Foreign Language Software

[jahcs]

I an looking to purchase a foreign language computer program. Specific languages of interest, in order of importance, are Arabic, Japanese, and Spanish. I would like to avoid programs that are oriented toward young children. A translator function would be a bonus.

Do any of you Lurkers have experience with these programs?

Thanks,

jahcs

[swirly]

I an looking to purchase a foreign language computer program.  Specific languages of interest, in order of importance, are Arabic, Japanese, and Spanish.  I would like to avoid programs that are oriented toward young children.  A translator function would be a bonus.

Do any of you Lurkers have experience with these programs?

Thanks,

jahcs
[right][snapback]73855[/snapback][/right]

Back when I worked in the computer lab at college (4 years ago or so), the spanish classes used a program called Dos Mundos. I don't speak spanish and so only know about it from the classes that were in the lab and the spanish teachers I knew. So I'm assuming that since it is used in college classes that it wouldn't be oriented toward young children. Thats a complete blind assumption though. Its something you could possibly look into though.

[SetBuilder]

I an looking to purchase a foreign language computer program.  Specific languages of interest, in order of importance, are Arabic, Japanese, and Spanish.  I would like to avoid programs that are oriented toward young children.  A translator function would be a bonus.

Do any of you Lurkers have experience with these programs?

Thanks,

jahcs
[right][snapback]73855[/snapback][/right]

Here are a few ideas for you for spanish and japanese. There are aproximately 2315424352345234 more, but this is a good start.

Spanish: http://shop2.outpost.com/catreq/7434
Japanese: http://shop2.outpost.com/catreq/7440

You're on your own for Arabic, and good luck to you. I wouldn't even know how the character set translates. Hell, diferentiating the letters is hard enough. What arabic language are you looking for though? I saw a few at frys for hebrew...

[jahcs]

The Instant Immersion sets are what my local retailers stock. It's hard to tell what the program is like just from the label on the package. I was just hoping someone here at the Lounge had some experience with any of the more popular ones.

Thanks for looking. :)

[SetBuilder]

The Instant Immersion sets are what my local retailers stock.  It's hard to tell what the program is like just from the label on the package.  I was just hoping someone here at the Lounge had some experience with any of the more popular ones.

Thanks for looking. :)
[right][snapback]73963[/snapback][/right]

Can only tell you for Spanish. What japanese I know I learned from a Japanese woman.

For a spanish dictionary: http://shop2.outpost.com/product/3884887?s...02/7002/7001/-1

Nothing better. Translate any word from english to spanish, or spanish to english. Also has audio, and a few other features. It's websters, man!

And this one is excellent for pretty much everything, and is compatable with both mac and windows, and also has software for a palm pilot, or pocket pc: http://shop2.outpost.com/product/4028612?s...02/7002/7001/-1

Between the two of those, you shouldn't need too much more, aside from maybe talking to spanish people. Also, if you have any friends who speak fluent spanish, as you are learning, start talking to them in it. They'll laugh at you to start, but you'll find they will help you with sentence structure better than any software or book ever would.

Edit: Oh, and http://shop2.outpost.com/product/4303655?s...02/7002/7001/-1 would be a good supliment to that last one as well. I've never used it, but someone here at work told me it's more oriented to an older person, and is more interesting.