on Language Mentor! Lesson Script Announcer: Pop & Piracy, # 1 Liúxíngyīnyuè Hé Dàobǎn, Yī 流行音乐和盗版，一 A: Xiaoyin, could you help me with something? Xiǎoyīn, kěyǐ qǐng nǐ ba...