Introduction
When it comes to learning languages, traditional methods are
unlikely to bear much fruit. There are only so many times you can
practice writing a letter or asking directions for a train which
doesn't exist before the exercise book or audio-tape method becomes
tiring. It's therefore not surprising the interactive CD-ROMs which
have revolutionised the language learning process have enjoyed such
extraordinary success. These packages include new technologies such
as voice recognition software and interactive games and dialogues,
making software-based language learning both interesting and easily
accessible.
Whereas old-style language courses were often too rigid and
impersonal, these new packages not only make learning languages fun
(something it rarely was with a heavy old textbook) but also make
the courses more individual. For instance, it's now possible to
measure your own pronunciation against that of a native speaker,
repeating it until it is accurate.
The new packages also focus on developing a fully rounded mastery
of the language, unlike more traditional methods which emphasised
reading and writing over communication. Multimedia technologies
harness speaking and listening skills to reading and writing,
thereby covering the full range of language learning capabilities.
Now even such stalwarts of the old school as
Berlitz and
Collins have introduced new multimedia packages--which just goes
to show that if you aren't learning interactively, you're now at a
big disadvantage.
Market Leaders
This is a very competitive market, and there is an extraordinarily
wide range of products on offer. Picking your way through them can
be a minefield, but with a bit of knowledge of the targets of each
product, you can narrow the choices down more effectively. Three of
the best and most popular courses are the Learning Company courses
(the highly regarded
Learn to Speak range), the
A+ series and the Syracuse Language packages (the
Smart Start Deluxe range).
The
Learn to Speak courses come with a full range of modern
software, including voice recognition and personalised study plans.
They are among the most individual of the courses--allowing you to
progress at your own speed, showing or hiding translations as you
decide and focusing on the situations and themes that you determine.
These courses also come with a dictionary for the language in
question.
The
A+ series has some of the same features as the Learning Company
courses, such as voice recognition software and the comparison of
this to the voice of a native speaker. There are, though, some
interesting differences. The A+ series come with each course divided
into a series of lessons, each of which is introduced by a video
tutor. There is perhaps more of a traditional emphasis in A+
courses, including strong development of the student's grammar along
with features such as electronic flashcards and writing tests to
match your spelling with the correct version.
Smart Start Deluxe courses are superb, including study
guidebooks as well as the voice recognition technology of its
competitors. They are perhaps best designed for those seeking
on-the-ground communication and comprehension, rather than
syntactical precision (although there are, of course, grammatical
exercises). The courses are designed so that you can have
conversations with characters on screen, and there is also a Web
site with quizzes and interactive links. The only negative point
might be that some of the packages have a small language glossary.
There are numerous other courses which are worth looking at
before making your choice. The
Berlitz courses--while perhaps not quite so flashy as either
Learning Company or A+ courses--are extremely professional. They
also come with voice recognition software, and are one of the
clearest and most thorough at moving from stage to stage at a
sensible speed. Meanwhile, for maintaining the widest range of
vocabulary and for grasping the correct pronunciations,
Collins Intense Language Office dictionaries--with their vast
scope and impressively comprehensive natures--cannot be beaten.
French Experience from the BBC is another bestselling
title--an extremely comprehensive two-CD-ROM language learning
course for beginners neatly broken into sections and combining video
and audio learning techniques.
For Business People
Both the A+ and Berlitz courses are probably the best all-round bets
for business people, perhaps in tandem with a
Collins Intense Language Office Dictionary. These are courses
which have the best structure in terms of learning the formalities
without which business transactions in many countries can be a
nightmare. The structure of the courses is clear, and the
audio-visual techniques will allow you to learn the linguistic
formalities which accompany business transactions in your target
language. Although both courses come with at least a 10,000-word
strong dictionary (12,500 in Berlitz's case), it may still be worth
getting a Collins Intense Language Office Dictionary as a
supplement, since this comes with native speaker pronunciation of
over 100,000 words, and is also very much tailored to each
individual language and country. For the serious business learner,
or for someone trading in a highly specialist field, this package
will prove an invaluable addition to the A+ or Berlitz courses.
Popular courses for business people:
For Travellers
The Learning Company and Syracuse Language courses are perhaps best
for travellers. These are the courses which come with some of the
most developed interactive technologies, and, as a result, they are
ideal for people who are going to have to use a language on the
ground in a wide range of unpredictable situations. As well as being
fun, though, they are of course well structured and deal effectively
with a wide range of grammatical themes and situations. But it is
their individuality and strong interactive elements which really
make them stand out for travellers needing to learn a foreign
language. Again, depending, on the seriousness of the level of
study, some travellers might want to supplement one of these courses
with a Collins Intense Language Office Dictionary.
Popular courses for travellers:
For Children and Younger
Learners
Among the best courses for children and younger learners are
The Times GCSE courses, designed specifically for
students in the UK taking their GCSE exams. These courses are fun,
interactive and at the same time highly effective in reinforcing and
expanding the learner's knowledge of a language. Each take the form
of a mystery scenario: learners are enlisted to help catch the
criminals, and have to perform tasks or take part in games (all are
executed in the target language) in order to receive clues to help
solve the crime. What is most impressive about this course, though,
is that the aim of learning is not sacrificed to the fun--relevant
dictionaries and glossaries are available in each area, and the
games really do address important areas of grammar.
Unfortunately, some courses aimed at this age group are not so
effective at combining fun and learning: the
Multimedia series is a case in point which, although claiming to
be both fun and precise, doesn't fully achieve both these goals.
Alternatively, you can introduce children to language learning in
a more subtle fashion. Tivola have a number of children's fun and
learning software titles that are educational in content, yet game
and activity-based to guarantee enjoyment.
Oscar Flies into the Mountains is an interactive journey
through nature, and the CD-ROM can be played in English, French or
German.
LeapPad is a learning system allowing children to get to
grips with reading without even noticing the work. This software
system combines a "magic" pen with an interactive book designed to
help children spell, follow a story and improve their vocabulary and
concentration, and provides an introduction to foreign languages
which involves choosing an everyday activity then choosing to hear
the words in French, Spanish, German or Japanese.
Choosing a Course
Notwithstanding any of the above, it is important to consider some
of the following questions before deciding on a language learning
course.
- language specificity: some courses are better at
focusing on particular linguistic catchment areas than others.
This is especially important in a language like Spanish, where
there are wide differences between the accents and vocabulary in
Spain and Latin America--most courses tend to be specific to
Castillian Spanish, but, if heading to Latin America, it makes
sense to seek out a Latin American course. The
Collins Talking Spanish-English Dictionary is strong on
differences between Spain and the Americas.
- reason for use: why are you studying? This is a key
question, and the answer (see the various suggestions in the main
article above) will help to guide you towards the course which is
best for you.
- multimedia features and extras: how tech-savvy are you?
If you like a wide range of interactive features, then one of the
more advanced and hi-tech products is probably best for you; if
such things make you nervy, it may be best to opt for one of the
more straightforward packages.
- existing knowledge: are you completely new to the
language, or do you have some previous knowledge? Although most
courses are tailored for beginners and upwards, some (such as the
Syracuse Language courses, which have 3 levels, or The Times
GCSE courses, which run entirely in Spanish) are more useful for
those with some sort of starting base--otherwise you may find that
too many of the lessons are just covering old ground.
Browse Languages & Translation software
Got the travel bug? There's more to explore in
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Going places? Our
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right turns.
Need accessories? Visit our
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Toby Green is the author of
Meeting the Invisible Man and
Saddled with Darwin and regularly reviews CD-ROMs for
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