If you’re planning a trip to Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, China, Brazil, Israel, Korea or Russia, or if you speak Spanish and want to learn English, 11 Languages of the World, a CD for Windows and some Macintosh computers, will be a big help.
Using native speakers, each language tutorial helps you master pronunciation, while teaching you up to 5,000 useful words.
You can record your own voice (with any inexpensive microphone you choose to buy) and compare your “bonjour” with a Parisian’s.
The emphasis is on conversation and comprehension.
You click on a word in a phrase, learn how to pronounce it, and learn how to use it in a coherent sentence.
Six of the language tutorials have real-alphabet on-screen exercises. The tutorials for Chinese, Korean, Hebrew, Russian and Japanese – since those languages use alphabets unfamiliar to most foreigners – are transliterated into English.
After you’ve been introduced to words and phrases, you can go on to trying to master the elements of grammar in each language.
All along, you develop an “ear” for the languages – how words are pronounced and how they are strung together in phrases. The lessons go beyond typical tourist phrases and into everyday situations.
Your lessons are self-paced and easily repeated until you get the hang of the language you’re trying to master.
Once you’ve built a foundation for a language, make your plane reservations and mingle with natives. That’s where you’ll really hone your skills.
11 Languages of the World will run on Windows XP, Me, 98 and 2000 and Macintosh computers running OS 8.6 to 9.1. To order, send $20 plus $5 for shipping to WashingtonCD, P.O. Box 351531, Los Angeles, CA 90035. Or by credit card at www.washingtoncd.net or 800-395-7797.
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