BETA LAUNCH

LANGUAGE IS A HUMAN RIGHT CAMPAIGN

The Campaign opens with the beta launch of El Book, free downloadable helpware for disadvantaged immigrants who need basic English.

Hollywood, Fl, November 12th, 2008. The Language is a Human Right Campaign, an initiative of not-for-profit Fluenz.org, launches the beta version of El Book.

El Book is a free downloadable program containing a booklet and a companion MP3 file designed to help disadvantaged immigrants and refugees of Hispanic origin learn very basic English. The objective is to mobilize concerned people, organizations, and institutions to download it and pass it on to those in need.

Made up of a few simple black and white pages, El Book can be printed and home and stapled. It can work on its own or accompanied by an MP3 file that may be downloaded and burned on to a CD. The audio track features Latin American soap star Daniela Alvarado and Fluenz co-founder Sonia Gil, who tutors the program.

"We've created something as simple as a few sheets of paper that can be stapled into a book, but that uses the web to tap into the energy of millions of people who are eager to help in a tangible way. If you don't know anyone in need, someone in your social network will. Whenever people download El Book and pass it along, or forward the link to those who can make a difference, the Campaign is having a real, tangible impact," said Sonia Gil, co-founder at software maker Fluenz.

El Book carves a path through English that helps Spanish speakers learn vocabulary and grammar that is relevant for everyday communication. By systematically comparing the workings of Spanish and English verbs and nouns, learners reach an intuitive understanding of the new language. And by concentrating on expanding the learner's range of communication above all else, this approach can accomplish real results in the least amount of time

"We think we found the right mix: the end user's context required a low tech solution, their needs placed a premium on the best language-learning practices, and the distribution called for tapping a virtual network all over the country. El Book does all of that," said Amy Diaz, the recent Harvard graduate who worked on the project in the summer of 2008.

The Fluenz.org team will work to make El Book widely distributed by individuals, other NGOs, churches, and local and state agencies concerned with the pressing issue of those disadvantaged immigrants and refugees who can’t speak or understand any English.

The Language is a Human Rights Campaign and Fluenz.org are made possible by the resources of language learning software maker Fluenz, the time and inspiration of its employees, and a core of Harvard, Bard, and Brown students who worked on El Book at the Fluenz Lab in the summer of 2008.

The Campaign hopes to produce additional helpware aimed at disadvantaged immigrants and refugees who need to reach minimum fluency in different host countries around the world.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Biewener, 305-323-7284, eric@fluenz.com