What is LingoTeach?

Note to the reader: The following text describes the features which will be available in the upcoming release v0.4.0 of LingoTeach.

The original LingoTeach project was created by Reto Stamm in 1999 with the goal to help people learning foreign languages. It was implemented as a java application and later completely redesigned using Gtk2 and the xml parser library libxml2.

Today it is a full implemented language learning application with a lot of features. It was splitted into several different pieces to make maintenance easier and to make the whole project more modular. Thus LingoTeach is now the user interface. It is far from being perfect, but designed to keep usability as easy as possible (respecting the GNOME human interface guidelines where useful). It comes with a rich set of features, such as multiple language learning at one time, image and sound support and nice, easy to use wizards.

Learn languages or train yourself

In its current version LingoTeach supports learning and training modes, in which users can define their own learning or training sessions to get out the maximum of their abilities. Users can adjust various settings in those modes, such as lesson selections or word amounts.

It is also possible to use 'hints' like image display or transcriptions. While a user is learning or training himself, online statistics are written, which can be displayed at any time to see the progress the user made.

Learning multiple languages at the same time by configuring the session in an appropriate way is another feature, LingoTeach offers. Thus it can be easy for users to see differences or commonnesses of various languages and translations.

Create own lessons

Using the lesson browser and editor, it is easy to create new or modify existing lessons. Exisiting lessons can be modified, so that they fit special needs. New lessons can be created to enhance the learning and training possibilities. Images can be added or modified, new transcriptions can be made or existing ones be edited. The lessons can be searched for specific translations, languages and whatever else, too.

The editor is integrated within the application, which means, that users are able to add descriptions to meanings more or less 'on the fly'. There is no need to fire up an external editor application

Im- and export lessons

Lessons or single meanings can be exported in various formats to use them in other applications or imported from other applications (such as KVocTrain) to use them in LingoTeach. It is also possible to write own filters for the im- and export of specific applications via plugins.

Offline learning

Learning languages using LingoTeach is not bound to interactive learning sitting in front of the computer. LingoTeach offers various printing features such as translation lists or flashcard printing. The data can also be printed to files in various formats (e.g. PS), so they can be integrated in other documents.

Plugin support

Users are not forced to use, what the LingoTeach project team develops and gives to them. They can write own plugins to enhance LingoTeach by new features. And if that is not enough, they can get the source code and modify it to fit their needs.

Others about LingoTeach

Note: This excerpt is taken from the Hindustan Times, for which Niyam Bhushan writes in the HTTech4U section. Permission for publishing this extract in its original, unedited form, on the LingoTeach website was granted by Niyam.