Language learning for genealogists is different. You don't need to know how to order at a restaurant or ask where the nearest bathroom is. Other vocabulary takes front stage, like family relationships, causes of death, and calendar dates.

You don't just need to be able to read print and modern writing. You need to know how to read handwriting, the history of the alphabet, and changes to the way it was written over time.

DecipherInk is a mobile tool with language courses specific to genealogy. It teaches you just what you need to know of a foreign language to navigate genealogical records and leaves out the rest.

Courses teach scripts, paleography, basic grammar, and genealogical vocabulary. They include practice aimed at increasing vocabulary retention and improving document reading speed, as well as easy-to-use reference materials. 87

Cursive is a historical and practical skill that you can learn today for your genealogy or any other reason. Try our free United States Cursive course to get started.

We currently offer a course in German and a free course for learning to read cursive. More courses for more languages coming soon!