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for learning with multimedia |
Software products overview | Order software
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Tips for learning with
multimedia
Learning German with multimedia support: This opportunity
to gain knowledge in foreign languages with computers is more and
more attractive due to the increasing number of courses and - even
more importantly - to better programs.
We recommend this option of language training for all those who
wish - independent from time, location and tutor to undertake an
intensive preparation for "live" German contact. In this
way a learning CD-ROM offers an additional opportunity to make any
up-and-coming trip to Germany a successful cultural and linguistic
experience.
For self-study with learning software here are some general points
to consider:
- Learning CD-ROM's will involve you in dialogues, expand your
vocabulary and check your pronunciation.
- Most of the courses are focused on a learning goal for special
situations: You need it as quick preparation for a vacation, you
have to go on a business trip to Germany or you have to do a company
presentation in German.
- Somebody who would like to have an effective language course
in the long term should consider learning regularly over a longer
period. This can get quite boring with software-based language
courses and more self motivation is needed.
- Principally the CD-ROM's have a big advantage compared to their
language course colleagues such as books, videos or audio tapes:
You can react directly to the answers. You will be astonished
that your CD-ROM course can get you to speak quite quickly. For
the state-of-the-art programs recording your voice is a standard
feature. As in a language laboratory you repeat the words or phrases
that you hear from a mother-tongue speaker. Afterwards the program
repeats both versions during which time it is easy to hear the
differences and mistakes.
- The more entertaining such a course is, the longer you will
be happy with it. This is the reason why interactive features
have advantages, especially for beginners.
- For many language students it is helpful when they can hear
the German language in the background, for example listening to
a German radio program: Is not always
so important to understand something word for word. The sound
of the language leaves an impression in your mind and helps you
to develop a feeling for the German language. This will definitely
make a course in Germany more successful.
When buying a multimedia course you might consider some of the
following criteria:
- How does the multimedia-based course motivate me to learn?
To avoid being boring, the programs should offer a good mixture
of dialogues, pictures, exercises and voice recordings. It is also
more motivating if the computer gives you praise from time to time.
- How great is the practical benefit of the course? Can I use
what I have learnt?
Even the best learning software focused on negotiating your salary
will not be worth the investment if you need vocabulary for vacations.
Special travel vocabulary and common phrases are needed, e.g. to
book a room or make a reservation in a restaurant on the phone.
Also the program should not give you only vocabulary but complete
phrases as well.
- Is there a tool included to measure progress at the various
stages of the course?
Progress checks are important for self assessment. It is best to
have an automated analysis at the end of each learning unit.
- Does it have a user friendly interface?
How fast will a user get familiar with a program? Are the help
files really helpful? Is it possible to answer all questions quickly
and return the program to it's previous position? Also the installation
must progress without any difficulties.
- Does the software suit my system? MAC or PC, WindowXXX?
The best software is not useful if it's not running on the user's
system. So it's always better to be aware of the system's requirements.
Multimedia applications especially need a lot of system resources.
To avoid problems and any unnecessary headache, we suggest that
you have at least 30% more memory than the manufacturer's recommended
minimum. Furthermore look out for good sound and graphics cards.
Also if you have a big screen you'll have much more fun and get
tired less quickly.
To make the search easier for you, we would like to give you a
summary of the most important publishing houses and their offers
for "German as foreign language", main focus: "German
for adults", followingly.
Furthermore you find a link for direct order (amazon.com) for the
textbooks marked by # at
the end of this side.
Software products for "German
as a foreign language" - overview
In the following we will introduce you the most popular offers
in brief. Also we haven't mentioned all CDs here, which almost complete
every textbook:
- Prosonsoft – Learn German in every day life and profession on CD-ROM or online
- The Hueber-Verlag offers many CD's as a supplement to most their
text books and for all course levels. (#1)
- The Goethe-Institut has the German learning programme www.einblicke.com
(#2) for the
language level B1. It includes 9 terms of reference - each at
one CD-ROM. For the beginners' level A1 and A2 Goethe recommends
the programme "Lina und Leo" (#3).
- "Tell me more" is the name of the learning software
by Aurolog.
It offers a comprehensive learning programme for the levels A1-B2
(#4).
- The Rosetta Stone offers the teaching software "Deutsch-Explorer".
It includes 22 chapters for beginners' in learning German: "Einfach
Sprachen lernen" (#5)
- EuroTalkInteractice provides
"Essential words and phrases for absolute beginners"
on a CD-ROM. (#6)
- Foreign Language
Learing Software: A creative and fun way to learn foreign
languages using list building. www.linguata.com
- A new German course (DaF) from Switzerland => "Im Falle
eines Falles": text book, exercise book, key book, CD-ROM
and e-learning => www.imfalle.ch.
- Claritaslux language learning
software - This amazing new language software program will
allow you to speed learn and speak German with ease. Also available
for Spanish, French, Polish, Italian.
- Further recommendations for software products are explained
the www.zum.de/schule/public/karlkirst-software.html
of K. Kirst, especially
if you are not using the latest PC configurations (Comments in
German).
- LinguaSaver
is a Free Languages Screensaver to learn German, but also English,
Spanish, French and Italian.
- Vocabulix.com :
a free vocabulary trainer for
English, Spanish and German
Please write to us,
if you could recommend further teaching software for learning German.
Related information to this page is:
| Learning
German via internet | Text books
for "German as a foreign language" | Dictionaries
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Order software directly
Important notice: The
direct order at Amazon.com
is recommendable due to the transportation costs outside Europe.
If you live in Europe, the order via Amazon.de could be cheaper.
In this case go to the this page in German.
Note for
the direct product links:
We apologize if some links shouldn't work directly to the product at Amazon.com
and at Amazon.co.uk
The article is possibly undeliverable at present.
If you would like to search the internet for current offers and
new software please make use of a search engine, e.g. Yahoo.de,
and the appropiate search terms, like "sprach cd, Sprachlernprogramm
Deutsch, Sprach Software Deutsch, Multimedia CD deutsch lernen,
learning software, Lernsoftware Deustch, german on CD, deutsch
lernen CD".
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order now at amazon.com
