LEARN YOUR WAYMultimedia Program Creates Immersion-like Learning ExperienceWhether 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 , 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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