Teaching Tools:  

Fluenz uses video more than almost any other program we reviewed. But they were able to seamlessly blend instruction from the tutor with words and phrases displayed on the screen as she teaches. In the activities, you are required to use audio, images and simple quizzes to practice what you have been taught. The system is very straightforward and doesn’t use extra gimmicks or tricks. As a result, there are no games because the activities are engaging enough to keep your attention.

Fluenz doesn’t use the same speech recognition technology that some other programs use. Instead you record your voice and insert your recordings into a conversation. We thought this wouldn’t be as useful as a voice recognition system, but it actually works well because you are naturally able to tell where your pronunciation doesn’t sound correct when compared with the native speaker in the program.

Word Tools:  

Fluenz has a simple glossary of some of the most common Spanish words you will learn throughout the course. Most other vocabulary learning occurs directly in the program, negating the need for additional word tools.

Help/Support:  

Fluenz has the best set of support resources of any program we reviewed. The FAQ and user manual are easy to use and quite informative. There are demos to help you understand the inner workings of the program, and Fluenz also has full email and phone support systems. Our favorite support option was the live chat service that Fluenz provides. We found the support technicians on live chat to be friendly and knowledgeable, even offering tips and help with cultural aspects of Spanish.

Fluenz claims to have revamped the system for learning Spanish, and they're right. With a combination of an elegantly simple interface, well planned lessons and multiple-media curriculum, Fluenz manages to make the Spanish learning process both easy and effective. It's an obvious choice when looking for Spanish language software.