About Us
Who is BrainGrow?
BrainGrow is an organization established specifically to meet the needs of individuals and organizations needing a book and CD based version of Power-Glide courses. Power-Glide is focusing its full efforts to create new and innovative fully online language courses. Because Power-Glide understands that many people want and need book based courses, Power-Glide has negotiated with BrainGrow to service this specific need. BrainGrow is dedicated to giving you an outstanding foreign language learning experience when you purchase a Power-Glide book and CD based course.
Who is Power-Glide?
Power-Glide International, Inc. is a Provo, Utah based company that is the leader in foreign language training materials for independent learners and schools. Power-Glide is also a fully accredited foreign language school serving the "foreign language for credit" market. This market includes public, private, and charter schools, homeschool, third-party training companies (private labeled), corporations and individuals. Our products offer a "whole family" solution and are specifically designed to fit children Pre-K through grade 12 and adults.
A Brief History of Power-Glide
The unique story behind Power-Glide International began in the 1950's when Dr. Robert Blair was a linguistics student at Indiana University. During his 35 years of study, teaching and experimenting with over 48 languages, he began to see a disturbing pattern with traditional teaching methods. Even students who had studied a language for years, in the end, remembered very little. Subsequently, Dr. Blair set about studying the best teaching methods for foreign language from around the world. Through his study of best practices and the development of his own methodologies, the Power-Glide method was born. Once developed, Dr. Blair knew he had created something special.
The Power-Glide concept had little market value until an entrepreneur could find a way to turn the ideas into something tangible and salable. James Blair, one of Dr. Blair's sons, started such a company in 1992.
Power-Glide's financial beginnings were truly humble. The company started in a file cabinet, moved to one room in a basement, then two, and now occupies 5,000 sq. feet of office and warehouse space, complete with multi-division offices and a communication center. In the summer of 1996, James Blair began working on the business full-time during college, and in the first full year turned a profit. The company has since grown to become an Inc. 500 Fastest Growth in America Company and the winner of many state and local business awards for growth, profitability, and good business practices.
What Makes Power-Glide Different?
Accreditation:
Being an accredited foreign language company/school through the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools makes Power-Glide unique. Accreditation gives the assurance of quality and ease of credit transfer among educational institutions. The ability to provide learning support with board-certified foreign language teachers, as well as to grant credit through our school, has greatly enhanced the Power-Glide offering to all types of learners.
The Methodology:
Why are Power-Glide Programs so Effective?
They are a Blend of the Best Innovations Based on Up-To-Date Understanding of Linguistics and Learning Psychology.
With few exceptions, language-learning methods have not changed much in the past 50 years. What you typically find today is the old "listen-and-repeat" methods done with new technology: tapes, CDs, computers, etc., packaged and worded to make them seem new. But they usually aren't new at all. They are the same old "uglies" of language learning repackaged to look new. The essence hasn't changed.
Occasionally a few creative geniuses have made breakthroughs in language learning.
For example:
Each breakthrough has added something to language learning effectiveness. But, each method focused on its own approach almost exclusively. Then one linguist, Dr. Robert Blair, took the most revolutionary step of all. He put the best of them together into a systematic learning process, added his own innovations, and tested and validated it with thousands of students. This integrated and improved result is now known as the POWER-GLIDE method.
Power-Glide programs are revolutionary because they do not limit themselves to one type of learning strategy, but utilize the best practices from around the world. Most developers of language training have one primary strategy that they use. It might be listening and repeating, or role-playing, mnemonics, games, Diglot-Weaves*, or any number of other approaches. While these methods might be good for certain situations, the Power-Glide programs use each strategy for its best application. Thus, the overall learning is accelerated exponentially. Also, the variety of learning activities and approaches make it easy for all types of learners to absorb the language faster than with traditional methods.
The self-paced nature of the courses makes it possible for teachers or parents who do not know the target language to help a child learn without any prior training. Our courses actually offer teacher/parent guides that are filled with ideas to keep students motivated and progressing.
* The Diglot-Weave ™ story is another effective technique used in the Power-Glide Courses. This technique smoothly weaves a new language into the native language of the learner. The principle behind the Diglot-Weave, bridging from the familiar to the unfamiliar, characterizes the Power-Glide learning philosophy.
UNIQUE FEATURES OF POWER-GLIDE PROGRAMS
(And What They Mean to the Learner)
1. Language specific
Unlike most language training programs, Power-Glide courses are designed for speakers of specific languages, rather than the "one size fits all" approach. This takes advantage of what each language community knows and avoids wasted effort.
2. Based on up-to-date information/research on linguistics, learning psychology, etc.
While the Power-Glide method is new, novel, and to some, even "different," it is based on solid research and the most up-to-date information on the relevant disciplines.
3. Involves learners in immediate use of the language in contextually correct situations
Power-Glide courses avoid the drudgery of the rote memorization of words and rules by immediately involving the learners in practical use of the language in real situations. This tactic keeps learner interest, confidence, and motivation high.
4. Uses adventure stories and activities
From the beginning, students are involved in an exciting adventure story and activities that are designed to feel more like a fun game than a lesson. Learners subsequently enjoy the process and the story-like narrative motivates learners to continue learning as they wonder, "What will happen next?"
5. Uses multiple methods of learning: music, stories, activities, etc.
People have different learning styles. By using various methods, music, stories, etc., everyone's style is included and interest is increased.
6. Uses Diglot-Weaves™
Students start with familiar stories in their own language and gradually transition into the new language. By placing words and phrases from the new language wrapped in words they know, the context provides meaning and makes the learning an almost effortless, natural process.
7. Takes learners from the known to the unknown along the most effortless path
While learning a foreign language can be challenging, it does not need to be brutal. The Power-Glide method guides the learners through the most productive and intuitive paths.
8. Uses memory devices and phonemic approximations
Learning pronunciation and remembering words and phrases of another language are greatly facilitated by memory devices and approximations from the users own language. This also reduces the "fear" of learning that many people experience by introducing new language through familiar means.
9. Starts with young children before their language "compartments" solidify
While Power-Glide programs can be used by anyone at any age, particularly effective are our courses for young children whose minds are still open to learning a language as a native speaker. By giving them the tools to speak a foreign language while they are young, the language will feel natural, like skin, rather than attached like clothes.
10. Teacher doesn't need to know the language
One of the greatest advantages of Power-Glide courses is the fact that the teacher, parent or facilitator doesn't need to know the language in order to assist the learner in the process. An added bonus is that the person assisting also learns while they help the student move through the course.
11. Uses tests and gives academic credit
By working with school systems, many Power-Glide courses include academic tests that are recognized as, and can qualify for, school credit. This systematic testing also provides additional motivation and evaluation for the learner.
12. Other innovative strategies
Power-Glide offers learners more learning methods than any other training provider. With over 25 different methods in the Power-Glide course, learners are guaranteed the highest likelihood of retention, enjoyment, and desire to progress.
Awards
 | Awarded full accreditation by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, Power-Glide is the only Independent Study Foreign Language School which has the authority to grant credit to students who complete our K-12 Foreign Language Courses.
|
 | Power-Glide has received the coveted Practical Home Schooling Reader's Choice Award for five consecutive years.
|
 | The Power-Glide Spanish Junior Course received excellent reviews and was awarded a Teacher's Choice Award from Learning Magazine.
|
Operations Policy & Statement
Power-Glide Language Courses
Non-Sectarian Nature of Course Content
Much of the general marketplace in which the company operates requires that Power-Glide courses must be completely non-sectarian in philosophy, and contain no religious doctrine, symbols or information. Such markets range from many segments of the homeschool and independent study environments, which often have disparate but strict guidelines concerning the type of religious information that is acceptable, to publicly funded schools and Charter Schools, which by law are prohibited from including textual materials with any religious reference at all. The company's non-sectarian, non-religious approach thus makes its materials acceptable to every audience.
An exception to company policy concerns an appendix (which can be removed upon request), that contains translations from the Vulgate Bible (423 A.D.) to demonstrate the Ecclesiastical Latin of the period, and is used because of its historical and linguistic significance.
Further information may be obtained from the Public Relations Department, Corporate Offices, 1682 W. 820 N., Provo UT 84601. Telephone (800) 596-0910 or Fax (801) 343-3912.
BrainGrow Online Privacy Policy
This document sets forth the BrainGrow Online Privacy Policy (the "Privacy Policy") for this Web site, www.BrainGrow.com (the "Site"). If you have objections to the Privacy Policy, you should not access or use this Site.
Entities collecting personal information:
Personal information is collected on this Site is collected only by BrainGrow. BrainGrow's address is 407 E 1840 N, Pleasant Grove, UT 84062 and its telephone number is 1-888-998-2724.
The Site may contain links to other sites at which personal information may be collected. In such instances, unless expressly provided to the contrary, the collection and use of your personal information will be governed by the privacy policy applicable to that site. That privacy policy should identify the entity that is collecting your personal information.
Collection of personal information
As a visitor to this Site, you can engage in many activities without providing any personal information. In connection with other activities, such as subscribing to newsletters or purchasing products through BrainGrow's secure online store, BrainGrow may ask you to provide certain information about yourself by filling out and submitting an online form. It is completely optional for you to engage in these activities. If you elect to engage in these activities, however, BrainGrow may ask that you provide us personal information, such as your first and last name, mailing address (including ZIP code), e-mail address, and telephone number, and other personal information. When ordering products or services on the Site, you may be asked to provide a credit card number. Depending upon the activity, some of the information that we ask you to provide is identified as mandatory and some as voluntary. If you do not provide the mandatory data with respect to a particular activity, you will not be able to engage in that activity.
When you use the Site, BrainGrow or third parties authorized by BrainGrow may also collect certain technical and routing information about your computer to facilitate your use of the Site and its services. For example, we may log environmental variables, such as browser type, operating system, CPU speed, and the Internet Protocol ("IP") address of your computer. We use these environmental variables to facilitate and track your use of the Site and its services. BrainGrow also uses such environmental variables to measure traffic patterns on the Site. Without expressly informing you in each particular circumstance, we do not match such information with any of your personal information.
When you submit personal information to BrainGrow through this Site, you understand and agree that this information may be transferred across national boundaries and may be stored and processed in any of the countries in which BrainGrow and its affiliates and subsidiaries maintain offices, including, without limitation, the United States. You also acknowledge that in certain countries or with respect to certain activities the collection, transferring, storage, and/or processing of your information may be undertaken by trusted vendors of BrainGrow.
BrainGrow has established relationships with various service providers whose services are available to you from this Site or from Web sites that are linked to this Site. Typically, these providers offer services that BrainGrow customers might find useful, such as those that can be used in conjunction with BrainGrow services and products. In order to use those services, you may be required to provide personal information to the providers.
BrainGrow has provided links to resources not located on this Site. Unless expressly provided to the contrary, personal information that you provide while you are visiting a Web site other than this Site will be subject to the privacy policy posted on such site.
How your personal information is used BrainGrow collects your information in order to record and support your participation in the 4 activities you select. If you subscribe to a service or register a product, for example, the information is used to register your rights or other benefits that may be made available to registered users. As another example, if you enter a contest, information is collected to qualify the entry and contact you regarding the contest or prize awards. Your personal information is also used to keep you informed about product upgrades, special offers, and other products and services of BrainGrow.
BrainGrow may collect information about the use of the Site, such as the types of services used and how many users we receive daily. This information is collected in aggregate form, without identifying any user individually. BrainGrow may use this aggregate, non-identifying statistical data for statistical analysis, marketing, or similar promotional purposes.
BrainGrow recognizes and appreciates the importance of responsible use of information collected on this Site. There are instances in which BrainGrow may divulge your personal information. BrainGrow may provide your personal information if necessary, in BrainGrow's good faith judgment, to comply with laws or regulations of a governmental or regulatory body or in response to a valid subpoena, warrant, or order or to protect the rights of BrainGrow or others.
Protection of your personal information Personal information that you provide resides on a secure server and is only accessible to selected BrainGrow personnel via password. Since this information is not accessible by you, you will not be asked to select a password in order to view or modify such information. Please note that any information you post to a public bulletin board or chat room is available to all persons accessing that location.
Use of cookies When you visit this Site, you can browse the Site and access important information without revealing your identity. In order to improve our Site, we use "cookies" to track your visit. A cookie is a small amount of data that is transferred to your browser by a Web server and can only be read by the server that gave it to you. It functions as your identification card, and enables BrainGrow to record your passwords, purchases, and preferences. It cannot be executed as code or deliver viruses.
Most browsers are initially set to accept cookies. You can set your browser to notify you when you receive a cookie, giving you the chance to decide whether to accept it. (For some Web pages that require an authorization, cookies are not optional. Users choosing not to accept cookies will probably not be able to access those pages.)
While BrainGrow uses cookies to track your visit to BrainGrow.com, and our Web servers automatically log the IP/Internet address of your computer, BrainGrow does not use this information to identify you personally. Privacy-related inquiries and complaints BrainGrow takes its users' privacy concerns seriously. If you believe that BrainGrow has not complied with this Online Privacy Policy with respect to your personal information or you have other related inquiries or concerns, you may write to the BrainGrow Privacy Officer at the following address:
BrainGrow
407 E 1840 N
Pleasant Grove, UT 84062
USA
or email at: support@BrainGrow.com
In your letter, please describe in as much detail as possible the nature of your inquiry or the ways in which you believe that the BrainGrow Online Privacy Policy has not been complied with. We will investigate your inquiry or complaint promptly.
Also, please note that BrainGrow is not responsible for the content or privacy practices of non-BrainGrow Web sites to which this Site or any other BrainGrow Web site may link. You should review the privacy policy of such sites before using the sites.
|
