[EDLING:888] Learn a New Language In-flight

[Francis M Hult]

CNN International

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/TRAVEL/06/21/bt.inflight.language/

Learn a new language in-flight

Tuesday, June 28, 2005 Posted: 0548 GMT (1348 HKT) 

LONDON, England -- First it was in-flight radio, then came television programs and video 
on demand. Now, interactive language tuition is coming to an airline cabin near you.

On your next flight with Singapore Airlines (SIA) you will be able to choose from learning 
programs covering 11 languages. Courses include numbers, dates, phrases and dialogue.

This month, the Asian airline will be one of the first carriers in the world to offer 
language tutorials on its in-flight entertainment system -- KrisWorld.

"The new language learning service is designed to equip [passengers] with a practical 
grasp of a foreign language through the use of key words and phrases," says Betty Wong 
from Singapore Airlines' in-flight services.

SIA has teamed up with American language school Berlitz International to offer crash 
courses in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Russian, Portuguese, 
Mandarin, Cantonese and Japanese.

There are a number of games and a pronunciation function to facilitate learning in a fun, 
interesting way. There are also a number of self-tests.

Those who complete a course get e-mailed a certificate. From late 2005, more than 20 
languages will be introduced.

The service was started in July 2004, but only on a small number of SIA aircraft flying 
from New York and Los Angeles to Singapore.

According to Singapore's Straits Times newspaper, the service is now available on more 
than two-thirds of the Singapore Airlines fleet of 90 aircraft.