Several unique terms and phrases describe the features of software we review on this site, some easier to grasp than others. This list briefly defines terms relevant to Learn Spanish Software.

Ratings

Features

Does the software have a lot of bells and whistles? The list of the software's attributes--often printed on the outside of the box--is called the feature set.

Fundamentals

Simplicity is the most important feature that we at Learn Spanish Review evaluate. Is the software easy for beginners and experienced computer users alike?

Ease of Use

How simple is the software to install and use on your computer? Are additional downloads necessary before you can use the software? Do errors pop up during the installation? Is help available easily?

Teaching Tools

Is help/support convenient to find, intuitively organized and easy to search? Is the documentation well written and relevant to your needs? Do tutorials to explain difficult concepts or options? Is live telephone or online technical support available? Is the staff knowledgeable?

Word Tools

Does the software teach you to read and write in Spanish? What about comprehension? Does the program help you expand your vocabulary and improve your pronunciation? Does this language software teach you correct Spanish grammar for your level? Is Spanish culture addressed?

Help/Support

Does the product keep its promises? Using it, do you learn Spanish?

Features

Personal Progress Tracking

This feature tracks and illustrates you how far you have come since you began using the program.

Personalized Learning Paths

This feature allows you to customize the way you learn. The program can be customized-you can learn what you want at your own pace. Most software will also advice you about which learning paths meet your needs best.

Additional Internet Resources

The companies that produce Spanish software can include extra learning material on their website to improve the learning experience. This may include everything from grammar, to culture lessons, to simple dictionaries.

Fundamentals

Grammar

This section of the software allows the learner an in-depth study on sentence structure, verb conjugation and the other Spanish language grammar basics.

Listening Comprehension

This feature helps you gauge how well you can understand conversations, phrases and even songs in Spanish.

Pronunciation

Speech recognition technology recognizes what you say, assesses your pronunciation and corrects your mistakes. It also pinpoints and highlights mispronounced words within individual sentences.

Conversation Practice

This tool allows you to communicate directly with a Spanish speaker (real or computer simulated) through the Internet or other methods.

Teaching Tools

Images

How many pictures are available with the program to aid your study of Spanish culture and other aspects of the language?

Audio

Are there audiotapes included with the software?

Videos

Does the software package take advantage of computer video software? Does it include built-in videos or come with additional videos?

Speech Recognition/Recording

Programs with speech recognition or recording capabilities allow the program or the user to compare their voice and pronunciation with a native speaker in order to improve pronunciation. Most programs provide feedback on how accurate your pronunciation is.

Word Recognition Activities

These activities are designed to quiz users on Spanish vocabulary. There are many forms; some of the most common are crossword puzzles, word finds, word-picture association and defining.

Culture Lessons

Culture lessons can teach the history of a specific Spanish country, or it can even get more specific about current cultural differences in accent, vocabulary, food and other similar topics.

Books

Are any books included with the software package?

Online Testing

This feature allows users to take tests online to evaluate their knowledge and fluency in Spanish.

Online Chat

An online chat feature allows users to chat over the Internet with native Spanish speakers in order to practice their conversation skills and vocabulary.

Word Tools

Word Translator

This tool allows you to type a word or phrase in either Spanish or English, and then will translate it into the opposite language for you.

Word and Root Search

This feature is a search tool that will allow you to look up conjugated verbs.

An example of a conjugated verb in English is the verb "to go." This verb can be conjugated in present tense: I go, you go, he goes, we go, they go; in past tense: I went, you went, he went, we went, they went; or in the future tense: I will go, you will go, he will go, we will go, they will go.

In Spanish, to conjugate the verb "I go" would be "VOY." This verb is a root of the word "IR."

Conjugated Spanish verbs often don't resemble the root. Being able to look them both up to identify the relationship is an asset.

Glossary/Dictionary

A glossary is an alphabetical list of words and their meanings or interpretations (glosses) in a various contexts. In the translation industry, a glossary refers to a bilingual or multilingual terminology list; this is often confused with a translation dictionary.

A dictionary is a tool that defines the terms of a language. The terms are arranged in alphabetical order. Usually, a language dictionary will give the spelling, pronunciation, and meaning for each word.

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