Options for Online Language Study
Spanish Whiz
Braser Soft’s award-winning Microsoft Corp. Windows-based program, Spanish
Whiz, is designed to help users learn Spanish quickly. In the new Version 3.1,
both the main program and the Sound CD (which includes more than 4,500 sound
files to help improve pronunciation and listening skills) now include on-screen
translations. The “Help” files include a complete discussion of Spanish
grammar, and the main program is divided into three levels to help beginners,
intermediate and advanced users. The emphasis is on presenting and testing fundamentals.
Spanish Whiz includes common Spanish vocabulary and verbs, as well as practice
in typical problem areas such as ser and estar, por and para prepositions, the
imperative forms, the subjunctive, and idiomatic expressions. Self-quizzing,
dictionaries, and an option to build one’s own word list round out the
features. Contact: Braser Soft, www.braser.com.
Interactive Foreign Language Murder Mystery
Un misterio en Toluca and Un meurtre à Cinet are interactive foreign
language murder mysteries for students of Spanish and French, respectively.
Written by foreign language professors at California State University, San Bernardino,
and published by Heinle and Heinle Publishers, the projects follow a similar
format. Students follow a trail of clues to identify the murderer. There is
no one answer: Clues can be compiled in a number of ways that lead to different
conclusions. Students must use the many “official” documents and maps
provided and interview their fellow students (who take on identities of people
in the town) in order to reach a decision. Many foreign language products engage
students in inauthentic, uninteresting dialogues with one another, but the murder
mysteries provide a compelling context that encourages real conversation. All
material is in the language of study, and students communicate using e-mail,
e-mail lists, and a Web site, speaking and writing solely in French or Spanish.
Because some characters in the mysteries play larger roles than others, instructors
have flexibility in assigning meatier parts to weaker students who need more
foreign language practice. Up to 14 students can participate. Contact: Heinle
and Heinle Publishers, (800) 237-0053, www.heinle.com.
Learn to Speak eLanguage Software and Online Instruction
Students using the Learning Co.’s Learn to Speak CD-ROMs to study foreign
languages can enhance their learning with eLanguage’s online language instruction.
In addition to learning the word of the day, users can practice conversation,
study vocabulary, or learn about the culture of a particular country. Users
can customize the study process to fit their learning styles. The Web site also
includes several reference tools, including a word phrasebook, talking dictionary,
grammar guidebook, verb conjugator, and related Internet links. Primary materials
are available only in Spanish, French, German, and Italian. However, numerous
resources are online for students of everything from Arabic to Zulu. Contact:
The Learning Co., www.learntospeak.com.
TeLL Me More Pro
TeLL Me More Pro is speech-recognition software by Auralog Inc. that allows
students of French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, and English to interact
with native speakers and evaluate their performance. Designed for language schools
and programs, the system is composed of a personalized, flexible pedagogy with
which instructors can create customized pathways for learning. The software’s
tracking system and class management function monitor the material covered and
allow instructors to evaluate the performance of each student. The exclusive
Spoken Error Tracking System automatically detects errors in pronunciation.
Spoken and written expression, comprehension, pronunciation, vocabulary, and
grammar are all addressed in 1,600 hours of learning, including interactive
dialogues, exercises, a glossary, a dictionary, videos, grammar rules, and hundreds
of conjugated verbs. Contact: Auralog Inc., (480) 829-1984, www.auralog.com.
