Intercultural training organisation Farnham Castle International Briefing and Conference Centre has announced a successful take-up of Languages-Online, its new internet-based training package launched in October 2008. The added-value service for clients of its intercultural or intensive language training programmes has, it says, exceeded expectations in terms of interest and positive feedback from customers.

"The online training is offered in conjunction with Toniks Languages and provides live language lessons over the internet, which is the ideal follow-up to an intensive learning programme," explains Jeff Toms, director of marketing and client services at Farnham Castle. "This ensures material learned on our intensive language programmes is consolidated through follow-up with the tutor when the programme attendee has returned to the field, therefore maximising the learning experience."

Students of Languages Online interact live with their tutor over the internet in a virtual classroom. Booking and scheduling classes are completed on a dedicated 'personal space' area on the website, where it is also possible to view recordings of lessons at any time. This personal space also enables easy storage and organisation of all materials associated with tuition.

"It is possible to have a lesson wherever there is access to your computer, using a readily available headset – this could be at home, in the office, or from a hotel, for example," explains Mr Toms. "Our teachers are very flexible with respect to availability, meaning lesson times can be arranged specifically to suit the student.

"By taking advantage of advances in technology, our team of highly experienced, native language teachers is now able to offer training to people regardless of their geographical location," he continues. "This addresses the challenge of executives' increasingly busy schedules, which often prevent individuals taking time out of the office for additional residential study. It also enables the partners and children of international employees who are being sent on assignments abroad to acquire some basic language skills before they arrive in the new country, helping them to settle more quickly and comfortably into their new life."

Tuition is available in all the major languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Classes cost £28 per lesson plus VAT for a minimum of 20 lessons.

"One issue with any training course is the degree of information retained after the programme has finished," says Jeff Toms. "The new Languages Online training package addresses this problem, in addition to allowing continued study to fit around existing work and family commitments. This level of convenience, combined with the clear value of continued study to increase learning, is already proving very popular with organisations across the globe."

Farnham Castle specialises in cross-cultural management development programmes and international assignment briefings as well as language training for every country in the world. For further information, call 01252 720406 or visit www.farnhamcastle.com