Job Discussion Forums

[ls650]

One of my students stopped by my office to ask me a question: she wants to buy her Mom some computer software to practice studying English at home. Her mother is apparently a high beginner-low preintermediate level.

Any suggestions as to software packages she should investigate?

[lozwich]

What does she want the software for? Does she want it to be her sole source of language training, or a home study to augment her class work?

If its the latter, English Grammar in Use comes with a wicked good CD these days, and she should be able to get it fairly easily in DF. There are some available that have voice recognition software included to help with pronunciation, but I think that a lot of software doesn't take the place of a teacher.

[ls650]

[lozwich]

The Rosetta Stone isn't too bad, and is probably one of the most widely available. I tried a demo version a few years ago, and it was on the good-ish side of language learning computer programs. It has a variety of exercises, and different levels, but I guess she'd need to find a speaking partner (her daughter?). She'd need a multimedia capable computer with speakers/headphones as well.

[MELEE]

While I don't recommend it for our students, I think in this situation Hablemos Ingles is a good choice. The instructions at a low level are in Spanish. Its functional/situational lessons around a short video, well made, more or less fun, and not very expensive.