Frequently Asked Questions

A. For what age levels is this software designed? 

Spanish I was designed with teenagers and adults in mind. However, parts of the program, particularly in the vocabulary learning area, appeal to younger children (8 years and older). 

B. What does curriculum-based mean? 

Curriculum based simply means that this software encompasses specifically and completely the content of a college level beginning Spanish course. This includes the equivalent instruction that would be received in the class plus the workbook, textbook, and lab materials used in the same. 

C. What distinguishes this product from other language learning products? 

There are many things, actually, and only a few can be mentioned here. This product is designed scientifically to maximize the read-hear-see-interact-with model; it is audio intensive, graphic rich, and has an actual instructor teaching and showing the student every concept; it provides multiple formats in the exercises, and is pleasant, fun, extremely user friendly, and simple to use. 

D. Will this product make learning Spanish easy? 

In our view, this product will make the learning of Spanish as easy as it gets. One must recognize, of course, that there is no such thing as magical videos, audiotapes, or computer software that is going to inject Spanish into one's brain without significant effort on the part of the learner. This product, however, provides a person the tools with which to truly access the Spanish language. 

To learn a language, one must develop the ability to decode (hear and decipher meaning) and encode (construct phrases that express what one wants to say). This process requires earnest effort and practice over time. Good language instructional software will set the student on this road and lead him/her interactively along the way, providing the resources to develop decoding and encoding skills. Spanish I was designed with this goal in mind. 

E. Will this software teach me conversational Spanish? 

The reality is that the "conversational version" of any language is the most complex, abbreviated, slang and jargon-loaded expression of that language, and the most difficult to achieve. To acquire that level of competence, one must combine understanding and practice - actually using what one learns. Spanish I developers believe that this software will take a person much farther down that road than any other software currently available.