In the dexway community’s forums some of the students are discussing traditional British pie recipes. Here is a link to a video for a lovely ox-tail pie, a perfect meal for a cold evening. If you need any help with the language then the transcript of the narration is below.

Watch the ox-tail pie video…

This is a recipe for a delicious ox-tail pie. It takes a while to prepare so it’s probably best to make it on your day off!

You will need a sharp knife and a chopping board…

Mushrooms, onions, carrots, bay leaves, butter and cooking oil, parsnips, salt and pepper, bacon, thyme, puff pastry, beef, and wine.

Heat up some oil on a high heat in a big pan and brown the ox-tails. When it’s nicely browned, take it out of the pan and put in the vegetables, chop them up if you are using larger, normal sized vegetables; add the bacon, and the thyme and 2 or 3 bay leaves, and cook them on a medium heat for about 10 minutes.

You can use fresh thyme or dry thyme. Dry thyme is actually incredibly rich in iron.

Add a pinch of salt and pepper. And you can also add some garlic if you like.

When the vegetables have softened add the browned ox-tail and some raw braising steak cut into chunks.

Add a glass of wine… actually let’s make that a whole bottle of wine!

Flowers are pretty, but they don’t taste nice in a pie!

Pour hot water into the pot until you cover all the ingredients. Then turn the heat down to a low heat, and put the lid on the pot.

Leave it for 3 or 4 hours.

The flavours are now all beautifully infused. Take the meat and the vegetables out of the pot, leaving the liquid.

Then turn the heat back up to get the liquid boiling vigorously so it reduces in quantity.

Now, find the pieces of ox-tail, wait for them to cool down, and then take the meat off the bone. Throw the bones back into the reducing stock for a little bit of extra flavour.

Then put all the meat and vegetables into a pie dish, I’m using a baking tray, which isn’t ideal, but I broke my pie dish yesterday!

Now it’s time to roll out the puff pastry. I didn’t make the pastry I bought it ready-made in a supermarket.

Once the liquid has reduced to about 10-20% of its original volume, pour it into the pie dish along with the other ingredients.

Turn the oven on to around 190 degrees centigrade.

If you’re using a pie dish you can crimp the pastry onto the rim so it doesn’t touch any of the ingredients below and end up soggy. You should also cut some small holes into the pastry to let the steam out while it’s cooking.

Place the pie in a hot oven for about half an hour, until the pastry is golden-brown.

If you’re not on a diet you can brush the pastry with melted butter for an extra delicious calorific hit!

Enjoy your pie with some steamed green vegetables, like broccoli or asparagus.

LOVELY!

Most of us take language for granted.  It’s just something we learn when we are growing up. How often do you think about what it might be like to communicate without language? How often do you contemplate what it might be like to try and understand your surroundings and even yourself without language?

If you want to learn a foreign language or you speak more than one language, then you are in a privileged position. You have more opportunities in job sectors, you can travel more confidently and learn about different cultures by speaking to local people, and you can also consider how words work and change between different languages.

Walter Bejamin was a philosopher and intellectual who lived from 1892 to 1940 and he had some really amazing ideas about different languages and cultures.  In his essay of 1923, “The Task of the Translator” he discussed how translations of literature often underline aspects that are not so obvious in the original, and that some parts of the original just don’t translate into the target language.  This is one of the things a person learning a new language will discover; there are lots of phrases that don’t have an exact equivalent in another language.

You may be asking, ‘how does this make us philosophers like Walter Benjamin was?’

Well, when you find a phrase that doesn’t really translate word for word into another language you might think about why it doesn’t.  This could lead to a better understanding of what it is we are trying to express with words. Walter Benjamin believed that the difference between languages was the key to philosophical truth. Do you think learning another language can bring you closer to understanding the way your own language works within a specific culture?

After six intense days of networking with over 7,000 international education professionals, dexway made one thing clear at the 2010 NAFSA Conference and Exposition – it’s revolutionizing the way people learn language.

The 2010 NAFSA Conference & Exposition

This year’s conference in Kansas City, Missouri was an overwhelming success and it provided a great opportunity to receive thought-provoking feedback from hundreds of visionary educators.  Visitors from all over the world stopped by dexway’s booth and put its technological brawn to the test as they tinkered with its dynamic interactive multimedia exercises. While guests practiced their pronunciation, dubbed movies and played vocabulary -to- picture match games, dexway eliminated all preexisting communication barriers with its multilingual translation and assistance features. Whether our visitors were from China, Germany, Korea or Australia, dexway brought smiles to their faces as they experienced a language learning method that truly adapts to its user.

In keeping with the theme of the NAFSA Conference, dexway’s creative use technology gave attendees insight into different ways that the globalization of higher education and the creation of socially responsible programs can be achieved. By harnessing the power of elearning and combining it with live teaching and intuitive support, dexway is proving that effective language education can take place from anywhere in the world.

For more information, please visit www.dexway.com

The 2010 ASTD Conference and Exposition has come and gone, living up to its billing as the premier event for workplace learning and performance professionals. Over the span of three days, the conference hosted more than 8,500 attendees and featured special session speakers from over 30 different countries around the globe.

At the 2010 ASTD ICE, visitors of dexway’s booth got a chance to experience our language learning methods truly novel technology and structure. From music dubbing to situational simulation and a host of other multimedia exercises, attendees were able to get hands-on with some of dexway’s unique features and capabilities. Overall, our booth guests were amazed at the depth of dexway’s language courses and their unparalleled combination of rich interactivity and user flexibility.

Many of our international visitors also raved about dexway’s multilingual assistance, which kept them in tune by thoroughly translating coursework material and detailing necessary information in their native language – the type of support that is commonly missing from most language learning programs on the market today. Overall, dexway gave attendees insight into its method’s capability to not only teach the intricacies of language, but prepare students to apply it as well.

In short, the 2010 ASTD ICE was a great success. It provided a platform to connect with leaders in the field of workforce training and educational technologies and show them how dexway is changing the face of language learning.

For more information, please visit  dexway.com

Have you noticed that some of the  most “POPULAR” language learning programs are suddenly getting on board the 21^st century train and offering live online learning?

Learning a language online in the comfort of your own home with the assistance of a teacher is a truly genius concept. The only problem is, developing a curriculum, finding great teachers and integrating a fully functional eLearning program with progressive technological tools doesn’t happen overnight.

Don’t be their guinea pig!

If you look closely, many of these so called “new programs” are the same old content, placed online without any gadgets or innovation to create a truly note worthy experience. Sure, they give you their program and the assistance of, for lack of a better word, a “tutor,” but what kind of progressive learning is that?

Instead of concentrating on combining features like multimedia course content, integrating virtual classrooms with useful teaching tools and supplying you with the assistance of native speaking language coaches, most programs invest all of their time and effort into convincing you that they are bringing something truly novel to the table.

With dexway, you get a language learning curriculum developed by expert linguist and the latest eLearning technology to help create the most innovative learning experience ever available.  The difference between dexway and the rest of the language methods currently available is that we’ve been in the elearning business for over 25 years, so we know what it takes to help students progress. Whether its multilingual assistance, charts filled with grammatical breakdowns or video simulation, dexway’s got it. And best of all, our online language coaches are true native speakers who have all the tools they need at their finger tips in order to provide you with an unparalleled learning experience.

What tools you ask?

dexway’s language learning technology includes a voice recognition component for uploading pronunciations, full whiteboard capabilities and live chat (voice & text) just to name a few. These features allow dexway’s users to  interact with fellow students and receive articulate explanations from course teachers.

So if you want to learn a new language, don’t let an unproven method experiment with your time and money. Learn the right way, with dexway!

For more information, visit our website @ dexway.com

Learning a new language can be a complex process

Unlike studying history or literature, learning a second tongue isn’t solely based on the memorization of names and facts. Although it’s similar in that it requires you to remember words and their meanings, this is merely a fraction of the mastery process. The real work comes in understanding the proper use, pronunciation and tense of words for certain situations, which is more closely equated to problem solving. That is why a language learning method which bases its teaching on tactics like learning from pictures and drawling connections can never truly prepare students for communicating in the real world.

Beware of questionable methods

The sad fact is that most language learning methods really aren’t methods at all. The vast majority are highly marketed programs with eye appealing interfaces and no substance. The only thing most of them are really good at is acquiring exposure and creating cute promotional pitches.

Sure, it’s nice to imagine attaining fluency by learning language the same way you did as a child, but if you really think hard about it, doesn’t that translate into using it like a child?

Harnessing technology and making it work for you

With dexway, you can thoroughly learn a new language online through a system developed by language specialists that focuses on making language easier to understand, rather than dumbing it down.  To do this, the dexway method of language learning places unparalleled emphasis on harnessing technology and infusing it within its course structure.

For instance, dexway’s  virtual classroom features live language coach assistance, enabling its method to engage users, answer questions and give real-time feedback. This, combined with other facets of dexway’s method like its voice recognition system with a vocal wave chart component allows students to record their own pronunciations and with the simple click of a button, upload and send it to a language coach for an instant assessment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

It’s the synergy of technologies like these that makes dexway the most complete language learning method ever created.

For more information, visit our website @dexway.com

dexway’s language learning method will be on display at two major upcoming expositions in the United States:

The 2010 ASTD Conference , an industry-essential event for workplace learning and performance professionals, and The 2010 NAFSA Conference, a world-renowned expo taking place in Kansas City, which will play host to thousands of educators from around the globe sharing views about the globalization of higher education

.

From May 16th – 19th, McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois will be hosting the 2010 ASTD Conference & Exposition. At booth 336 of the event, there will be a special presentation of dexway, a teaching method that is revolutionizing language learning worldwide by integrating the most advanced eLearning technology into one unique method. This is a great opportunity to experience what will undoubtedly be called one of the most groundbreaking educational innovations of 2010.

A few weeks later, from June 1^st – 4^th, the Kansas City Convention Center will host the 2010 NAFSA Annual Conference & Exposition. This event will serve as a meeting place for industry leaders in higher education focused on the establishment of good practice. At booth 411 of the event, dexway’s technological intricacies will be on display for attendees.

THE LANGUAGE LEARNING METHOD THAT HAS IT ALL

dexway is a language teaching method available for learning  American English, British English, Spanish, French or German. Its unique combination of integrated eLearning technologies like interactive multimedia and virtual classrooms offers an unparalleled range of teaching possibilities.

In comparison to other products on the market, dexway is much more than just a language course, much more than a piece of software with a set of features and characteristics, it’s a technology that’s changing the face of language learning around the globe.

By skillfully harnessing the most comprehensive eLearning solutions into an unrivaled language learning method, dexway is able to reach students in ways never imagined before. Its foundation is its structure, which was developed by language experts to meet all requirements set by the CEFR and TOEFL, with continuous assessment of progression in pronunciation, oral comprehension, grammar, reading, writing and vocabulary. dexway also offers the support of native language coaches within both group and individual class settings, creating an uncanny  learner experience without the hassles of time and travel restraints.

For more information about the 2010 ASTD & NAFSA Conferences:

If you’ve ever wanted to learn a new language but just haven’t had the time, money or opportunity, your chance has finally arrived. dexway is the newest, most innovative and interactive way to learn a language online, and now its offering FREE placement tests in Spanish, French, English and British. By simply registering on dexway’s website and creating a user name, you can access our placement test which will assess your level of language competency and recommend a course regimen to begin your language training.

By taking dexways placement test, you’ll get to experience a taste of the most technologically advanced language learning method on the market, which includes interactive multimedia, video situation simulation, voice recognition and live professor tutelage within dexway’s virtual classrooms.  After finishing your placement test, dexway will give you a detailed evaluation of your level of competency in various facets of the language that you wish to learn as well as a recommended level to begin dexway.

Go ahead and fulfill your curiosity with no obligation. Dexway is fully online and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, so whenever you’re ready to learn a new language, dexway will be there.

For more information, please visit our website at www.dexway.com or checkout our blog at www.dexway.com/blog/

dexway will be in attendance for the 2010 NAFSA Annual Conference & Exposition from June 1st – 4^th at the Kansas City Convention Center.

The 2010 NAFSA Annual Conference and Expo will play host to thousands of educators from around the world coming together to share views on the globalization of higher education and the establishment of good practices for mainstream international education. This conferencewill also provide a platform for industry leaders to speak out about implementing sustainable, socially responsible programs and services for heightening the impact of international education.

At booth 411 of the event, dexway will be  presenting its ground-breaking elearning system for teaching foreign languages, which integrates all of the latest technological applications into one unique learning method. This presentation will undoubtedly feature one of the most cutting-edge innovations on display at the 2010 NAFSA Conference.

Featuring:

• A teaching method procured by the foremost linguists.
• Automated tracking of student progress and progression.
• Virtual classrooms with live tutelage from language experts.
• Revolutionary  technology, fully integrated into one unique language learning method.

We invite you to join us!

Find out how dexway is revolutionizing training techniques and changing the face of language education. By harnessing technological developments like VOIP (voice chat), file sharing, multimedia and voice recognition systems, dexway’s language teaching method reaches students in ways never imagined possible. Whether you plan to educate large groups of students or multiple employees, dexway provides tremendous flexibility, round the clock assistance 365 days of the year and solutions for every need.

For more information about the 2010 NAFSA  Conference:

http://www.nafsa.org/annualconference/

dexway is proud to announce that it will be in attendance for the 2010 ASTD Conference & Exposition in Chicago, Illinois, located at McCormick Place from May 16th – 19th

At booth 336 of the conference, dexway will be making a very special presentation of its revolutionary eLearning method for teaching language which integrates  some of the latest cutting-edge technology into one unique system. This presentation promises to create a platform for one of the most groundbreaking educational innovations of the 2010 ASTD Conference.

“dexway is the most innovative technology for learning language“

Featuring:

• Unparalleled training technology, fully integrated into one unique language learning method.
  
• Learning via virtual classrooms with live tutelage from language experts.
• Automated student tracking of progress and progression.
• A teaching method procured by the foremost linguists.

We invite you to join us!

Find out how dexway is revolutionizing training techniques and changing the face of language education. By harnessing technological developments like VOIP (voice chat), file sharing, multimedia and voice recognition systems, dexway’s language teaching method reaches students in ways never imagined possible. Whether you plan to educate large groups of students or multiple employees, dexway provides tremendous flexibility, round the clock assistance 365 days of the year and solutions for every need.

For more information about the ASTD Conference and Exposition, please visit: http://www.astdconference.org/