Emirates has partnered with British language-learning company uTalk to offer language lessons free on board Emirates flights – not just spoken in English, but also in Arabic, Mandarin, German and Spanish.

It will mean passengers across the Middle East, China & Europe can learn new languages in their own mother tongue.

 Arabic is used by around 422 million speakers across the Arab world, in the Middle East and North Africa and is the official language of 22 countries. Mandarin is the official language of China (population 1.37 billion), and is also spoken in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia (combined population 365 million).

uTalk sales director Brett Savidge said: “We are delighted to roll out the next phase of the uTalk language experience with Emirates. It was always our goal to make uTalk available to people travelling across the globe and our partnership with Emirates allows us to do this.

“Our aim is to help passengers learn some essential words and phrases before they land which will help them communicate with business colleagues, family and friends.”

In May, uTalk, a previous winner of the prestigious Queen’s Award for Innovation, unveiled Phase One of its ‘Learn As You Fly’ scheme, offering English-speaking Emirates passengers lessons in 15 different languages on board.
 
Now, rolling out Phase Two, the bumper new offer uses cutting-edge technology to give international travellers the option to choose German, Spanish, Arabic or Mandarin as their ‘source language’ to learn dozens of other languages on board.

The timing of the deal is also intended to benefit passengers flying home for Christmas, as well as regular flyers on business trips.

Savidge added: “In our modern, fast-paced world, millions of us want to spend our time more efficiently and productively, which is why starting to learn a language at the same time as you fly to your chosen business or holiday destination nowadays makes perfect sense to passengers.”

“People today can catch up on world news while they’re jogging at the gym, and new technology allows us to multi-task in so many ways. uTalk's cutting-edge ‘Learn As Your Fly’ programme is proving a great hit, too.

“We always treat our discussions with clients and potential future clients as strictly confidential, but I can say there has been considerable interest in our language offer from other airlines,” he added.

 uTalk language lessons are also available on selected easyJet flights through the airline’s In Flight Entertainment system, which it is currently trialling on five of its Swiss-based aircraft. Passengers will be able to start learning their chosen language by logging on to the plane’s wi-fi, then using their own hand-held device or lap-top to tune into free uTalk lessons as they sit comfortably in their seats.

A flock of other airlines have also expressed an interest in buying into the smart technology and are in talks with uTalk, according to a company source.

Based in Parsons Green, west London and founded in 1991, uTalk, formerly named EuroTalk, is now Britain’s biggest language company. It is a former winner of the Queen’s Awards, for both Export Achievement and for Innovation, and over 27 years has been used by more than 30 million people in over 100 countries.

You can learn 142 different languages with uTalk – no other language company offers its customers more languages.

Customers at home and abroad use the app, ‘uTalk – Learn Any Language’, across a wide range of platforms and devices to help them communicate with others, during holidays, for business and pleasure.

The company’s new multi-platform app suitable for all levels of learner, allows you to learn from any language to any language, see utalk.com/app. uTalk, who also partner with travel and tourism company TUI, plus leading universities, businesses and charities, says it knows from experience that the best way to grasp a new language is to start speaking a few words straightaway, so learners grow in confidence and make friends, rather than worry excessively about grammar or fluency. – TradeArabia News Service