Apto’s Customer Navigation Team is here to help!
For us, fun is seeing you get the most out of your learning experience, and steering you toward success is what puts butterflies in our stomachs, the spring in our step, the happy in our camper.
We’ve got a spiffy web chat feature with our friendly Navigation Team just waiting to help you get the most out of Apto. Click on “How Can We Help?” in the bottom right corner of the screen to ask real-time questions about technical issues, language or culture, our cat’s name or anything Apto-related.

How Apto Works

Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the questions we hear a lot, but if you have others, please don’t hesitate to contact us – Click on “How can we help?” in the bottom right corner of the screen to ask real-time questions about technical issues, language, or culture (Native Language Support available upon request.)
Below are the questions we hear a lot, but if you have others, please don‘t hesitate to contact us — we’re here to help.
About Apto and the Cultural-Linguistic Methodology
What is Apto?
The only online, scenario based cultural-linguistic simulator to help internationals relocated to the U.S. for work, study or to begin a new chapter in life. Expats and their families moving to America do not receive enough informal language education and cultural training to transition confidently into American life. Apto’s “cultural-linguistic” methodology addresses these previously unmet and specific needs to expatriate learners in America.
Apto focuses on the key language elements and skills required for expatriate learner success and reinforces learning through interactivity, culminating in receptive and producing skills. The Apto cultural-linguistic methodology fills the gaps left by formal training by providing real-world, informal language instruction that prepares language learners to navigate daily life and adapt quickly to professional and social communities in America.
What is Cultural-Linguistic Learning?
While many relocating expats receive formal language training, few receive enough informal language education and cultural training confidently into work, social, and community life. Apto fills this knowledge and skills gap with an engaging, media-driven online training approach that guides users from a first-person perspective through authentic, non-staged, cultural and regional driven scenarios they will face upon relocation. Unlike most formal language training, cultural-linguistic learning focuses on 8 key language aspects (regional dialects/international accents, key vocabulary, accent reduction, key phrases, key grammatical constructs, idioms/slang/jargon, speech reductions, phrasal verbs) and all 4 language skills – reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Without this cultural and informal language learning, many expats feel isolated in their new homes and struggle to adapt to life in America. With it, they gain confidence, self-assurance and real-life skills needed to quickly adapt to daily life.
Is Apto for all English proficiency levels?
Absolutely! After all, expats will face the same kinds of informal language and cultural differences regardless of their English proficiency. Apto algorithms ensure the software recognizes the learner’s proficiency and responds with content appropriate for their level of learning. In addition, learners have full control of their learning experience with tools like the following:
Replay Button – Replay what you see and hear for easier understanding
Turtle Button – Slow down or speed up what you see and hear for easier understanding
Transcript – Follow along with a written transcript of the language you are learning
Subtitles – Use your native language as needed, to understand the video content
Language Toggle – Use your native language as needed to understand the copy content
In real-life conversations, you may ask speakers of a language you are trying to learn to slow down their rate of speech or repeat a difficult phrase. Apto provides you with these same natural tools so you have complete control over how you learn, regardless of your current level or proficiency.
Additional support options ensure that you are 100% supported throughout the learning process:
*First-Class Navigation – Complete a culture and language assessment with an Apto team member to receive a personalized “Apto learning itinerary.”
*Live Chat – Chat with one of our Customer Navigation Team members in the moment of need.
*Native Language Support – Schedule support in your native language
*FAQ’s – Find answers to our most frequently asked questions
*Unlimited 15-minute video chats – Schedule 15-minute video chats with one of our Customer Navigation Team members for Language, Culture, or Tech assistance.
*VIP Upgrades – Learners have the option to purchase large packages of 30-minute one-on-one video support sessions.
Coming Soon: The Apto Community Forum – a place where members like you can go to ask or answer quick questions that you might have come up in daily life. You’ll be able to meet other internationals in your area, learn about local resources that you might have had exposure to otherwise, and make new friends that you can practice your American English with – for free!
(see the picture below to see what it might look like!)
Can my family use Apto?
Yes. Apto currently contains learning modules specifically for children with school-based scenarios. There is also a specific “Kid’s Zone” with a greater variety of content relevant for children, built-in to certain learning scenarios. To see our product roadmap, and provide feedback or suggestions on the kind of content you’d like to see added to Apto, go to our Roadmap page and scroll down to the feedback input forms.
For more information on how Apto meets the needs of spouses and families, read this white paper written by CEO Traci Snowden.
How do you decide what topics to teach in Apto?
All Apto content is based specifically on learner feedback. We are committed to providing the most relevant, helpful, and practical learning experiences, and the only way to do that is to listen to what our learners have to say. To provide a suggestion, visit our Roadmap page and scroll down to submit one of our input forms.
Is Apto for any language speakers, or just Japanese?
Apto is for anyone relocating to America who wishes to learn to speak everyday, informal English – regardless of their native language or English proficiency level. However, Apto is designed to be a partially “immersive” learning environment, which allows the learner to be in a simulated situation as close to reality as possible. However, a mandated immersive learning situation can become very frustrating for learners, so Apto includes a variety of ways to allow learners to slowly use their native language for assistance (through subtitles, transcripts, and full translations). In our initial Apto release, we had learning scenarios translated into Japanese. We will be releasing additional language translations as quickly as possible, and we are currently close to completing our full catalog of Mandarin learning scenario translations.
What topics can I learn with Apto?
Apto content categories are based on user feedback and designed to help alleviate the most painful barriers to relocation, as well as instill understanding of cultural and linguistic nuances to be gained, as learner ability advances. Current Apto content falls within Business, Education, Social, and Community topic buckets presented via scenario-based learning scenarios. We are always expanding our library, and would like your ideas. To share feedback with us, go to our Roadmap page and scroll down to the feedback forms.
What makes Apto different from other online English language learning tools?
Apto’s difference has its genesis in the mission of the product, which is to help internationals adapt confidently to life in America. Rather than focus on grammar and reading, which existing solutions already do well, Apto emphasizes the real-life, informal language learners will encounter on a daily basis. This kind of real-world language is filled with cultural and other attributes that can make it almost unrecognizable even to proficient speakers of English as a second language. And while this kind of language dominates the scenarios that fill a typical day in the United States, it is rarely taught in formal English language programs. The resulting lack of preparedness for this kind of language results in anxiety, confusion, and difficulty and can damage an expat’s ability to find happiness and success while in America.
Apto improves relocation readiness and success by allowing users to navigate everyday scenarios featuring real people in real-life situations, from the first-person perspective. Apto is a labor of love that helps learners gain the confidence they need to enjoy the adventure of life and work in a foreign country.
General Usage
Where can I use Apto?
You can use Apto on your computer by accessing the app.AptoGlobal.com website.
COMING SOON: You can also use Apto on the go by downloading the app in the Apple App Store for iPads and iPhones, on Google Play for Android devices, or in the Windows store for Windows mobile phones and tablets.
How can I access or change my Apto user name and password?
If you can’t log in to Apto, the best solution is to try and rest your password: go to the Apto login page (https://app.aptoglobal.com/auth/sign-in), click “forgot password,” enter your email address, and click “reset.” Apto sends you an email; click the link to reset your password.
Is my personal information safe?
At Apto, we respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously. We do not sell or share personal account information with third parties. For more detailed information, please review our Privacy Policy Page: http://www.aptoglobal.com/privacy-policy
How can I improve the speed/quality of video playback?
When a video plays in lower than expected quality or experiences frequent stops in playback, it’s likely because the viewer’s internet speed (bandwidth) cannot support the ideal playback of high quality videos. You can improve video playback through the following steps:
- Close extra browser tabs to increase your bandwidth
- Make sure you are using the latest version of your browser
- Ensure you are meeting the recommended minimum broadband connection speed for maximizing your experience with Apto: 1.5 Mbps download. You can check your speed by contacting your Internet Service Provider or accessing a third-party website such as http://www.speedtest.net
What operating systems and browsers does Apto support?
You can access Apto using any operating system, web browser and an Internet connection, but Apto works best in the operating systems and browsers listed below.
Recommended Operating Systems and Browsers for better performance:
OS X
- El Capitan
- Safari 9
- Firefox 46
- Firefox 45
- Chrome 50
- Chrome 49
- Opera 37
- Yosemite
- Safari 8
- Firefox 46
- Firefox 45
- Chrome 50
- Chrome 49
- Mavericks
- Firefox 46
- Chrome 50
- Windows
- Windows 10
- Edge 13
- Edge 12
- Internet Explorer 11
- Firefox 46
- Chrome 50
Windows 8.1
- Internet Explorer 11
- Firefox 46
- Chrome 50
IOS
- iPad Air 2
- iPad Air
- iPad 4
Will Apto work best on a PC or Mac?
Either will work great! Apto is a web-based application, it can be accessed from your web browser regardless of the machine or device you are using. Apto is currently accessible via Web browsers in the table above.
Can I access Apto on my tablet or mobile phone?
Yes! Apto is based on a fully responsive web design that ensures it works as well on a mobile phone as your PC or tablet.
Do I need to install anything to run Apto?
No. Because Apto is a web-based tool, you do not need to install any software on your system. You can simply access Apto from your Web browser.
Who can assist me with technical issues?
You can access support or report issues at any time via the Apto Web Chat tool. Click on the “how can we help” box in the lower right-hand corner of your screen to launch the Chat tool and access Apto support.
How do I report bugs or problems with the Apto application?
You can access support or report issues at any time via the Apto Web Chat tool. Click on the “how can we help” box in the lower right-hand corner of your screen to launch the Chat tool and access Apto support.
What kinds of questions can Apto assist with?
Apto Customer Navigation Team specialists can assist learners with technical, language and cultural questions.
A video has frozen or a page is unresponsive.
If a video has frozen or a page you are viewing becomes unresponsive try a hard refresh of your web browsers: Press Control and R (Mac) or Ctrl and F5 (PC) on your keyboard.
How do you navigate Apto modules?
For information on navigating through Apto scenarios, replaying and slowing down videos, viewing transcripts and subtitles of videos in your target and native languages, monitoring your progress, and more, please login to your account and view our tutorial video: https://app.aptoglobal.com/module-tutorial
The Apto Learning Community
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This post is also available in: Chinese (Simplified) Japanese
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