About LangMedia "Language by Country" Collection
Language by Country videos focus on practical aspects of everyday life. They were filmed by Five College international students between 1999 and 2002. Some cultural information is out-of-date, but many of the videos remain linguistically useful. Transcripts and translations are provided.
We aim to provide examples of authentic language spoken in its natural cultural environment so that students of all ages can better understand the interplay between a language and its culture. The videos were filmed with handheld camcorders and microphones provided by the Center. The video and audio quality varies.
Students should be aware that we have tried to remain true to the language our subjects actually uttered. Therefore, we have not corrected grammatical errors and the videos sometimes show highly colloquial language, local slang, and regionally-specific speech patterns. At times, we have noted the preferred or more standard forms in parentheses. Most of the transcripts and translations were prepared by the same students who filmed the video, although in some cases the transcripts have also been edited by a language expert.
The videos and other materials were produced by the Five College Center for the Study of World Languages with funding from the National Security Education Program (NSEP) and the Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE) of the U.S. Department of Education.
