LANGUAGE TRAINING FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Want to know something about LTC’s language training programs but can’t find a quick answer? Check here first!
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?
Our corporate headquarters is located in Indianapolis, Indiana. We also have an office in Orlando, Florida.
WHERE ARE LTC PROGRAMS OFFERED?
We operate language classes in over 40 states in the U.S. as well as in Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa. We have been successfully working worldwide with the federal government since 2000 providing training in over 60 locations nationally and internationally to government linguists.
In addition to on-site courses, we can conduct group classes or even make a home visit if desired. If a face-to-face class is not possible to arrange due to your schedule or location, we offer classes remotely via free platforms like Skype, FaceTime, AdobeConnect, Zoom, and WhatsApp.
HOW DO I GET STARTED WITH MY LANGUAGE CLASSES?
Start by completing the online needs analysis, and we will contact you to chat about your goals plans for study. After an initial discussion, if a language program with LTC sounds like a good fit, we’ll schedule an appointment to speak more in depth about your program either in person or over the phone, and plan your class and curriculum options!
DO YOU RECOMMEND PRIVATE OR GROUP TRAINING?
LTC recommends private training as this gives the participant individualized attention and allows LTC to tailor the program specifically for that person’s needs. Group classes are wonderful forums to support your ongoing one-on-one instruction.
HOW DO I IMPLEMENT A PRIVATE OR GROUP LANGUAGE PROGRAM AT MY WORKPLACE?
Contact us to get the conversation started. One of our language specialists would love to talk with you about your company’s language needs and determine what you want and need for success. Our curriculum coordinators will then develop a program best suited to your business or organization and put together the appropriate schedule for your group language program.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME FLUENT?
That depends. Gaining fluency or proficiency is individual, although there are several factors that play a key role in speeding up the process. These factors include: prior language, how often you practice language out of class, your personal motivation, and your natural language aptitude.
WHAT’S THE ACTFL SCALE, AND HOW CAN I READ IT?
We focus on proficiency (what you can or cannot do) rather than achievement (a numeric score) to assess your language level.
The ACTFL scale was developed by the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages and provides values and ratings for each level of language proficiency. These guidelines represent a hierarchy of global characteristics of performance in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. You can learn more about the ACTFL scale to place, assess, evaluate, certify, hire, and qualify an individual’s language level by clicking here.
How can I read it? The ACTFL guidelines describe a sample of a particular range of ability and include a ten-level scale. Again, each range identifies what it is you can or cannot do in the four linguistic skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
Why do we use the ACTFL scale? We rely on the ACTFL scale as it is currently being used worldwide by academic institutions, government agencies, and private corporations.
WHAT IF SOMEONE ALREADY KNOWS SOME OF THE LANGUAGE?
LTC will assess your language skills by using an online assessment and/or face-to-face assessment. Our language experts will combine and measure the results from your assessments and provide you with your current level and what you need to do to gain proficiency at that level and advance.
HOW DO WE KNOW IF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE PROGRESSING?
LTC can provide a holistic report that includes both global and local descriptions of your employee’s language progress at three key points—beginning, middle, and end. When we enter into an agreement to provide language instruction, we will use the number of total hours purchased (or planned) to determine the time table for the half-way point as well as the end point. Your report will explain what your employee is able to do in the language as well as areas that need more focus.
HOW MANY HOURS DO I NEED TO STUDY?
We recommend adult individuals study a minimum of once per week for 1.5 hours. Individuals who study in increments of 50 hours typically see clear progress throughout the program.
HOW MANY HOURS NEED TO BE PURCHASED AT ONCE?
Hours can be purchased in increments of 10 hours.
HOW IS THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPED?
Our curriculum coordinators carefully design your curriculum and instructional materials by combining information from your needs analysis, assessment(s), purpose of study, time constraints, learning styles, and goals.
Our coordinators work with YOUR instructor to plan a syllabus for your program and design the activities, tasks, and exercises that will make up your class. These include oral, written, and listening exercises as well as readings, role plays, and conversations. Your instructor will also supplement your learning with authentic materials such as podcasts, online resources, and many more!
Your curriculum plan is customized for you!
HOW ARE INSTRUCTORS CHOSEN?
Our instructors love language learning and education and are experienced and trained in our methodology. Their backgrounds are vast, ranging from linguistics to specific languages to education, among other areas of expertise. Instructors at minimum hold Bachelor’s degrees, though many hold advanced degrees.
Each instructor is carefully selected to work with you. Your instructor is selected by a program manager to guide you to achieve your language goals. Your instructors will also report progress, success, and emerging needs to program managers, who will then organize that information and relay it to you as well as any other representative who needs it.
WILL MY TEACHER BE A NATIVE SPEAKER OF THE LANGUAGE I’M STUDYING?
All LTC instructors have native proficiency in the language they teach.
WILL I KEEP THE SAME TEACHER THROUGHOUT MY LANGUAGE PROGRAM?
Probably, yes. Our first choice is always to keep students paired with the same teachers from start to finish. But in some circumstances – for example, if you go on extended vacation, miss 15 consecutive business days, or some other unforeseen issue occurs – you may be placed with a new teacher.
DOES LTC OFFER SCHOOL CREDIT?
Unfortunately no, we cannot arrange to transfer LTC coursework into credits for your school.
WILL LTC SUPPORT MY STUDENT VISA?
Unfortunately, at this time we cannot support student visas.
DO I NEED TO PASS A TEST OR GET ACCEPTED INTO AN LTC COURSE?
No, there are no prerequisites to take an LTC language training course. We welcome everyone, no matter your level of language expertise!