WASHINGTON, D.C. /eNewsChannels/ — The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces a partnership with biNu to provide increased English language content to people around the world. Under the partnership, biNu will distribute Department of State English language learning resources, such as e-books, audio content, and the Trace Word Soup English language game on their free mobile phone platform. biNu is a mobile application platform used by over 4 million people worldwide that provides a smart-phone-like experience on mass-market feature phones, which account for roughly 85% of today’s global mobile phone market.
The State Department’s Trace Word Soup game allows foreign language students to practice English vocabulary and spelling from their own mobile device. Launched on biNu in early October 2012, over 1.2 million games have been played in Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and other countries around the world. Trace Word Soup players can enhance their experience with biNu’s integrated dictionary, translation tools, and social media features. Users are also able to access thousands of free e-books, including State Department publications, through the biNu World Reader application.
The U.S. Department of State continues to find new, innovative ways to use technology as part of Secretary Clinton’s commitment to 21st Century Statecraft. This collaboration is part of the English Language Education Alliance (E2A) consortium that brings together public, private, non-profit, and academic organizations to help connect resources in the U.S. and English language teaching and learning needs and opportunities worldwide.
