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{{Infobox Website {{Infobox website
| name = Livemocha | name = Livemocha
| logo = ] | logo = Livemocha logo.png
| screenshot = | screenshot =
| caption = | caption =
| url = | url = http://livemocha.com
| alexa = #3,233<ref name="AlexaStats"> ]. Accessed ], ].</ref>
| commercial = Yes | commercial = Yes
| type = ] | type = ]
| language = ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] | language = ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]
| registration = Required for all services | registration = Required for some services
| owner = Livemocha, inc. | owner = Livemocha, inc.
| author = ], CEO and Co-Founder | author = ], Co-Founder; ], Co-Founder; ], Current CEO
| launch date = 24 Sep 2007 | launch_date = 24 Sep 2007
| current_status = inactive
| current status = official/paying
| revenue = | revenue = undisclosed
| slogan = The social way to learn a language.
}} }}


'''Livemocha''' was an online ] community based in ]. It provided instructional materials in 38 languages and a platform for speakers to interact with and help each other learn new languages. According to the site, it had approximately 12 million registered members from 196 countries around the globe. It was free to join and use; however, it offered the option to pay for various benefits. In 2012, 400,000 users visited the site daily.<ref>{{cite web|title=Livemocha statistics|url=http://www.wolframalpha.com/entities/web_domains/livemocha.com/k7/0v/z7/|publisher=Wolfram Alpha|access-date=5 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322222322/http://www.wolframalpha.com/entities/web_domains/livemocha.com/k7/0v/z7/|archive-date=22 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
'''Livemocha''' is a ] where users can learn languages through audio-visual lessons, ]ing tools and support systems. Users can aid others in learning the languages that they are proficient in while learning other languages themselves. This is achieved through peer reviewing of submissions, live text and audio conversations, and other learning systems.


==Interface== == History ==
The company was founded in 2007 by Raghav Kher, Shirish Nadkarni and Krishnan Seshadrinathan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khalili |first=Joel |date=2021-10-02 |title=A serial entrepreneur on what makes and breaks a new business |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/a-serial-entrepreneur-on-what-makes-and-breaks-a-new-business |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=TechRadar |language=en}}</ref> They conceived the idea for a web-based approach which utilized the power of ] for language learning, with an emphasis on active participation and exchange in order to hone practical skills and conversational fluency.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Schmidt|first=Clint|title=Livemocha and the Power of Social Language Learning|journal=IH Journal of Education and Development|date=Spring 2010|issue=28}}</ref> The name "Livemocha" was coined by the founders during a brainstorming session at a local café, and was meant to evoke the relaxed atmosphere of a coffee shop. On June 8, 2010, Michael Schutzler was announced as the new CEO.<ref>{{cite web |author= Huang, Gregory T. |title= ''Schutzler Joins Livemocha as New CEO'' |location= www.seattlepi.com |publisher= ] |date= June 8, 2010 |url= http://www.seattlepi.com/xconomy/421379_xconomy83509.html |access-date= April 2, 2011}}</ref>
Livemocha is a ]-based ] that is attempting to redefine the way in which people learn languages through the use of an online community of ] of different languages (]), interactive online lessons and ] technologies. The system aims to create a level of ] that is not possible with the use of traditional language learning tools such as ]s and ]s.


The site received attention from trade publications and national and international newspapers, including the '']''<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|last=Wayner|first=Peter|title=Learning a Language from an Expert, on the Web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/technology/personaltech/29basics.html|access-date=4 January 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 28, 2010}}</ref><ref name="nytimes_a">{{cite news|last=Eisenberg|first=Anne|title=Learning from a Native Speaker, Without Leaving Home|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/business/17novel.html|access-date=4 January 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 17, 2008}}</ref> and the ''Financial Times''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hoare|first=Stephen|title=Communication: Students Appreciate Polyglot Approach|url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/c1cf5952-4b72-11e0-89d8-00144feab49a.html#axzz1h6dSwyPe|access-date=5 January 2012|newspaper=Financial Times|date=March 14, 2011}}</ref> '']'' magazine named Livemocha one of its 50 Best Websites in 2010.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=50 Best Websites 2010|magazine=Time Magazine|date=August 25, 2010|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2012721_2012929_2012923,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828102138/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2012721_2012929_2012923,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 28, 2010|access-date=5 January 2012}}</ref>
Livemocha is the first major language learning tool based on social networking technologies. Lessons are provided for thirty languages; ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ], which is the most recent addition. Other tools such as translators are provided for a variety of other languages. It is possible to vote for new languages to be introduced, and more will become available over time. Languages that should be introduced shortly are: ], ], ], ], ] and ].


On April 2, 2013, ] announced that it had acquired Livemocha.<ref name="rs_press_release">{{cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130402005459/en/Rosetta-Stone-Acquires-Online-Language-Company-Livemocha|title= Rosetta Stone Acquires Online Language Company Livemocha |publisher=BusinessWire|date= 2 April 2013 |access-date=13 April 2017}}</ref> Shortly afterwards, the Livemocha website required users' computers to have proprietary ] ] or ], blocking access from ] operating systems. On January 8, 2014, Livemocha closed access to its legacy website.<ref name="rs_Internal_document">{internal email}</ref>
Several national newspapers (including '']'')<ref>"Learning From a Native Speaker, Without Leaving Home", ANNE EISENBERG, ], http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/business/17novel.html?_r=1&em&ex=1203483600&en=cde38341fd5cbf9f&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin , February 17, 2008.</ref> have included articles about Livemocha's language tools since its early development stages.<ref>"Not lost in translation: Livemocha blends language instruction with social networking, picks up $6M Series A", ''The Deal.com'', Mary Kathleen Flynn, January 24, 2008. Accessed 18 April 2008.</ref><ref>"The social network where you can't understand anyone: Livemocha", ''Webware (Cnet)'', Rafe Needleman, September 24, 2007. Accessed 18 April 2008.</ref><ref>Learning Languages in Context: Startup Live Mocha leverages social networking to teach foreign languages, ''Technology Review'', Erica Naone, October 5 2007. Accessed 18 April 2008.</ref>


In 2016, Livemocha's website posted an announcement<ref></ref> saying: {{cquote|Unfortunately, the Livemocha community will close permanently on Friday, April 22, 2016, and you will no longer be able to access your account after that date.}}
According to John Cook's Venture Blog, Livemocha was easily Seattle's biggest moving startup company in Autumn 2007.<ref>"Top Seattle startups: Intelius, Zillow, iLike, etc." http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/venture/archives/124855.asp, John Cook's Venture Blog. Accessed 18 April 2008.</ref> According to CEO Shirish Nadkarni, Livemocha has over 2,000,000 users from over 200 countries as of March 2008. <ref name="CIOL1">"Livemocha eyes one million users this year", Pratima Harigunani, '''CIOL Network''', http://www.ciol.com/News/News-Reports/Livemocha-eyes-one-million-users-this-year/1408104872/0/ , April 01 2008</ref>


==Development== ==Basic courses==
Livemocha is no longer a beta, and is official as of 2009. The standard lessons are free which focus on courses ranging from 30–50 hours, though they also offer "premium" lessons for a fee, starting at $12 ]. <ref>http://www.livemocha.com/premium_courses/packages/country:US/course:1/sourceid:sihp2</ref>


Livemocha supported 38 languages: ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ], which was the most recent addition.
Lessons for four additional languages were supplied in April 2008 and a further two were added by May 2008.<ref name="CIOL1"/> An additional one Korean, was added in February 2009. Arabic was added March 2009. With Ukrainian, Turkish, Polish, and European Portuguese added in April 2009, Greek, Dutch and Estonian were added in May 2009, and Romanian was added in June 2009. As well as Persian/Farsi being added in July, making 22 languages available for study.


The site could be viewed in 12 different languages: ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].
Also livemocha.com offers three paid courses: Premium American English 101, Premium Spanish 101 and Premium French 101. Where members pay a small fee for group tutoring sessions and grammar guides plus other material not available with the free content. They also offer 6 "Travel Crash Courses" for American English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. These crash courses offer the members useful phrases needed for vacation in foreign countries, plus MP3 downloads and other content is also included in the crash courses. Other plans include partnerships with language institutes, certifications and online classroom instruction.<ref name="CIOL1"/>


Free basic courses were offered in all the above languages, consisting of roughly 30–50 hours of coursework. Several languages, like ] and Brazilian Portuguese, were first added to Livemocha through the process of "Member Translation": members fluent in two or more languages could translate already available course materials into their native tongue and publish the results on the site, with other users rating and improving the translations.
⚫ ==Finance==
In January 2008, Livemocha announced that it had secured $6 million in funding from a venture capital firm.<ref>"Livemocha Secures $6 Million in Venture Capital Series A Funding Led by Maveron: Funding to Accelerate Popular Language Learning Site’s Functionality and Growth", http://www.livemocha.com/pages/pr/01152008, January 15, 2008. Accessed 18 April 2008.</ref>


==References== ==Active courses==
More advanced courses — called "Active Courses" — were available in five languages: ], ], ], ] and ]. These courses required a monthly or annual fee and were intended to achieve conversational fluency. Instead of signing up for one particular course, users could opt to purchase the "Gold Key" which granted unlimited access to premium or paid content. The active courses proceeded through four levels of proficiency, and included reading, writing, speaking, and listening exercises.
{{reflist}}

==Peer feedback==
Each reviewer earned 20 tokens for reviewing a user's submission. The reviewer could earn an extra 10 tokens for the first review of the passage or conversation. The writing was rated using three criteria: spelling, proficiency, and grammar. The speaking was rated using two criteria: pronunciation and proficiency. Each submission from a basic course for peer review cost 120 tokens.

==Member reviews==

Completed exercises from both basic and active courses could be sent out for review by other members (native or fluent speakers), who provided feedback and tips. Members could also pay for "Expert Reviews" from language teachers that had been certified by Livemocha for 120 tokens. The user could rate the quality of these reviews, and choose to work with a particular expert reviewer. Private instruction sessions, conducted via video chat with a selected tutor, were also available for purchase.

Members earned "Mochapoints" by completing exercises and reviewing other people's submissions. These points are not to be confused with the tokens. The tokens were earned for rating other people's submissions, or from paying a set fee in real life currency for a certain number of tokens. Mochapoints were a way to keep track of one's progress and to compare the amount of time a user has put into the website compared to others. A user gained Mochapoints for entering submissions, grading other people's submissions, chatting with other users, etc. They could not be spent for content access in the same way that the tokens could be.

==Language learning and social networks==

Livemocha called itself the largest language learning community in the world. In many ways it operated like a social networking site, and the basic ethos of the system was peer-to-peer: registered members could engage in synchronous and asynchronous communication, make a personal profile, connect with a circle of friends, upload content (there was a page dedicated to cultural exchange), contribute translations and help expand the base of available languages, and review other members’ work, such as recorded dialogues from lessons. It was referred to as "the Facebook of foreign languages,"<ref>{{cite web|last=Myers|first=Aaron G.|title=Best Language Learning Resources: Livemocha|url=http://www.everydaylanguagelearner.com/2011/02/21/best-language-learning-resources-livemocha/|publisher=The Everyday Language Learner|access-date=4 January 2012|date=February 21, 2011|archive-date=14 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714095811/http://www.everydaylanguagelearner.com/2011/02/21/best-language-learning-resources-livemocha/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Posgate|first=Natalie|title=Learn a new language through social media, the Web, or mobile apps|url=http://www.smudailycampus.com/pony-post-learn-a-new-language-through-social-media-the-web-or-mobile-apps-1.2691479#.Ttz64M20Z15|access-date=4 January 2012|newspaper=The Daily Campus|date=November 9, 2011|archive-date=21 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121094749/http://www.smudailycampus.com/pony-post-learn-a-new-language-through-social-media-the-web-or-mobile-apps-1.2691479#.Ttz64M20Z15|url-status=dead}}</ref> and its potential impact on conventional language teaching compared to that of Misplaced Pages on the traditional encyclopedia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Livemocha Review|url=http://learn-english-review.toptenreviews.com/livemocha-review.html|publisher=TopTenREVIEWS|access-date=4 January 2012|archive-date=15 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615060211/http://learn-english-review.toptenreviews.com/livemocha-review.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> One reviewer of the site observed, "With its unparalleled ability to connect people throughout the world, is changing the way that many people learn languages. There is still no way to avoid the hard slog through vocabulary lists and grammar rules, but the books, tapes and even CDs of yesteryear are being replaced by e-mail, video chats and social networks."<ref name="nytimes" />

==Partnership in Brazil==
In September 2011, Livemocha announced a partnership with the Brazilian education company Abril Educação, part of the media conglomerate Grupo Abril, which purchased a 5.9% stake in the company. Abril Educação promoted Livemocha to consumers and organizations throughout Brazil, with the aim of catering to the rising demand for language education and helping the country prepare to host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gill|first=Martha|title=Brazil: Learning Inglês by Internet|url=http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2011/09/09/brazil-learning-ingles-by-internet/#axzz1h6dxHdE7|access-date=4 January 2012|newspaper=Financial Times|date=September 9, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Winkler|first=Kirsten|title=Abril Educacao buys 5.9% of Livemocha—Building English Learning Platform for Brazil's Middle Class|url=http://www.edukwest.com/abril-educacao-buys-5-9-of-livemocha-building-english-learning-platform-for-brazils-middle-class/|access-date=4 January 2012|newspaper=Edukwest|date=September 5, 2011}}</ref> In January 2011, Livemocha announced an agreement with Telefônica Brasil to offer its Internet customers discounted pricing on Livemocha's English courses.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cook|first=John|title=Livemocha inks marketing pact with Telefonica Brazil|url=http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2011/01/livemocha-partners-with-telefonica.html|publisher=TechFlash|access-date=4 January 2012}}</ref>

==Public libraries==
Access to Livemocha's courses was available for free through a number of public libraries in the US that subscribe to the site, including the .<ref>{{cite news|last=Cook|first=John|title=Livemocha opens door on language learning at Seattle Public Library|url=http://www.geekwire.com/2011/livemocha-opens-door-language-learning-seattle-public-libraries|work=GeekWire|access-date=4 January 2012}}</ref>

⚫ ==Finance==
Livemocha was a privately held company. In 2011, it raised 5 million dollars in venture capital.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lamm|first=Greg|title=LiveMocha raises $5M|url=http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2011/07/bellevue-startup-livemocha-raises-5m.html|publisher=TechFlash|access-date=4 January 2012}}</ref> In previous years it raised 14 million dollars from investors August Capital and Maveron.<ref>"Livemocha Secures $6 Million in Venture Capital Series A Funding Led by Maveron: Funding to Accelerate Popular Language Learning Site’s Functionality and Growth", http://www.livemocha.com/pages/pr/01152008, January 15, 2008. Accessed 18 April 2008.</ref><ref>"Livemocha Bags Another $8 Million From August Capital, Maveron", https://techcrunch.com/2009/12/22/livemocha-series-b-funding/</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
⚫ *]
*] *]
*]
*]
⚫ *]
*]


==External links== ==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
*


==Further reading==
⚫ ]
*{{cite journal |first1=Min Jung |last1=Jee |first2=Min Jung |last2=Park |year=2009 |title=Livemocha as an Online Language-Learning Community |url=https://calico.org/html/article_751.pdf |journal=CALICO Journal |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=448–56 |doi=10.1558/cj.v26i2.448-456 |access-date=2011-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426051639/https://calico.org/html/article_751.pdf |archive-date=2012-04-26 |url-status=dead }}
]
*{{cite web |first1=Jayant |last1=Venkatanathan |year=2009 |title=Help Me Learn! : Disparities in the Distribution of Languages in the Livemocha Community |url=http://hci.uma.pt/courses/socialweb10F/projects/2009.livemocha.paper.pdf |access-date=2011-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324114634/http://hci.uma.pt/courses/socialweb10F/projects/2009.livemocha.paper.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-24 |url-status=dead }}
⚫ ]
*{{cite book |first1=Cameron |last1=Clark |first2=Paul |last2=Gruba |year=2010 |chapter=The Use of Social Networking Sites for Foreign Language Learning: An Autoethnographic Study of ''Livemocha'' |chapter-url=http://ascilite.org.au/conferences/sydney10/procs/Cclark-full.pdf |pages=164–73 |editor1-first=C. H. |editor1-last=Steel |editor2-first=M. J. |editor2-last=Keppell |editor3-first=P. |editor3-last=Gerbic |editor4-first=S. |display-editors=3 |editor4-last=Housego |title=Curriculum, Technology & Transformation for an Unknown Future |access-date=2011-12-14 |archive-date=2012-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116131954/http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/sydney10/procs/Cclark-full.pdf |url-status=dead }}
⚫ ]
*{{cite news |first=Peter |last=Wayner |date=July 28, 2010 |title=Learning a Language From an Expert, on the Web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/technology/personaltech/29basics.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 14, 2011}}
⚫ ]
*{{cite journal|last=Liaw|first=Meei-Ling|title=Review of Livemocha|journal=Language Learning & Technology|date=February 2011|volume=15|issue=1|url=http://llt.msu.edu/issues/february2011/review4.pdf|access-date=4 January 2012}}


⚫ ]
]
⚫ ]
]
⚫ ]
]
]
⚫ ]
]
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]

Latest revision as of 06:55, 27 April 2024

Livemocha
Type of siteSocial network service
Available inAmerican English, Arabic, Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Esperanto, Estonian, Persian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Mandarin Chinese, Norwegian (Bokmål), Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Urdu
OwnerLivemocha, inc.
Created byShirish Nadkarni, Co-Founder; Krishnan Seshadrinathan, Co-Founder; Michael Schutzler, Current CEO
Revenueundisclosed
URLhttp://livemocha.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationRequired for some services
Launched24 Sep 2007
Current statusinactive

Livemocha was an online language learning community based in Seattle, Washington. It provided instructional materials in 38 languages and a platform for speakers to interact with and help each other learn new languages. According to the site, it had approximately 12 million registered members from 196 countries around the globe. It was free to join and use; however, it offered the option to pay for various benefits. In 2012, 400,000 users visited the site daily.

History

The company was founded in 2007 by Raghav Kher, Shirish Nadkarni and Krishnan Seshadrinathan. They conceived the idea for a web-based approach which utilized the power of social networking sites for language learning, with an emphasis on active participation and exchange in order to hone practical skills and conversational fluency. The name "Livemocha" was coined by the founders during a brainstorming session at a local café, and was meant to evoke the relaxed atmosphere of a coffee shop. On June 8, 2010, Michael Schutzler was announced as the new CEO.

The site received attention from trade publications and national and international newspapers, including the New York Times and the Financial Times. Time magazine named Livemocha one of its 50 Best Websites in 2010.

On April 2, 2013, Rosetta Stone announced that it had acquired Livemocha. Shortly afterwards, the Livemocha website required users' computers to have proprietary operating system Windows or Mac OS, blocking access from free software operating systems. On January 8, 2014, Livemocha closed access to its legacy website.

In 2016, Livemocha's website posted an announcement saying:

Unfortunately, the Livemocha community will close permanently on Friday, April 22, 2016, and you will no longer be able to access your account after that date.

Basic courses

Livemocha supported 38 languages: English, Arabic, Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Estonian, Persian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Mandarin Chinese, Norwegian (Bokmål), Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Esperanto, which was the most recent addition.

The site could be viewed in 12 different languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish.

Free basic courses were offered in all the above languages, consisting of roughly 30–50 hours of coursework. Several languages, like Lithuanian and Brazilian Portuguese, were first added to Livemocha through the process of "Member Translation": members fluent in two or more languages could translate already available course materials into their native tongue and publish the results on the site, with other users rating and improving the translations.

Active courses

More advanced courses — called "Active Courses" — were available in five languages: English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. These courses required a monthly or annual fee and were intended to achieve conversational fluency. Instead of signing up for one particular course, users could opt to purchase the "Gold Key" which granted unlimited access to premium or paid content. The active courses proceeded through four levels of proficiency, and included reading, writing, speaking, and listening exercises.

Peer feedback

Each reviewer earned 20 tokens for reviewing a user's submission. The reviewer could earn an extra 10 tokens for the first review of the passage or conversation. The writing was rated using three criteria: spelling, proficiency, and grammar. The speaking was rated using two criteria: pronunciation and proficiency. Each submission from a basic course for peer review cost 120 tokens.

Member reviews

Completed exercises from both basic and active courses could be sent out for review by other members (native or fluent speakers), who provided feedback and tips. Members could also pay for "Expert Reviews" from language teachers that had been certified by Livemocha for 120 tokens. The user could rate the quality of these reviews, and choose to work with a particular expert reviewer. Private instruction sessions, conducted via video chat with a selected tutor, were also available for purchase.

Members earned "Mochapoints" by completing exercises and reviewing other people's submissions. These points are not to be confused with the tokens. The tokens were earned for rating other people's submissions, or from paying a set fee in real life currency for a certain number of tokens. Mochapoints were a way to keep track of one's progress and to compare the amount of time a user has put into the website compared to others. A user gained Mochapoints for entering submissions, grading other people's submissions, chatting with other users, etc. They could not be spent for content access in the same way that the tokens could be.

Language learning and social networks

Livemocha called itself the largest language learning community in the world. In many ways it operated like a social networking site, and the basic ethos of the system was peer-to-peer: registered members could engage in synchronous and asynchronous communication, make a personal profile, connect with a circle of friends, upload content (there was a page dedicated to cultural exchange), contribute translations and help expand the base of available languages, and review other members’ work, such as recorded dialogues from lessons. It was referred to as "the Facebook of foreign languages," and its potential impact on conventional language teaching compared to that of Misplaced Pages on the traditional encyclopedia. One reviewer of the site observed, "With its unparalleled ability to connect people throughout the world, is changing the way that many people learn languages. There is still no way to avoid the hard slog through vocabulary lists and grammar rules, but the books, tapes and even CDs of yesteryear are being replaced by e-mail, video chats and social networks."

Partnership in Brazil

In September 2011, Livemocha announced a partnership with the Brazilian education company Abril Educação, part of the media conglomerate Grupo Abril, which purchased a 5.9% stake in the company. Abril Educação promoted Livemocha to consumers and organizations throughout Brazil, with the aim of catering to the rising demand for language education and helping the country prepare to host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. In January 2011, Livemocha announced an agreement with Telefônica Brasil to offer its Internet customers discounted pricing on Livemocha's English courses.

Public libraries

Access to Livemocha's courses was available for free through a number of public libraries in the US that subscribe to the site, including the Seattle Public Library.

Finance

Livemocha was a privately held company. In 2011, it raised 5 million dollars in venture capital. In previous years it raised 14 million dollars from investors August Capital and Maveron.

See also

References

  1. "Livemocha statistics". Wolfram Alpha. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  2. Khalili, Joel (2021-10-02). "A serial entrepreneur on what makes and breaks a new business". TechRadar. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  3. Schmidt, Clint (Spring 2010). "Livemocha and the Power of Social Language Learning". IH Journal of Education and Development (28).
  4. Huang, Gregory T. (June 8, 2010). "Schutzler Joins Livemocha as New CEO". www.seattlepi.com: Hearst Newspapers. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  5. ^ Wayner, Peter (July 28, 2010). "Learning a Language from an Expert, on the Web". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  6. Eisenberg, Anne (February 17, 2008). "Learning from a Native Speaker, Without Leaving Home". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  7. Hoare, Stephen (March 14, 2011). "Communication: Students Appreciate Polyglot Approach". Financial Times. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  8. "50 Best Websites 2010". Time Magazine. August 25, 2010. Archived from the original on August 28, 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  9. "Rosetta Stone Acquires Online Language Company Livemocha". BusinessWire. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  10. {internal email}
  11. |URL where announcement appears as of 3/23/2016
  12. Myers, Aaron G. (February 21, 2011). "Best Language Learning Resources: Livemocha". The Everyday Language Learner. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  13. Posgate, Natalie (November 9, 2011). "Learn a new language through social media, the Web, or mobile apps". The Daily Campus. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  14. "Livemocha Review". TopTenREVIEWS. Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  15. Gill, Martha (September 9, 2011). "Brazil: Learning Inglês by Internet". Financial Times. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
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Further reading

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