It is so amazing to see both of them picking up English grammar so easily without putting much effort from our end – All thanks to their ‘best friends’ Simon and Nicky from English-Time which my younger one fondly addresses them as ‘Imon’ and ‘Ikky’. The kids have learnt so much in these books and CDs that they hardly ask for television.

When I was told about this program I was skeptical but today I feel that it is worth every penny I spent on it. Thank you so much!”

[Tanvir Nizam. India. January 2012.]

Watch more video testimonials are here.

The Huc Bridge on Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi

A brief history of Hanoi – the venue for 2012 ETL Learning Conference:

The site where Hanoi stands today has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. Emperor Ly Thai To moved his capital here in AD 1010, naming it Thang Long (City of the Soaring Dragon). The decision by Emperor Gia Long, founder of the Nguyen dynasty in 1802, to rule from Hue relegated Hanoi to the status of a regional capital for a century.

Down the centuries, Hanoi has been called many names, including Dong Kinh (Eastern Capital), from which the Europeans derived the name they eventually applied to all of northern Vietnam – Tonkin. The city was named Hanoi (The City in a Bend of the River) by Emperor Tu Duc in 1831. From 1902 to 1953, Hanoi served as the capital of French Indochina. Hanoi was proclaimed the capital of Vietnam after the August Revolution of 1945, but it was not until the Geneva Accords of 1954 that the Viet Minh, driven from the city by the French in 1946, were able to return.

During the American War, US bombing destroyed parts of Hanoi and killed hundreds of civilians; almost all the damage has since been repaired. One of the prime targets was the 1682m-long Long Bien Bridge, originally built between 1888 and 1902 under the direction of the same architect who designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris. US aircraft repeatedly bombed the strategic bridge, yet after each attack the Vietnamese managed to improvise replacement spans and return it to road and rail services. It is said that the US military ended the attacks when US prisoners of war (POWs) were put to work repairing the bridge.

(Source: Lonely Planet)

On 26 January 2012, we lost a beloved colleague and friend of 8 and a half years… Kinnari Sharma, our 31-year old unit manager from Mumbai lost her battle with cancer. Leaving behind grieving family and friends, a 6 year old son and many beautiful memories.

Kinnari was passionate about so many things… our TDP (which she bought even before her son was born), travel, life. A very devoted mother, she learnt to balance her personal and work life. She treated her son to a 10-day trip to France and another 7-day holiday in Singapore, and dreamed and planned many such trips. She felt they would be an education for him and provide him with wonderful experiences and memories. She herself enjoyed every minute of her last trip with ETLI to St Petersburg, Russia in November 2011, after recovering from an exhausting treatment for breast cancer.

Unfortunately she succumbed to the dreaded disease when it reappeared, more aggressive than before, despite putting up a brave fight. We will miss you Kinnari, your lovely smile and lovelier spirit. Our prayers are with your family – may God give them courage!  (By Anu Talati)

You may leave your condolence for the family as comments below.

[Kinnari is second from the left in the photo, taken at St. Petersburg in Nov. 2011. Few other photos collected here.]

Another customer interview in Jakarta today. Can’t wait to meet some more customers during the upcoming trips to Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Another customer interview in Bandung (Indonesia): Manik Prajana has been using CFL and ET with his 1.5-year old since he was four months.

You may also watch it on YouTube.