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.

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.

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!)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.