Foreign language computer software

Gifts for language lovers

Why foreign language software? A variety of software applications are useful for language learners and speakers: bilingual electronic dictionaries, translation software, language learning games or instructional programs, vocabulary trainers, pronunciation assistance with speech-recognition technology -- the options are many. What you should choose largely depends on the learners' needs. Is the software meant to provide supplemental practice for a course the learner is taking or to be a complete course in the basics? Is it meant to be just a vocabulary trainer or a reference work for regular use? Is it meant to aid the learner in improving speaking proficiency or in developing only a passive understanding of the language? You will notice that language learning software ranges from ultra-cheap to quite expensive with lots of products in between. Typically, the more robust and complete a program is and the more resources that were needed to produce it, the more it will cost. In most cases you are probably getting exactly what you're paying for.

Note: This page includes language learning software, dictionaries, & translation tools for computers and mobile devices. If you're looking for language instruction books with accompanying audio CDs, see our foreign language books page, or for audio CDs only, see our foreign language learning CDs page.

SOME SUGGESTED GIFTS:

Effective software for learning languages that takes advantage of computer multimedia capabilities:

• Rosetta Stone uses an immersion method to teach learners language without translating, memorizing, or studying rote grammar. Users learn vocabulary and grammar in context while communicating in the target language. Vivid images, authentic audio, automated tutorials, exercises and self-tests, and a speech recognition function all provide 100s of hours of instruction in listening comprehension, reading, writing, and speaking. Ages 6 and up.

Available in complete Level 1, 2 & 3 for: Arabic, English (UK), English (US), French, German, Italian, Russian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Spain).

Available in complete Level 1 & 2 for:Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Dutch, English (UK), English (US), Farsi / Persian , French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Spain), Tagalog.

Level 1 only available for: Danish, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Latin, Pashto, Polish, Swahili, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese, Welsh.

Amazon provides screen shots of the Rosetta Stone application and offers it at discount prices.

• Tell Me More includes 100s of hours of learning and 1000s of exercises, taking the learner through beginner, intermediate, and advanced stages of the language. Lessons include conversations and mpeg videos, grammar instruction, an audio glossary of vocabulary, speech recognition technology to monitor pronunciation, and cultural information. Available for: Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, English for Kids, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish.

• The Learn Now! series by Transparent Language is a language-learning program for the serious learner. Vocabulary games, a thorough grammar tutorial, authentic video, role-plays, key survival phrases, listening activities, and voice recognition technology all support the development of communicative proficiency. Available for: Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, English (for Spanish speakers), French, German, Hebrew, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish.

• The Languages of the World series by Transparent Language offers instruction in some of the world's lesser taught languages: Afrikaans, Bengali, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Korean, Lithuanian, Luxembourgish, Esperanto, Estonian, Finnish, Flemish, Greek, Hawaiian, Hindi, Norwegian, Romanian, Slovak, Swahili, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Yiddish, and Zulu. Each program contains numerous games and activities, includes 1000s of words, dialogs recorded by native speakers, and pronunciation with speech recognition technology.

For screen shots or to buy direct, visit Transparent Language

Foreign language software dictionary & learning programs

• LingvoSoft Bilingual Software Suites include a searchable bilingual talking dictionary with text-to-speech functionality, a travel phrasebook with phrases recorded by native speakers, and flash cards with five learning games. Professional versions also include a talking text translator with text-to-speech functionality. Windows-compatible.

Professional versions available for: French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish.

Standard versions available for: Albanian, Arabic, Armenian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Cantonese (Simplified), Cantonese (Traditional), Mandarin Chinese (Simplified), Mandarin Chinese (Traditional), Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Estonian, Farsi / Persian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Indonesian, Japanese (Romaji Kanji), Japanese (Kanji Romaji), Japanese (Kanji Kana), Japanese (Kana Romaji), Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Portuguese, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese.

• LingvoSoft Platinum Packs feature all available LingvoSoft software for a specific language. Useful for students, travelers, and businesspeople. The compiliations include bidirectional and multilingual dictionaries, speech-enabled translation applications, language learning software, software for travelers, and language localization support. For multiple operating systems including Windows, Pocket PC, Palm OS, Smartphone, and numerous PDAs and mobile devices. Available for: Albanian, Arabic, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Estonian, Farsi, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese.

Dual-language electronic dictionaries for multiple platforms

• LingvoSoft & Ectaco Talking Dictionaries are installed directly onto your PC or mobile phone for use with any application. They each have a bi-directional quick search feature that finds words with only a few characters entered. Word translations are provided and speech synthesis allows for pronunciation for words for some languages. Free trials can be downloaded prior to purchase. All titles are available for Windows and some are also available for Pocket PC, Palm OS, Smartphones, and Nokia & Ericsson phones. Available for: Albanian, Arabic, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Bengali, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Estonian, Farsi (Persian), Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese (Kana Romaji), Japanese (Kanji Kana), Japanese (Kanji Romaji), Japanese (Romaji Kanji), Korean, Latin, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Yiddish.

• Bilingual electronic dictionaries have bidirectional searchable databases and many even find words through approximate spellings. Entries normally include examples and translations. Dual language text-to-speech capabilities ensure proper pronunciation in one or both languages. Try: Oxford Hachette French-English, Oxford Duden German-English, Collins Pro Italian-English, Collins Pro Portuguese-English, Merriam Webster Latin American Spanish-English.