Educational Software Evaluation

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer reviews and presents several language-learning software programs. In reviewing 10 software packages, the author chooses three which seem to be the best in their category. The writer focuses attention on the following programs: Speak2Easy Language Learning Expert 3.07, French Verb Games 1, and Human Japanese. Specifically, the paper discusses the different types of language learning criteria, and compares the software packages to the criteria which the author feels are the most important.

Outline:
Language-learning software
Types of Language Software
Criteria for Selection
What they were all missing
Comparative table
Speak2Easy Language Learning Expert 3.07
French Verb Games 1
Human Japanese
Russian Language Learning 1.0.1
Mandarin Learning Assistant
Learn French Vocabulary 1.6
Flash Cards for Learning 1
Choice 1.4
Learning Spanish Like Crazy
Learn Chinese 2007 5.1

From the Paper:

"The primary question is: how close does the language software come in achieving its stated goal? The language software must be engaging, give feedback, and be fun for the student to use. The old-fashioned, non-computer methods of rote memorization weren't effective because the student became bored quickly. Retention is helped by games, visual clues, and socialization.
"The primary selection criteria for these software packages were therefore user involvement: how many senses were involved in the use of this software? How much fun can a student have with it? Can the student get feedback from his/her own voice? Are the methods progressive, with a sense of advancement? Can it be tied to social interaction, such as working with fellow students? To this end, the author used the criteria selected by the National Foreign Language Resource Center."

Sample of Sources Used:

• download.com. "Learning Language." 25 October 2007. download.com. 25 October 2007 <http://www.download.com/Mandarin-Learning-Assistant/3000-2051_4-10610484.html?tag=lst-1>.
• NFLRC. "Multimedia Language Learning Software." 2006. NFLRC, University of Hawaii. 25 October 2007 <http://nflrc.hawaii.edu/NetWorks/NW31/>.

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