Solothurn, Switzerland – 10 May, 2016 – Today, Speaksli, a semi-finalist in the prestigious MassChallenge Switzerland startup accelerator program, surpassed 750,000 views of its free language learning videos, and also announces its commitment to helping refugees ease the burden of transitioning into their new host countries. The growing refugee crisis has propelled a staggering number of immigrants into foreign lands. The European Union reported that approximately 1.3 million asylum claims were made in Europe in 2015. In 2015 and early 2016, more than one million refugees were counted in Germany’s “EASY” counting system for registering immigrants. Today, the United Nations estimates that Turkey hosts more than 1.7 million refugees. Given immigration of this scale, the rapid and low-cost acquisition of language skills serves as one of the most essential early steps toward successful cultural integration and the obtainment of gainful employment by new immigrants.
Speaksli is an engaging multi-faceted language learning platform combining real-world approaches to learning languages with practical yet entertaining educational content. Speaksli develops free video content to help learners quickly develop confidence and proficiency in a new language at their own pace. The company’s aim is to create simple, affordable and accessible technology solutions to reduce the frustration of learning a new language and adjusting to a new culture. Ultimately, Speaksli hopes to promote international understanding and obviate the development of social conflicts by facilitating language proficiency and communication across cultures.
Dominic Muntanga, former World Bank Education Consultant and former advisor to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education in Zimbabwe says, “The task of learning a new language can be extremely frustrating and confusing. For language learners, the thought of simply giving up is almost always guaranteed to come during the course of learning a new language. However, for immigrants who arrive in a new country by choice, chance or out of circumstance, a basic knowledge of the host society’s language and culture is essential in meeting their daily social and economic needs, as well as in helping them achieve successful integration. Speaksli offers a unique solution to meet this growing need in today’s world.”
According to founder Elizabeth Clark, “Speaksli’s engaging animated videos quickly teach you the essential language skills you need to work, travel, live and love in a foreign country.” The company has helped learners in 196 countries acquire new language skills by developing and distributing free animated videos on the Speaksli YouTube channel (http://youtube.com/speaksli) and on the company’s website (http://www.speaksli.com). The company also recently released the free Speaksli app to provide quick, easy access to learning content and other educational tools.
Speaksli’s new crowdfunding campaign (http://www.gofundme.com/speaksli1) was created to raise funds to create Arabic-to-English, Arabic-to-German and Arabic-to-Turkish video content to help refugees learn their local languages. Visit the campaign link to contribute directly to the fund or to share the campaign with others who want to help improve the lives of refugees.
About Speaksli
Speaksli develops engaging animated language instruction videos to help learners quickly develop confidence and proficiency in a new language at their own pace. The company’s aim is to create simple, affordable and accessible technology solutions to reduce the frustration of learning a new language and adjusting to a new culture. Ultimately, Speaksli hopes to promote international understanding and obviate the development of social conflicts by facilitating language proficiency and communication across cultures. Speaksli’s founder, Elizabeth Cummins, has experience working in Training and Development for Dell Europe, as well as in the communications department at the United States White House. She has over 10 years of experience in mobile technology products and has consulted for several global cloud services companies, including Google and Microsoft. She holds an M.B.A. from The Harvard Business School.
Links:
iOS App: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/speaksli/id1097614387?mt=8
Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.appfe13427e76d5
Windows App: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/apps/speaksli/9nblggh4mt2z
Amazon App: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D2R7O7Y
Crowdfunding Campaign: http://gofundme.com/speaksli1
Photo credit: Flickr | DFID – UK Department for International Development
Media Contact
Company Name: Speaksli
Contact Person: Elizabeth Cummins
Email: info@speaksli.com
Phone: +1-844-773-2575
City: Solothurn
Country: Switzerland
Website: www.speaksli.com