Free foreign language learning tips, English lessons and software

Bonjour!

Rocket French is produced in my homeland New Zealand by Rocket languages.

What do I get in this system? (It has various ‘components’)

• 31 interactive audio lessons (25 minutes each, 14 hours total)
• 31 illustrated grammar lessons (follows the Audio Course)
• “MegaVocab” Rocket French Word Building Game
• “MegaAudio” language software game
• “MegaVerbs” Grammar Software Game
• Your own French teacher, “on call” 24 hours a day.

My impressions:

Like the other Rocket language products, I took the program for a test drive starting with the audio component during the day while in transit to work and in my lunch breaks. In the evenings I focused on the Rocket French PC games.

This program is very thorough. There are similar products offering an audio program (pimsleur method), PC software (Rosetta Stone). Rocket has managed to combine both to give a very refreshing, easy fun and up to date system. The audio is well structured and puts the listener in many realistic situations. The software is useful for vocab and grammar. Included is access to a member forum.

Rosetta Stone is currently:$209
Pimsleur French is currently:$249
Rocket French is currently:$99

If you are interested then click to Rocket French for more information!

Cheers and good luck,
Tristan

Return to menu

Today’s review is: Pimsleur French!

The Pimsleur method is one of the ‘old school’ systems that is well known with a good reputation. We are going to review it next to other modern systems.

What do I get in this system?

• Audio course on CD
• Book including transcripts

My impressions:

I used the German version for a period of six months some years ago. The concept of active learning was new to me at the time and I enjoyed it immensely. I must say that the French version is a little dated now as newer rivals (Rocket French) have produced a similar idea with many extras (software) and at half the price. The Pimsleur method is completely audio based, there is no interactive software and relies on you to actively participate in the audio questions.

We have established it is more expensive than most French courses and is only audio, If you are looking for pronunciation help and vocabulary for your trips to France or conversing with others, then this is a tried and tested system that is worth some merit.

Prices start at $29 to over $200 for more advanced full package version.

If you want to have a closer look, then click to Pimsleur language courses

Cheers,
Tristan

Return to menu

Bonjour!

Today’s French review is Magnum French.

What do I get in this system?

(please note: Magnum French is only available as a shipped product)

• 1 Software CD ROM
• 1 Audio CD
• 1 Story/Quick Reference book
• 30 Levels of grammar
• 28 levels of vocabulary
• Over 100 hours of instruction
• Talking Dictionary
• Voice Recognition
• Auto Learn with progress tracking
• 3 Learning modes to choose from

My impressions:

My time with this program was limited as it is solely computer based.

The installation is simple and once installed, using the program is just as easy. the user interface is straight forward and simple to navigate. The Auto Learn feature tracked my progress and I was able to see a graph of my performance by clicking on the Monitor Progress button.

I worked on the speech recognition, learning comprehension, reading, writing, vocabulary and grammar skills sections. This program is thorough and follows a methodical structure for learning.

On a negative note, people who want online learning are not catered for as the program is only available on CD.

In conclusion, if you enjoy sitting at your computer to learn a language and don’t mind waiting for your software to arrive, then this package is worth considering. If price is an issue, It is cost effective at only half what most French packages cost BUT it has much less functionally that the others have…

Update: There are two versions, the reviewed above includes a headset and booklet.

If you would like to know more the click to Magnum French.

Cheers,
Tristan

Return to menu