Best Language Software

Best options in second-language software

Reviewers agree that the most comprehensive, cost-effective and consumer-friendly language learning software available is Tell Me More Premium by Auralog (*Est. $270) . Tell Me More is available in nine languages: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Dutch and English. All Tell Me More Products include more than 300 hours of instruction, with most languages containing 850 hours or more. Reviewers at Learning Village, 101Language.com and Software.com like the fact that instruction is broad-based, focusing on seven basic skill sets: speaking, listening, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary and culture. The program has four levels of difficulty and personalized learning paths based on periodic computer assessments. Most reviewers agree that consistent use of the software builds a high level of competence, and several comment that the sheer volume of instructional materials justifies the price tag.

In addition to hundreds of hours of instruction, Tell Me More Premium includes 4,500 learning exercises in 37 different activity types, appealing to all learning styles. The program incorporates sound and video clips, as well as speech recognition technology. Users can also record themselves speaking a word or phrase and match their voice with a graphic, wave-type representation of a native speaker's voice, identifying specific intonation changes that should be made. Dan Lang, a reviewer for Learning Village, identifies this feature as the best language pronunciation and graphic intonation tool he has ever seen. Several reviewers, including scholar Eric Vogt on Bright Hub, also feel that the personalized learning options help tailor the program to specific learners, leading to a more productive learning experience.

Some education site reviewers point out that even the most basic lessons require a small foundational knowledge in the selected language, which may be a downside for complete novices. Users on Amazon.com have many similar complaints, most stating that the software is unsuitable for true beginners. A few users also complain about the navigation and the quick pace of the language software, but others praise the course and say it is both user-friendly and comprehensive.

What Tell Me More Premium offers to adults, the KidSpeak language series by Transparent Language (*Est. $30) provides for learners under 12. Designed as a full immersion program, repeatedly shown to be the most effective language learning method for children, KidSpeak offers a strong language foundation in nine popular languages. Reviewers at Discovery Education are impressed with the relaxed pace of learning and the level of repetition, stating that young testers find this program less stressful and more conducive to learning than other language programs. The KidSpeak software focuses on five key areas, including alphabet, numbers, animals, etc. With more than 40 activities to reinforce learning and over 700 vocabulary words, reviewers at several education sites -- including Discovery Education, Learning Village and LearningWare Reviews -- agree that this is one of the most comprehensive kid-focused language programs available.

In addition to the nine single-language programs offered, KidSpeak also offers two software bundles. KidSpeak 6-in-1 World Pack (*Est. $50) is a package that includes full programs in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Hebrew and Japanese. The Discovery Education site declares this language software package the best foreign language title for kids. The KidSpeak 4-in-1 Asian Pack (*est. $40) is a more focused pack, including full programs in Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese and Korean.

Reviewers at several sites do caution that KidSpeak is a total immersion program, which many adults and some children may find frustrating. They also caution that the program is not designed to produce complete fluency. Some users at Amazon.com were frustrated with the total immersion aspect, but more were disappointed with the use of Castilian Spanish rather than the more popular Mexican Spanish taught in many schools. Because both the alphabet and some common pronunciations differ in Castilian Spanish, parents should be aware that this is the basis of the software prior to purchasing the product.

For travelers not seeking a comprehensive system, the Learn to Speak Deluxe program by eLanguage provides focused vocabulary lessons and highly personalized learning in Spanish, French, German or English. In addition to the basic software, this program also includes an audio cassette/CD and a workbook for further language practice. Learn to Speak offers eleven units of learning, each with several subsections, but the focus is on vocabulary, rather than grammar and sentence structure. Games and activities are also included to reinforce learning and lighten the intense pace.

Learn to Speak Deluxe relies heavily on speech recognition technology, giving learners the opportunity to practice vocabulary in virtual, real-time conversations. Reviewers at Learning Village, LearningWare Reviews, SuperKids Educational Software Review and PC Magazine all raved about the ability to carry on a real-time conversation with characters in the program. Learners can order dinner from a virtual waiter who actually responds to each element of their order, or they can barter in a marketplace with a vendor who talks with them in simulated conversation. Several real-life situations are provided for conversation practice, and nearly all reviewers found this feature very helpful in advancing conversational language skills. The included assessment test for tailoring the software to a user's needs and the speech ranking system also received high praise from testers and from reviewer and editor Shane Mooney of PC Magazine.

Reviewers at LearningWare Reviews did note that the Learn to Speak series is not comprehensive enough to lead to any sort of fluency. Reviewers at SuperKids Educational Software Review and LearningWare Reviews expressed disappointment with the games offered for learning reinforcement, stating that they were a bit boring and tedious. The fact that the software uses primarily an immersion training style was also mentioned by reviewers and testers at several sites as a potential drawback for adult learners.

It is important to note that a company called AareSoft Technology makes a line of similar products with the Learn to Speak name. These programs did not appear in any reviews we found, and inspection of the company's website indicated that their programs do not offer many of the features and benefits found in the eLanguage Learn to Speak series. Shoppers could easily be led astray by the identical titles and lower price tag, but the AareSoft Learn to Speak programs are not covered or recommended in the reviews we found.

Although not as well-reviewed as other options, Talk Now! by EuroTalk (*Est. $35) is the best option available for some of the less common languages and dialects spoken around the globe. Currently available in 110 languages, Talk Now! covers Afrikaans to Zulu and nearly every conceivable language in between, adding new languages each year. Reviewers at 101Language.com and Top Ten Reviews both note that it is a less comprehensive offering than other options, focusing on spoken language basics in only nine topic areas, but it remains the only available language learning software for nearly half of its 110 languages. Although it focuses little on grammar and fundamentals, Talk Now! reinforces vocabulary through listening practice, an easy game, a difficult game, speech practice and a printable dictionary for each of the nine topics covered.

Despite its basic simplicity, reviewers say Talk Now! offers some valuable features that can enhance learning and comprehension. Reviewers at 101Language.com liked the incorporated voice recording and fairly sophisticated speech recognition technology in the speech practice section at the end of each topic. In addition, Talk Now! is designed to be "intelligent" software, and reviewers and testers both found the program excellent at identifying weak areas and targeting those areas through personalized learning paths.

Reviewers at both Top Ten Reviews and 101Language.com were quick to point out that this program only covers language basics, not leading to any real fluency. They also noted a lack of comprehensive learning activities to reinforce knowledge. Users and reviewers both pointed out the complete lack of information on grammar and sentence structure, as well as most conversational skills. Most users at Amazon.com indicated that it was a fun program that primarily taught them a smattering of vocabulary words.

Rocket Languages software is highly praised by a few reviewers, but was not considered an effective program by any of the educational reviews we read. One site also indicated concerns about the teaching tools lacking in Rocket's software, including a complete lack of video and speech recognition capabilities, as well as a lack of personalized learning paths and methods for tracking personal progress through the software.