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LEARN YOUR WAY
Multimedia Program Creates Immersion-like Learning Experience
Whether they're making their way to "Le
Louvre" in Paris or ordering "pinchos morunos" at a tapas bar in
Seville, travelers using Knowledge Adventure's new "Learn French Your Way"
or "Learn Spanish Your Way" have a chance to learn the basics of
speaking and understanding French or Spanish in time for their next vacation or
business trip. "The cutting edge programs create an immersion-like
learning experience through multimedia listening and speaking exercises, video
clips of cultural highlights, and conversation and role-playing games that
simulate actual travel experiences," says Pete Wiezalis, senior brand
manager of the Learn Your Way series. Designed by a team of professional
language instructors, Learn Spanish Your Way and Learn French Your Way provide
language learners with flexibility and multiple navigation options to
personalize their approach to learning. Lessons focus on learning language
through progressive levels, and cover the four language skills -- speaking,
listening, reading and writing skills -- as well as vocabulary and grammar. In
addition, the programs teach cultural nuances including behaviors, gestures and
idioms. The programs teach verbal communication skills by
immersing learners in interactive role-play videos with native speakers such as
ordering at a restaurant, asking for directions or making small talk. Users can
practice speaking various roles in a video scene, recording their dialogue and
replaying the videos to assess their pronunciation. Other video lessons show
how a native speaker pronounces a vocabulary word or phrase, along with the
spelling, translation, usage notes and cultural context. The reading and writing exercises present a variety of
everyday examples of communication such as letters, e-mails and advertisements.
A color-coded feature boosts reading and writing skills three ways. Language
learners can click hyperlinked text and get addition learning material in their
choice of Translation, Grammar or Skill modes. A vocabulary course teaches over 1,400 vocabulary items,
including words, phrases and expressions. The package also includes video
vacations from around the world and interactive games. After completing the
lessons, users can assess their progress with QuickCheck, a brief review quiz
that includes an explanation for each answer. Learn Your Way offers two methods to help language
learners improve their pronunciation: Smart Feedback and Record/Playback. The
Smart Feedback feature uses IBM ViaVoice speech recognition technology to
evaluate the user's accuracy of speech and provide prompt assessment. The
Record/Playback feature is comparable to having a tape recorder, and enables
the user to compare their speech to a model of correct pronunciation. At http://www.LanguageYourWay.com
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those using Learn Your Way can "Ask the Teacher" language questions,
take assessment tests, download additional lessons and play games to help
advance their skills. Currently under construction, this new Web site will also
provide visitors access to cultural information and other language links. "Learn Spanish Your Way" and "Learn
French Your Way" are each available in a Windows 2000/98/95 CD-ROM format,
and include toll-free technical support. Visit http://www.languageyourway.com
or call (800) 542-4240 for sales and ordering information. (Price is
approximately $70 each.) Edited by Kerry Cohen |
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TM