Latest news with #Babbel
Indianapolis Star
4 hours ago
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
10 lifetime subscriptions on sale for up to 94% off: Microsoft, QuickBooks, Babbel
AI-assisted summary USA TODAY Shopping highlights deals on lifetime subscriptions for software, apps and programs. The deals offer savings on essential software like Microsoft Office, language learning programs, productivity tools, and data security solutions. Readers can find additional deals on items like cloud storage, photo editing software, and online form builders. Whether you're setting up a new laptop or desktop for a college-bound student, or simply looking to refresh your current computer, we've got you covered! We've rounded up fantastic deals on software, apps and other digital programs all with lifetime subscriptions. These lifetime subscriptions aren't just for getting new computers up and running with essentials like Microsoft Office; they can also help you learn a new language, boost your productivity at work, manage finances and even keep your data secure. 10 lifetime subscriptions on sale now 1. The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows 2. Intuit QuickBooks Desktop Pro Plus 2024 4. Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription 5. Microsoft Visio 2021 Professional 6. FastestVPN: Lifetime Subscription 7. Password Boss Premium: Lifetime Subscription 9. BelkaVPN: Lifetime Subscription 10. DoRoyal Website Hosting: Lifetime Subscription DoRoyal Website Hosting: Lifetime Subscription This website hosting features everything you need to get a website up and running in as little time as possible. Save 77% now Shop other popular deals our readers are loving
Observer
a day ago
- Observer
How to pick up the local language before you go
There are plenty of reasons to learn a foreign language before you travel. Perhaps you're venturing beyond major tourist centers, or you want to be prepared for emergencies. Whatever the reason, speaking even a few words of the local language with residents can quickly elevate you from mere tourist to sympathetic traveler. 'This tiny interaction instantly connects you,' said Mary Green, vice president and executive editor of Pimsleur Language Programs, in an email. 'That's the feeling travelers are chasing. You're not just passing through, but actually engaging and connecting.' Fortunately, there are lots of ways to learn languages, and getting started is affordable or even free. Start simply and build from there Aim to reach a 'survival level' before you travel. That means abandoning your inhibitions and not getting hung up on grammar or achieving proficiency, said Thomas Sauer, assistant director of resource development for the National Foreign Language Center at the University of Maryland. Travelers can connect and communicate surprisingly well at this level, which he described as a speaking style, akin to that of a toddler, that gets the point across. For Brandon Shaw, a co-owner of the Tour Guy, a company providing specialized tours in Europe and North America, reaching survival level means focusing on a core of essential verbs (including 'go,' 'see,' 'eat,' 'drink,' 'have,' 'do' and 'be'), then learning a small vocabulary of other words centered on your particular interests for a given trip. 'Then you can build a hundred sentences around that,' Shaw said. Learning those 'right words' doesn't happen overnight. Getting beyond the transactional tourist tropes of 'Where's the bathroom?' and 'Check, please,' for example, can take anywhere from one to three months of daily practice, although everyone learns differently. As with a fitness program, you get out of language study what you put in. The trick is finding what works for you. Hit the apps Diplomats, CEOs and missionaries often learn languages in high-intensity, immersive environments with dedicated instructors. For the rest of us, an app is often the first step. Esther Gutierrez Eugenio, a language learning expert from Geneva, said apps can be helpful — she prefers Babbel — but encouraged learners to test several options. More important than any specific app or method is to get started right away, she said, and practice every day. Shorter, consistent sessions are more effective than longer, sporadic ones. 'There's a big time and effort commitment when you learn a language. So you need to find something that you enjoy,' making it more fun to practice regularly, she added. Test out different apps like Duolingo, Babbel, Memrise, and Busuu, which all offer either free versions or free trials, to see which one works for you. Eugenio recommends systems that employ spaced repetition, an evidence-based learning technique that reviews and repeats material at increasing intervals. Some apps, like Duolingo, use spaced repetition, but don't always provide authentic cultural context, which is important for learning intuitively, said Sauer. Eugenio said some of her clients have had success conversing and drilling with artificial intelligence chatbots in voice mode. And Google, whose Translate app is already indispensable for travelers, recently released Little Language Lessons, a free, customizable, interactive tool that uses AI. Speaking with another person can help you make progress, Sauer said, and apps like HelloTalk or Tandem, which both offer free versions, can be a good way to find a partner who speaks your target language and wants to learn English. You can also check out the Language Learning Community on the social platform Discord. For an entertaining way to learn, stream a foreign movie or TV show, turn on the English subtitles, and try to follow along. To improve listening comprehension, cue up music in a foreign language and view the lyrics using Apple Music or Spotify. If apps aren't your thing, consider time-tested alternatives such as in-person classes, language groups, practice sessions with a fluent friend, books, audio guides or flash cards. Many of these resources are free at your local library. Be brave, and resist falling back on English Don't fear being laughed at or scolded for speaking imperfectly, said Massimo Macchiavello, the marketing manager for Posta, a destination management company in Buenos Aires, Argentina. When visitors speak to him in broken Spanish, Macchiavello said, 'It's easy to see they are making an effort to communicate, and in that effort, there comes a bond with us.' Once you're at your destination, resist the urge to initiate or respond in English, and try to speak the local language whenever people are receptive. It's fine to seek help with pronunciation or in finding the right word, or to ask speakers to slow down or repeat themselves, Macchiavello said. You're going to make mistakes and run into limits, and that's all right. Or as Green said: 'You don't need thousands of words, just the right ones, and the confidence to use them.' This article originally appeared in
Fast Company
3 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
4 new AI tools that are worth your time
Four new AI tools caught my attention recently for solving specific problems well. They are free to try and quick to learn, and they point toward where AI is heading. 1. Lovart: Create a brand kit or marketing campaign with an AI design agent Lovart 's conversational interface allows you to generate posters, social posts, branding kits, storyboards—even packaging. Unlike other image generation tools, you can generate dozens of images from a single prompt, then iterate on the results in a chat dialogue. You can also edit the images. I used an eraser to remove stray text in a promo poster. Pricing: Free (limited use), or $15 to $26/month billed annually for additional usage and pro models. 2. Little Language Lessons: Brush up on French, Spanish, or other languages Polish your linguistic skills in three different ways using Google's Little Language Lessons. Unlike Duolingo, Babbel, and other subscription language-learning systems, this is completely free. It's just for micro-learning—picking up some words, phrases, and grammar—not for developing full fluency. Tiny Lessons: Pick from a long list of languages and type in a scenario—like hosting a meeting or going to a concert. Learn related words and phrases. Slang Hang: Catch up on popular new chitchat by watching a conversation thread between native speakers. While listening, you'll see the translation. Word Cam: Snap a picture to get translations of objects in the image, along with related phrases. Tip: Use this app on a mobile device—it will be handier for capturing images than your computer's webcam. 3. Gemini Scheduled Actions: Set up simple AI automations Scheduled actions are an emerging format where AI assistants send you personalized updates. You design the task and choose its frequency. ChatGPT Tasks, Perplexity Tasks, and Gemini's Scheduled Actions are three I've been testing. Get notified when a task is completed by email, push notification, or within the app. Here are a few examples. Generate a summary of headlines on your niche topic. I get positive news memos to counter the weight of news negativity. Ask for one-sentence takeaways, source links, specific subtopics, or whatever else interests you. Get weather-related wardrobe suggestions. Create morning weather updates with outfit ideas based on a list of wardrobe items you provide for personalized guidance. Plan a creative spark moment. Get a daily—or weekly—prompt for a creative activity: writing, drawing, journaling, cooking, or whatever you love. Catch up on your favorite teams, shows, or bands. Request updates on your favorite artists or athletes. Unlike services like Google Alerts, these AI actions let you use natural language to detail your personal interests. Explore new restaurants to try. Ask for a weekly summary of new nearby eateries, cafés, or dessert spots, with whatever criteria matters to you most. 4. MyLens: Create an infographic from a link, YouTube video, or text Creating infographics can be complicated and time-consuming. I've been experimenting with MyLens to convert raw material into visuals. How it works: Paste in text or upload a PDF, image, or CSV/Excel file. Or add a link to a site, article, or YouTube video. What you can make: Generate timelines, flowcharts, tables, or quadrant diagrams. Or upload data to create line, bar, or doughnut charts. 📺 Watch MyLens's one-minute demo video to see it in action. Pricing: Free to create three non-editable, public infographics ('stories') a day, or $9/month billed annually for 300 monthly editable creations.
Gulf Today
4 days ago
- General
- Gulf Today
‘Sorry' is one word, why are we so bad at apologising?
Olivia Petter, The Independent Saying 'sorry' is easy. It's just one word, two syllables. You can say it faster than you can sneeze. Meaning it, however, is a lot harder. According to research commissioned by the language-learning platform Babbel, Britons have 15 uses for the word, with just one of them meaning regret. So seemingly sorry are we all the time that we don't even know what it means any more. Here are some of the ways we're using 'sorry' incorrectly: to ask someone to move out of the way. To ask someone to repeat themselves. To show empathy. To express disbelief. To disagree. To mock. And, if we're British, to preface literally any sentence ever. 'In British English, 'sorry' has evolved beyond its original role as an expression of remorse,' explains Noël Wolf, cultural and linguistic expert at Babbel, whose research also found that we use the word 'sorry' an average of nine times a day. 'It now serves as a social lubricant and a flexible tool of communication used in all sorts of everyday interactions.' It also reflects our nationwide desire to avoid conflict by way of old-fashioned, sturdy politeness. We keep calm and carry on, as is the British way. 'In a culture where directness can feel impolite, and personal space, both emotional and physical, is protected, 'sorry' can smooth over moments of friction, no matter how minor,' says Wolf. The problem with such an overuse of the word is that it has become diluted beyond recognition, and now we're unsure how to apologise properly for something that actually warrants remorse. How can any of us truly be sorry if we don't know how to say it? If we're saying it too much, does the word even mean anything any more? And why do so many of us resort to insipid platitudes when apologising? Few sentences are more grating to hear than 'Sorry if I upset you...' These are some of the questions asked by Marjorie Ingall and Susan McCarthy in their book Getting to Sorry: The Art of Apology at Work and at Home, which examines the reasons why we might be wired to apologise badly, in both our professional and our personal lives, and why it's holding us back from having meaningful relationships with others – and with ourselves. A central tenet of their argument relates to the rise of celebrity apologies: public statements made via social media, or representatives, that are designed to enshrine the celebrity's reputation by minimising bad behaviour. Or occasionally denying it altogether. We've seen this play out countless times in the public eye, with everyone from Drew Barrymore and Lena Dunham to Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis issuing statements to address allegations against them. Not to mention Britain's endless list of terribly sorry politicians. Often, the apologies are long-winded, PR-executed masterpieces. Occasionally, they're laughably weak and serve as the jumping-off point for an entirely new genre of meme; there are, in fact, several lists compiling the 'worst celebrity apologies'. 'They tend to centre the person apologising rather than the people receiving the apology,' says Ingall. 'Rarely do they say exactly what they're apologising for, making them sound fake and like clear attempts to squirm out of trouble rather than a legitimate attempt to make amends.' The result, Ingall posits, is that they set a precedent for apologising badly; for finding every excuse possible to shift the blame and avoid taking accountability, in a bid to protect our reputation – as if we, too, have a globally recognised public image to consider. 'This is because our brains are designed to protect us, to help us see ourselves as the hero of our own story,' explains Ingall. 'If we didn't think we were decent people, it would be hard to get through the day. This means that when we're faced with the cognitive dissonance of 'I'm a good person but I did a bad thing', we tend to fix that uncomfortable dissonance by telling ourselves what we did wasn't really that awful, that we don't really have to apologise, and that the other person always overreacts.'
CNET
6 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Learn 14 Babbel Languages for Just $159 With This StackSocial Lifetime Access Offer
If you're traveling internationally this summer, now is definitely the time to start brushing up on your language skills. But learning a language can take more time than most of us have, especially if you're starting from scratch. But technology has the answer! Whether you're looking to learn French, Italian or Portuguese, a Babbel subscription can definitely help. Thankfully, StackSocial has a limited-time offer for the language learning platform right now. Act soon and you can get a lifetime subscription to Babbel for only $130 when you apply the coupon code LEARN. That'll save you 60% off the usual asking price, and it's the kind of deal that you definitely don't want to sleep on. Unfortunately, this kind of deal doesn't normally stick around for long. Babbel's extensive language software includes French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Swedish. Lessons are short so you won't find yourself overwhelmed with information. Skill levels range from beginner to advanced and the content is self-paced. And it's right at your fingertips, perfect for any busy person. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Babbel's speech recognition software offers instant feedback so you know what you're doing right and where things can be improved and personalized review sessions help reinforce what you've already learned. The Babbel app works on phones and computers and while you do need an internet connection to get the most out of it, an offline mode provides access to key features if you download them ahead of time. Why this deal matters A lifetime subscription is always a good way to avoid adding another monthly fee to your growing collection and it removes the pressure of putting a restrictive timeline on your learning. Plus, buying lifetime access directly from Babbel would normally cost $599. Even with the current promotion, this StackSocial deal beats the price by a long shot. Just make sure to order your subscription before this deal ends tonight and remember that you have only 30 days after your purchase to redeem the subscription. Note: Although this is advertised as a lifetime subscription, there are no guarantees that purchases will be supported for life. As we've seen in the past, a change of ownership, a service shutting down or some other unforeseen circumstance may result in your lifetime subscription ending sooner than anticipated.
