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from: ENCORE / RIVERDEEP  
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
EAN: 0772040814182 ESRB Age Rating: Everyone Format: CD Label: ENCORE / RIVERDEEP Manufacturer: ENCORE / RIVERDEEP Platform: Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me Publisher: ENCORE / RIVERDEEP Studio: ENCORE / RIVERDEEP Features:
Related Items: Browse for similar items by category: Click to Display Editorial Review: Amazon.com Review: There are so many language-learning programs available that it's hard to know where to begin when choosing one. Many are so similar that you need to carefully review and compare even the smallest options in each to tell the difference. Learn to Speak Spanish doesn't stand out above similar programs, but it does have certain features that make it as desirable as its competitors. Learn to Speak Spanish comes with a workbook to assist the student in following the course from beginning to advanced level. It also includes a placement test at the beginning of the program, saving users who already know how to count or recite basic phrases a ton of time. As we see it, Learn to Speak Spanish has two drawbacks. First, while the program includes speech-recognition technology, the instructions on installing the microphone (which is not included and must be purchased separately) are difficult to find and not at all easy to follow. Learn to Speak Spanish has a smart pronunciation meter that measures your skill from tourist to native, but getting to a place where you can use it is a challenge. The second drawback is that the overall user experience is rather dry. The narrators and instructors have no life to them, and there is nothing built into the program--such as music or animation--to make it fun. Users can watch the movies for cultural lessons, but the courses for learning vocabulary and grammar are far from attention-grabbing. For this reason, Learn to Speak Spanish seems better suited to an older, more serious user, perhaps someone who has a vested interest in learning Spanish and is excited to learn it for its own sake, rather than excited about a fun computer program. Overall, Learn to Speak Spanish accomplishes all of the goals one might be looking for in a language-learning program. Users will learn pronunciation, vocabulary, listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar skills. It has useful features such as speech-recognition technology, voice recording and playback, dictionaries, cultural programs, and Internet resources. Learn to Speak Spanish is an affordable and effective--if somewhat uninspired--choice in the world of language-learning software. --Kendra Hayden Amazon.com Product Description: Build your fluency in Spanish using this feature-rich five-CD collection. Learn to Speak Spanish's 100 lessons and adjustable study plan expand your Spanish vocabulary and perfect your pronunciation. Choose from a variety of instructional features, including cultural video clips and a talking dictionary. Learn to Speak's voice recording, playback tools, and speech recognition technology let you practice your Spanish, develop your ear, and hone your pronunciation. A conversational CD completes the collection, adding a final polish to your newly acquired abilities. Average Rating:
 Rating:  - So far so good - it does work under Windows XPI've used this software for a couple of days now and so far so good. I have XP Pro with SP2 and the software installed without any problem. After reading the reviews here, I did some searching for Broderbund's Tech Support. Although the box says it's made by TLC, Broderbund is where you find the tech support. It's true that's not shown right on their website. Due to Amazon's restrictions, I'm not posting the url but it CAN be found by just doing a search on google for 'broderbund tech support'. ... Read More Rating: - Learn to speak SpanishI purchased this course & halfway through the CD started playing up,skipping parts & duplicating others.I returned the CD to TLC in Crawley in Sussex & haven't heard zilch.No answers to phone calls or e-mails.Now I have a manual,a program in my computer that requires a CD before it will open & no CD.My advice is STAY WELL CLEAR of The Learning Company & don't waste your money as I have done(or should it be as I have been DONE) Bill Gardner Rating: - Yes, I got what I paid forBecause when I bought this software, I paid $74. Now most Spanish lessons on CD-ROMs avereage $30, so I don't put too much stock in the value of a package, rather what it does for me. The Learn To Speak Spanish is so far my favorite. While others provide cartoons of humans, I learn from looking at a moving human speaking directly to me. Using this software, I went to Malaga Spain and was able to communicate. I still need it to communicate in New York where I live. N. America is becoming ... Read More Rating:  - Garbage on a CDOne of the poorest quality software products ever shipped. Did they test this before releasing it? The program routinely locks up, requiring you to restart your computer. Who knows what the program is like...you can't even get it to run long enough to find out. Useless...oh well, maybe I can use the CD for a small frisbee. Rating: - You only get part of what you pay forWith other reviewers I agree that the nonexistent Internet portion of the program is deceptively advertised. Furthermore, on my copy, only some of the lessons have functioning video and audio clips, rendering the final conversation practice in each lesson inoperable too. You can still learn some vocabulary, and take the very simple grammar tests, but that's all. On the whole, a very disappointing program. I don't recommend it for buyers who expect to advance beyond the most basic level. 
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