Myngle’s unity in diversity
Mynlge has been open for a little over 3 weeks now, and we have been impressed with number and diversity of people visiting and using the site. So far we have logged visitors from 201 different countries, speaking 81 different languages.
This reminds me of a time, a few months back, when we were trying to find a name for our company (before settling for Myngle). I was then a very strong supporter of Babel.com, which represents exactly this diversity in backgrounds and origins, but also revolves around a central point: the construction of a very ambitious project: The Tower of Babel.
According to the Book of Genesis, Babel (or Babylon) was a city that united all humanity, and where everyone spoke the same language. As goes the legend, at one point the people decided that their city should have a tower so immense that it would have “its top in the heavens”, as a crowning symbol of their achievement. However God, seeing what the people were able to accomplish while they remained unified, confused their languages and scattered the people throughout the earth. Ever since, people spoke different languages and were unable to understand each other’s speech, which caused the construction of the Tower of Babel to fail.
Obviously, Myngle’s is a very different story, and much the reverse as a matter of fact. First and foremost, we are going to succeed building our project. Second, the Tower of Babel started with everyone speaking the same language, and ended with everyone speaking different languages and unable to understand each other, which ultimately disunited people. At Myngle, we will move in the opposite direction.
But still, the similarities are striking: The large number of different languages present in one spot, spoken by a heterogeneous group of people, who all share one common goal: better communicating with one another and, together, building an ambitious project.
Going back to the choice of the name, to my disappointment the owner of Babel Press in California firmly refused to sell Babel.com (although I later found out he sold to someone else…). But looking at it in a positive way, I am sure you are much happier being a Myngler as opposed to a Babbler…
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January 22nd, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I am a French teacher with a lot of experience and looking for students to teach on line. I am very surprised to see that some teachers are ready to work for so little moneyas 10 Euors a lesson. Any qualitfied teacher should expect to get around 25 Euros for half an hour. What sort of work can be expected for 10 Euros!
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Hello Christine,
You mentioned exactly one of the great strengths in Myngle, freedom for teachers to set their own prices. If you want, you can set the price you desire for your lessons. As a marketplace, each qualified teacher should be able to identify the value of their work.
Considering there is no commute time or expenses, no need for special accommodations (renting a room, an office, etc), no marketing effort (we do it for you), and other benefits, we’ve found teachers usually set a lower price than their offline lessons.
We invite you to register and come on board, participate in the Myngle community to add great value to it.