April 2004
Exercise Program
Three German home-tuition language courses
The three products presented below are all designed for self-tuition but serious learners should consider combining this material with language classes to achieve optimal results.
TELL ME MORE****
Auralog
www.auralog.com
The
Tell Me More computer software program is the result of several years of research and development by language teachers. The method covers the four areas of language training: listening, reading, writing and speaking. After registration, the user has the option of choosing the guided mode or the free-to-roam mode of learning. The guided mode is recommended for beginners. Every learner using
Tell Me More can adapt the system to their needs. A progress chart showing all the lessons and accompanying revision lessons is created automatically. When the mouse is placed on a square of the progress chart, it shows which skills a particular activity teaches. There are 25 activities on offer, including practicing word order, filling in the blanks and picture/word association exercises. The progress indicator at the bottom of the screen allows users to monitor the pace of their work.
One of the special features of learning with the
Tell Me More software is that it enables students to concentrate on perfecting their accent and intonation. Animated 3-D illustrations demonstrate how phonemes are produced, by showing the positions of the mouth, while waveforms and pitch curves help the user to imitate the rhythm and intonation of words and sentences. The system also analyzes the user’s pronunciation and grades it on a scale of 1 to 7. Technophobes should not be discouraged by this software-based system. In fact,
Tell Me More is surprisingly easy to follow and employs the best of all learning methods.
LINKWORD GERMAN LEVEL 1***
Linkword Languages
www.linkwordlanguages.com
The writer and developer of
Linkword language courses, Michael Gruneberg, is an internationally recognized expert on teaching methods. Neither the packaging nor the visuals of this CD-Rom are sophisticated, yet behind the very simple, text-only layout lies an extremely effective learning method. The course uses fast and fun memory techniques to teach basic grammar, sentence translations and hundreds of words in just ten to twelve hours. Divided into ten manageable units, covering topics such as food and drink, travel and leisure activities,
Linkword takes a cleverly designed, step-by-step approach. Each word appears in both English and German, with audio pronunciation and phonetic spelling, plus a sentence that uses visual imagery to form an associative link between the two words. For example, the German word for late is
spät, so the program suggests visualizing hitting your friend with a spade when they are late. It uses the same visual method to teach articles and adjectives and before you can say Wurst, the sentences are flowing. Interactive quizzes in each section allow students to monitor their progress, which in most cases is reassuringly quick. It is possible for the learner to listen to the pronunciations repeatedly and to work through the course at their own pace. Some of the visual imagery is unusual, but its effectiveness is beyond doubt—at least for the author of this text. It does not provide or claim to provide conversational fluency, but used as a supplement to a class-based language course or by people too busy to attend German lessons it can be useful. For students seeking the confidence-boosting effect of quick results and those who do not find language learning an onerous task
Linkword is a good system.
TEACH YOURSELF
GERMAN**
By Paul Coggle and
Heiner Schenke
Hodder Arnold Teach Yourself, 2003
This course is aimed at students who wish to progress quickly from the basics of German to understanding, writing and speaking the language with confidence, but is also suitable for anyone wishing to brush up existing skills. The book was written by two experienced German teachers and can be purchased on its own. Language learners not confident in spoken German may profit from using the double cassette or CD—these can be ordered in conjunction with the book. Grammar and vocabulary are introduced in a series of 18 units, progressing from everyday situations to using the telephone and writing a job application. The course covers all the grammar and vocabulary required for the British GCSE exam. The exercises and tests enable students to check their progress and review problematic language points. The most useful features of the book are the tips on pronunciation and grammar and the chapters on German culture. They provide helpful advice and information for anyone planning a trip to Germany. This method of learning is best suited to highly motivated students who prefer the pencil and paper method of language acquisition and is probably not to be recommended for young learners with a short attention span.
