Livemocha Named Sterling Award Winner in Education and Continued Learning Category

Winners represent best in class products and technologies for Americans Age 50+

LAS VEGAS, January 10, 2012 – Livemocha has been selected as a winner in the Education and Continued Learning Category in the first annual Sterling Awards competition, announced at the Silvers Summit Conference at CES. Sponsored by AARP, the Sterling Awards identify the very best in technology innovation and product excellence for Americans age 50+.

The purpose of the inaugural Sterling Awards is to identify the peerless products that enhance, empower and exemplify the lifestyles of the Boomer and Silvers audience. Research shows that learning a second language can exalt cognitive functions, by building IQ and improving attention switching abilities, and even postpone Alzheimer’s and dementia for years. Livemocha provides an online language learning service that helps seniors to maintain cognitive functions and brain health well into their later years. This ultimately enhances the health and wellness of the individual and aids longevity.

“Seniors are looking for ways to revitalize their cognitive thinking and consequently, improve their mental and physical health,” said Michael Schutzler, CEO of Livemocha. “People think that language learning is something that must be pursued during the adolescent years of an individual’s life, but Livemocha is dedicated to providing language learning for those of all ages. Our recognition by the Sterling Awards reinforces this idea.”

“We congratulate Livemocha and all of our Sterling Award winners who offer unique ways to enrich the lives of the 100 million boomers and silvers in our society today,” said Sherri Snelling, co-producer, Silvers Summit. “We hope the Sterling Awards become an annual showcase that illustrates the new and improved ways that technology can help us stay healthy, happy, connected to family and friends, living in our homes longer, and making a difference in the world as we age.”

Visit the Silvers Summit Web site for more information about the Sterling Award.

About Livemocha
Livemocha is a company committed to helping every person on earth achieve fluency in a new language. As the world’s largest online language learning community, Livemocha fuses traditional learning methods with online practice, and interaction with native language speakers from around the world. Livemocha delivers an unparalleled, learning experience that promises conversational fluency. Since launching in 2007, the Livemocha community has grown to nearly 11 million members from 190 countries, underscoring the strong demand for an engaging and collaborative approach to language learning. Livemocha continues to grow with one mission: to create a world in which every human being is fluent in multiple languages. For more information about Livemocha, please visit http://www.livemocha.com.

About Silvers Summit:
The Silvers Summit at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is where the thought leaders on an aging society and technology come together. The conference and exhibit assembles companies, distributors, journalists, research firms, and think tanks, to demonstrate the products and services that will help consumers age 50+ stay engaged, empowered and help enhance their lives. The Silvers Summit and Exhibition is presented by Living in Digital Times, producer of the following summits and exhibitions at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show: Digital Health, Fitness Tech Summit, HigherEd Tech Summit, Kids@Play Summit, MommyTech Summit, Mobile Apps Showdown, and Last Gadget Standing. For more information about The Silvers Summit, visit: http://silverssummit.com/.

DISCLAIMER: Silvers Summit (a property of Living in Digital Times, Inc.) does not endorse or promote any of the Sterling Award winners. AARP, the Sterling Award sponsor, does not endorse or promote any of the Sterling Award winners.

Silvers Summit and Sterling Award are service marks of Living In Digital Times, Inc.

Media Contact:
Morgan Bradley
Barokas PR for Livemocha
Livemocha@Barokas.com
206-264-8220

SEATTLE, WA – (Marketwire – Jan 11, 2012) – Livemocha, the world’s largest online language learning service, today announced the Livemocha Scholarship Program, which offers free and discounted foreign language services to high schools and community colleges across the nation. Livemocha aspires to create a world in which every person is fluent in multiple languages and to help support this mission will donate approximately five million dollars of language learning to U.S. schools in 2012. Schools can now apply for the needs-based Livemocha 2012 Scholarship Program offering discounts and free language learning solutions.

In the United States today, less than 40% of high school students and 8% of college students are enrolled in the study of a foreign language. According to a recent survey on multilingual talent in the workplace, 33% of Fortune 500 companies will require knowledge of a foreign language in order to qualify for employment. These statistics highlight an alarming discrepancy between the need for foreign language in the corporate sector and the inadequate preparation in the U.S. education system. Livemocha has long understood the importance of world language acquisition in the United States and the Scholarship Program is dedicated to the inclusion of language learning programs in schools across the country.

“It’s clear that the English-only mentality is no longer acceptable in light of our increasingly globalized world,” said Michael Schutzler, CEO of Livemocha. “The first step in becoming a more globally competent nation lies in the ability to interact with individuals from other countries, and that requires a commitment to language learning. Livemocha is fiercely committed to providing language learning to every student in the U.S. and the Scholarship Program will help make this a reality.”

Livemocha’s initiative is also dedicated to enhancing English as a second language (ESL) instruction for students in the process of learning English, or English Learners. By doing so, English Learners gain the competitive edge they need to be successful members of their school and in time, the workforce. An improved language education system will help bridge language and culture throughout the nation.

“While creating quality education for English Learners is often viewed as a major challenge, I prefer to look at it as an opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of this growing population of learners from diverse backgrounds and native languages,” said Dr. Rosalinda B. Barrera, Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director, Office of English Language Acquisition. “I urge that we all work together to ensure these students graduate from high school with the skills and knowledge they will need to achieve success in college and their careers.”

Schools can now apply for Livemocha 2012 Scholarship Program based on the following:

Eligibility requirements: Schools with budget for language programs reduced from 2010 levels; or only one world language elective since 2010; or no world language electives available today. Must have a teacher to serve as program facilitator ; School must conduct proctored testing and offer full credit to student; Each student registered within the Scholarship Program must volunteer 1 hour per month as a language guide for another student in the community; School and student must have online access to participate in Livemocha online coursework.

Scholarships based on the following criteria: How many languages does the school offer? How many language sections were cut since 2010? What is the current size of the student body? What is the number of students who will likely sign up for a world language? How much Title 1 funding does the school receive?

For more information on the Livemocha 2012 Scholarship program, and to access the application, please visit www.Livemocha.com/scholarship or e-mail questions to scholarship@livemocha.com. Scholarships and discounts awarded will be applied toward Livemocha English and world language programs.

About Livemocha

Livemocha is a company committed to helping every person on earth achieve fluency in a new language. As the world’s largest online language learning community, Livemocha fuses traditional learning methods with online practice, and interaction with native language speakers from around the world. Livemocha delivers an unparalleled, learning experience that promises conversational fluency. Since launching in 2007, the Livemocha community has grown to nearly 11 million members from 190 countries, underscoring the strong demand for an engaging and collaborative approach to language learning. Livemocha continues to grow with one mission: to create a world in which every human being is fluent in multiple languages. For more information about Livemocha, please visit http://www.livemocha.com.