OVERVIEW

Spanish Now! is an interactive, Windows- or Macintosh-based program, designed to facilitate Spanish-language acquisition. It offers learners, teenaged to adult, a number of useful resources for working with reading selections, each at his or her own level. While these texts constitute the initial input for learning, the program is not limited to reading-skills development alone; equal attention is given to developing the learner's pronunciation and listening comprehension. The program's sound components allow for both text playback and voice recording, the immediate comparison or analysis of which is readily accessible. While reading, one can choose to view automatic translations of word, phrase or clause/sentence segments, which include meanings both in and out of context, or create imbedded personal notes. Brief grammar explanations accompany the translations, and there is a separate, on-line grammar reference as well. Related grammar and vocabulary practice is provided through three learning games, while all four language-acquisition skill areas are addressed in a section of the program's manual on learning strategies.

MAJOR FEATURES

The User's Guide is clearly written, well organized and complete -- easy to follow for the novice user. The more experienced user will need only to scan the manual for installation procedures and key operations, as the program is basically intuitive. The only possible complications would most likely arise from having to meet the necessary installation and operation requirements, i.e.: having a sound card already installed on one's hard disk; making sure the sound peripherals, such as the speakers or microphone are in working order; having enough hard disk storage space or a sufficiently powerful computer to run the program (see specifications above); making sure the compact disk drive is not resting on a tilted surface; etc. These and other extraneous complications are, nonetheless, adequately addressed in the manual, as are various technical support resources. Moreover, the software (both CD-ROM and diskette versions) includes a comprehensive and easily accessible help program.

Language-Learning Tools

The program offers various options for personalizing the language-learning process. As the learner reads through a selected text, s/he may highlight the word, phrase or sentence segments whose translations or grammar explanations s/he would like to learn. These appear automatically in adjacent windows.

Thus, pacing and linguistic focus are controlled entirely by the learner. S/he may perform root-word, whole-word, or segment searches as well. Unfamiliar structures such as phrasal verbs, fixed expressions or other special word groupings are automatically highlighted when a single constituent has been selected.

A particularly good idea is the Notes Window, which allows the learner to add personal comments related to single words or segments of text. These notes can be saved in files that accompany the main text by appearing in window-form when their corresponding words are highlighted in context. Personalized vocabulary lists can also be compiled from words selected from the text.

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