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Setting up a High-Tech Language School?

Posted by Cliff on from the effective-use-of-technology-to-enhance dept.

Bakerybob writes "My wife and I are currently setting up a small Japanese language school, and I am in charge of all of the technical aspects, with a small but not tiny budget. What would Slashdot recommend as technologies we could use to improve the student experience (and hopefully to interest more students in the school!)? We have the easy bases (free Wifi access for students, a stunningly poorly designed homepage, and a few cheap computers lying around for them to play on between classes) covered, but I'm sure there are a lot of better ideas out there. Has anyone used Moogle? What about online lessons via webcam? Give it your best shot, revolutionary thinkers!"

8 of 332 comments (clear)

  1. Easy by stratjakt · · Score: 1, Funny

    Make sure you instar rinux on arr the computars, kekekekekekeke

    --
    I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
  2. Extreme Language Courses by LithiumX · · Score: 2, Funny

    You need to offer Extreme Language Courses.

    What you do is give them a few hours of very basic vocabulary training, then drug them and transport them to a part of the world that predominantly speaks that langauge, and only that language (ie if it's Japanese, drop them off somewhere in backwoods Japan). Give them a few yen to get started, and leave them to their own resources.

    When they show up at your door (possibly armed), a few months down the line, they will have a far greater command of the language in a short amount of time than they could ever have gotten under direct tutelage. THEN you collect your money, plus the yen you invested in them earlier.

    --
    Do not confuse "Freedom of Choice" with "Free Will".
    1. Re:Extreme Language Courses by Jimmy+The+Leper · · Score: 2, Funny

      I thought the next step after 'drug them' would be 'Put them on a island, each with random weapons, and tell them to kill each other off before 3 days are over'

      I guess that would only force them to respect the older generation, and not learn another language...

      --
      -You're only as clean as your towel.
  3. Don't ask us by Kohath · · Score: 2, Funny

    You're going to need a lot of fancy gadgets. They should be at least 1-2 years ahead of the gadgets you can get in the US.

    Set this up as the home page.

  4. Minor Advice by lbmouse · · Score: 2, Funny

    Don't hire a firm with a name like "Poodle Productions" to do your website.

  5. My suggestion by bonch · · Score: 1, Funny

    Robots. Tiny, round robots that brew coffee in their chests while teaching you Japanese. Get them started in on the culture early.

  6. Re:Oh sure by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 2, Funny

    Everyone knows the only reason to learn any language is to make money.

    Actually, there are other (and pretty stupid) reasons to learn japanese.

  7. Re:Buy Cartoon DVDs for the subtitles by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Because it's critically important for your studants to learn how to shout out "Look out! That giant tentacled demon is molesting that ninja-school girl!"

    (Wait, you mean they make other kinds of cartoons, too?)