Learn to Speak Spanish

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Learn to Speak Spanish 7.0 is an interactive CD-ROM course in learning Spanish. Mastery of the content is equivalent to two years of study in speaking, reading, and writing college Spanish. If you have tried to learn Spanish using a cassette player and a pile of tapes, or tried reading "How To" manuals, it can be difficult. Learn to Speak Spanish, with its speech-recognition simulation technology, record/playback features, and interactive exercises and games, makes learning Spanish fun. Learn To Speak Spanish contains 30 situation-based chapters; each with lessons, exercises, and games that offer various ways to reinforce comprehension, grammar, and writing skills. A separate text/workbook with content from the program accompanies Learn To Speak Spanish, giving you an opportunity for additional in-depth studies. The Learning Company has a series of Learn to Speak programs for French, German, Italian, English, and Hablemos Ingles. Price: $79.95. The Learning Company Web site is: http://www.learningco.com

Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced PC users. It is easy enough for beginning users who have a working knowledge of Windows. It is appropriate for the following: Jr. High, High School, and College students; adults; and families. It is an excellent buy for families where there are more than one member who want to learn Spanish. Its flexible structure offers choice of learning tracks for users' varying skills and objectives.

Speech recognition;
Record your voice and play it back;
Video and audio of native speakers;
Cultural movies;
Online study plan;
Interactive exercises and games;
Teaches pronunciation,vocabulary, grammar, speaking, listening, reading and writing;
Workbook and audio cassette provided for additional practice;
Free microphone offer.

Installation. it is very easy to install and takes only 1 MB of space on your hard drive. During setup, a microphone test routine is installed so that you can check your microphone at any time to determine if it is working properly.

Interface. The interface is very user-friendly and it is easy to navigate back and forth between sections without getting confused. The Home Screen is where you begin your studies or select a new Chapter. A menu bar across the top of the screen gives you access to a Progress Report; Options to customize the program; and a Dictionary. On the bottom left of the screen, you have access to a Tour, which explains the features of the program; Online, which is a link to the Learn to Speak website; and a Grammar Guide. In the middle of the screen is a list of ten Units, plus a Basics section, where you learn the Spanish alphabet.

After you enter a Chapter or Unit, there is a menu bar, on top of the screen, with eleven tabs for quick navigation to any part of the program: Home, Goals, Vocabulary, Story, Action, Exercises, Grammar Conversation, Games, Dictionary, and Back.

Basics. The Basics section teaches the Spanish alphabet, followed by vowel and consonant sounds, then basic words such as numbers, colors, times, and yearly calendar. There are six progressive lessons.

Units. Each of the ten Units contains three Chapters and a cultural movie. Each chapter consists of interactive activities including: Goals, Vocabulary, Story, Action, Exercises, Grammar, Conversation, and Games. Throughout the program, there is a menu bar displayed at the top of the screen where you can access these activities.There is also a Dictionary and Back button. The program is organized in a progressive order of study. Each section within a chapter builds upon the other to create a natural learning environment.

Goals--Explains the skills to be learned and goals to be achieved in the chapter.

Vocabulary--This screen introduces words in Spanish along with their translations. You can view a video of native speakers and record your own voice to compare it to them. There is a speech-recognition gauge to help you evaluate your pronunciation.

Story--In Story you have the opportunity to learn the language in context by watching and listening to a dialogue that is accompanied by detailed illustrations. After this, you can record your voice to practice pronunciation, intonation, and speed.

Action--Listen to realistic conversations, plus learn how daily events are discussed in Spanish.

Exercises--You can apply what you have learned and see in which areas you may need additional practice.

Grammar--This screens introduce you to all the grammar rules pertaining to a selected chapter.

Conversation--This is where you combine all that you have learned: basics, vocabulary, and grammar and put it to use. The Conversation lets you carry on actual conversations with on-screen characters. What the characters say depends on what you say. And to add to the challenge, speech recognition scores your responses.

Games--With games, you can choose a game that will test and strengthen the language skills you have learned in a fun way. Two favorite games are Crossword Puzzle and Go Fish.

Learn To Speak Spanish includes the following tools to enhance your studies:

The Dictionary is accessible throughout most of the program. It incorporates all the vocabulary words from the program, including those from Extra Vocabulary and the Basics section.

The Grammar Guide is accessible from the main menu. It incorporates all of the grammar topics from all of the chapters.

The Progress screen charts your progress and performance in the program and presents a graphical display that shows which chapters you have successfully completed.

The Options dialog allows you to customize the learning environment according to your own preferences.

This is a fun and useful program. I have tried learning Spanish from books and tapes. With books, you don't get the experience of listening to a native speaker. With tapes, you are sitting there staring at a cassette player. The interactive parts of this program make the experience of learning a language enjoyable.

Processor: Pentium 75MHz or better
Operating System: Windows 95/98
Memory: 16 MB RAM
Hard Disk Space: 1 MB
256-color SVGA
4x CD-ROM drive
Windows compliant sound device

Scanner: Hewlett Packard ScanJet 6250C Professional Series
Web Page Editor: Symantec Visual Page
Graphics: Eye Candy 3.0



Click on a thumbnail to enlarge it. Use your browser's "BACK" button to return to this review when done.


Learn to Speak Spanish 7.0 is an interactive CD-ROM course in learning Spanish. Mastery of the content is equivalent to two years of study in speaking, reading, and writing college Spanish. If you have tried to learn Spanish using a cassette player and a pile of tapes, or tried reading "How To" manuals, it can be difficult. Learn to Speak Spanish, with its speech-recognition simulation technology, record/playback features, and interactive exercises and games, makes learning Spanish fun. Learn To Speak Spanish contains 30 situation-based chapters; each with lessons, exercises, and games that offer various ways to reinforce comprehension, grammar, and writing skills. A separate text/workbook with content from the program accompanies Learn To Speak Spanish, giving you an opportunity for additional in-depth studies. The Learning Company has a series of Learn to Speak programs for French, German, Italian, English, and Hablemos Ingles. Price: $79.95. The Learning Company Web site is: http://www.learningco.com


Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced PC users. It is easy enough for beginning users who have a working knowledge of Windows. It is appropriate for the following: Jr. High, High School, and College students; adults; and families. It is an excellent buy for families where there are more than one member who want to learn Spanish. Its flexible structure offers choice of learning tracks for users' varying skills and objectives.


Speech recognition; Record your voice and play it back; Video and audio of native speakers; Cultural movies; Online study plan; Interactive exercises and games; Teaches pronunciation,vocabulary, grammar, speaking, listening, reading and writing; Workbook and audio cassette provided for additional practice; Free microphone offer.


Installation. it is very easy to install and takes only 1 MB of space on your hard drive. During setup, a microphone test routine is installed so that you can check your microphone at any time to determine if it is working properly. Interface. The interface is very user-friendly and it is easy to navigate back and forth between sections without getting confused. The Home Screen is where you begin your studies or select a new Chapter. A menu bar across the top of the screen gives you access to a Progress Report; Options to customize the program; and a Dictionary. On the bottom left of the screen, you have access to a Tour, which explains the features of the program; Online, which is a link to the Learn to Speak website; and a Grammar Guide. In the middle of the screen is a list of ten Units, plus a Basics section, where you learn the Spanish alphabet. After you enter a Chapter or Unit, there is a menu bar, on top of the screen, with eleven tabs for quick navigation to any part of the program: Home, Goals, Vocabulary, Story, Action, Exercises, Grammar Conversation, Games, Dictionary, and Back. Basics. The Basics section teaches the Spanish alphabet, followed by vowel and consonant sounds, then basic words such as numbers, colors, times, and yearly calendar. There are six progressive lessons. Units. Each of the ten Units contains three Chapters and a cultural movie. Each chapter consists of interactive activities including: Goals, Vocabulary, Story, Action, Exercises, Grammar, Conversation, and Games. Throughout the program, there is a menu bar displayed at the top of the screen where you can access these activities.There is also a Dictionary and Back button. The program is organized in a progressive order of study. Each section within a chapter builds upon the other to create a natural learning environment. Goals--Explains the skills to be learned and goals to be achieved in the chapter. Vocabulary--This screen introduces words in Spanish along with their translations. You can view a video of native speakers and record your own voice to compare it to them. There is a speech-recognition gauge to help you evaluate your pronunciation. Story--In Story you have the opportunity to learn the language in context by watching and listening to a dialogue that is accompanied by detailed illustrations. After this, you can record your voice to practice pronunciation, intonation, and speed. Action--Listen to realistic conversations, plus learn how daily events are discussed in Spanish. Exercises--You can apply what you have learned and see in which areas you may need additional practice. Grammar--This screens introduce you to all the grammar rules pertaining to a selected chapter. Conversation--This is where you combine all that you have learned: basics, vocabulary, and grammar and put it to use. The Conversation lets you carry on actual conversations with on-screen characters. What the characters say depends on what you say. And to add to the challenge, speech recognition scores your responses. Games--With games, you can choose a game that will test and strengthen the language skills you have learned in a fun way. Two favorite games are Crossword Puzzle and Go Fish. Learn To Speak Spanish includes the following tools to enhance your studies: The Dictionary is accessible throughout most of the program. It incorporates all the vocabulary words from the program, including those from Extra Vocabulary and the Basics section. The Grammar Guide is accessible from the main menu. It incorporates all of the grammar topics from all of the chapters. The Progress screen charts your progress and performance in the program and presents a graphical display that shows which chapters you have successfully completed. The Options dialog allows you to customize the learning environment according to your own preferences.


This is a fun and useful program. I have tried learning Spanish from books and tapes. With books, you don't get the experience of listening to a native speaker. With tapes, you are sitting there staring at a cassette player. The interactive parts of this program make the experience of learning a language enjoyable.


Processor: Pentium 75MHz or better Operating System: Windows 95/98 Memory: 16 MB RAM Hard Disk Space: 1 MB 256-color SVGA 4x CD-ROM drive Windows compliant sound device

Scanner: Hewlett Packard ScanJet 6250C Professional Series Web Page Editor: Symantec Visual Page Graphics: Eye Candy 3.0