Get immersed and talking fast with Instant Immersion

Instant Immersion Spanish Instant Immersion language learning software is available in over 100 languages, including some native American languages, not just major languages of the world. Each language is "taught" by a native speaker, so you get to hear correct pronunciation as you learn. There are three levels for Spanish. Each level comprises 3 discs and a workbook. If you buy the Deluxe set, you get three bonus discs with the package. Each package comes with an interactive DVD and MP3 discs that you can transfer to your iPod or iPhone to play on the go.

This software is best for the beginner who wants to pick up conversational skills quickly. If you are going to Spain, then the Spanish package is good for you because it teaches Spanish from Spain, not Latin America. The use of flash cards, conversation with a native speaker, and a video game to enforce learning, work together to help you learn through repetition and practice. The only drawback is that there is no grammar instruction, which may not bother you, depending on how you learn.

As you listen to the pronunciation, you can record your voice and play it back to hear how you sound, as compared to the native speaker. The "checking" component is wave form and pitch contour which can be adjusted to strict or lenient. For those who can't seem to hear the differences in tones and sounds, this system is very good to help you get the right pronunciation. As you converse with the computer, you are learning quickly general phrases and questions that will help the general or business learner of Spanish. The variety and mixture of topics appeals to learners of all ages.

The audio and visual lessons present information in a variety of ways. Each activity can be customised for the particular age group. In short, you can tweak the software to learn in your own way. This is a bonus, since each person learns differently. You choose what works best for you.

There is no space to get bored as the approach to teaching changes as you get used to the same method. Your mind will not have a chance to wander off. This makes learning fun and interesting.

The best part about Instant Immersion is the price. This costs a fraction of Rosetta Stone and Fluenz. It is affordable and helps you get started quickly. Of course, all three packages, plus Pimsleur, can be used in conjunction with each other. If you want to learn fast, then get all the packages and immerse yourself in every way possible. Sometimes the way to learn is to jump in with two feet.

Whichever way you learn best, enjoy the process! Learning language is fun! Fun Language Tools

Are you an audio learner? Use Pimsleur

Pimsleur German language

Pimsleur is one of the top selling language learning software packages available in the market today. It was developed by Dr Pimsleur himself, who is a linguist. The success story of Pimsleur is that this package is used by the US government to train its officers in foreign languages so that they can serve effectively overseas. So, why not extend it to the general public?

The approach is a simple three steps: learn, review, engage. All lessons are audio-based at 30 minutes per lesson. Up to four users are allowed with one purchase. It comes in CD or MP3 format. There are games and audio flashcards in the package. The beauty of Pimsleur is you can take your lesson with you on the go: in the car, while riding a bus or a train, or even a bicycle. No computer is required. At 30 minutes a day, you will be speaking and understanding very quickly.

50 languages are available to choose. Each lesson is based on a drill, so the words and phrases will stick in your head for a long, long time, simply because you have to repeat them over and over again. Each new word or phrase builds on or incorporates the previous one learned, so there is little chance you will forget what you learned yesterday or the week before. It is excellent for the absolute beginner in the language of your choice. It works best for the audio learner, not someone who needs to "see it to remember it".

I tried out the free Mandarin lesson online. The instructors are native speakers. That is a plus. However, Mandarin is a tonal language. A wrong tone will result in either not making any sense whatsoever, or saying something completely different. If you are tone deaf, you will never be able to differentiate between the tones. The only explanations that the instructor gives is, "Notice the rising and falling tone". Frankly, if you are an absolute beginner, you may never even have realised there were tones to begin with.

Then comes the learner's pronunciation. Since the lessons are all audio-based, there is no interaction with the software or instructor. This means there is no way to check if I am pronouncing the words correctly or not. It baffles me why the marketer's voice says, "Your pronunciation will be exceptional!" Really? How will I know?

Now comes the actual content of Lesson 1 for the Beginner. Pimsleur translates the spoken English language into Chinese as 英文. Technically, this is not correct. 文 is used for the written language. 语 is used for the spoken language. So, the question: "Do you speak English?" should be translated as "你会说英语吗？" rather than "你会说英文吗？“

Since the lessons are focused only on conversational Mandarin for China, it makes sense to use the Mainland China's translation of Mandarin, which is 普通话, instead of 华语 (South-East Asia) or 国语 (Taiwan) or 汉语 (some parts of China), depending on which part of the Chinese-speaking world you come from. For the written form, Chinese language is translated as 中文 or 华文.

No language learning package is perfect. It all depends on how you best learn a language. Some reviews said they never got past very simple phrases that did not allow them to survive as a tourist in a foreign land. Others said they were speaking in no time at all, as short as two weeks. My recommendation is to use a combination of several packages (Fluenz or Rosetta Stone or some simple child's DVD or book) to get the full exposure to every kind of learning method. This way, you will really be speaking like a native in no time at all. The goal is to learn, not criticise the instructor.

Have fun learning a new language! It will open doors to cultures you never dreamed existed!

Fun Language Tools

Fluenz to get fluent

Fluenz Language Learning Software

Fluenz is considered one of the luxury brands of language learning software available in the market today. Six languages are currently available, with more being added at a slow pace. This move is deliberate as each language offered has been carefully researched and pulled apart before the curriculum is designed for the English speaker who is learning the new language.

The instructor for each language offered uses a different approach for each language. Fluenz does not assume that the way to learn every language is the same. Each instructor has put in great effort to learn the language himself/herself. They do not claim to be perfect, native speakers. The goal of Fluenz is simply to get you communicating orally with a native speaker as quickly as possible.

Here's an example of a Mandarin lesson: The lesson is about ordering a drink at a restaurant. The conversation begins with simple greetings and then Lisa orders coffee and water. As you listen to the spoken words, the Hanyu Pinyin or official pronunciation guide appears on the screen. No Chinese characters are used in the lessons, as the focus is on conversation, not reading and writing.

Go through teach short lesson at least three times or until you are comfortable with speaking each phrase. After that, the instructor comes on to break down each phrase word by word and translates each word into English. She also explains the sentence structure and grammar from an English standpoint. This way you can use the individual words in your own sentence later on.

Once that part of the lesson is learned, then comes the review. Here's a screenshot of the review section:


Repetition is the best way to learn a language well. Somehow the correct word order will automatically pop up in my head when the time comes to use it. So this is a tried and true method of learning to speak a language well.

Very soon, you will be able to order food and get around in China on your own. Once you are hooked, you can go for the Pimsleur Series and use it together with Fluenz to go full on in learning Mandarin.

Get started today with a package from Fun Language Tools!

Happy learning!

Fun Language Tools