Review: Language Adventure I
A German CD-ROM Program for Kids
Reviews > Software > Language Adventure CD-ROM
Language Adventure I
Age level: 6-12
Format: CD-ROM (Windows only)
Publisher: Instinct Corporation
Price: $49.95 (Free demo available)
A separate video version is also available.
Language Adventure I by Instinct Corp. is a CD-ROM language-learning program intended for children ages six through twelve. In addition to German, the learner can choose any one of five other languages to learn: English, French, Italian, Japanese, or Spanish. All the languages are interchangeable with each other. A French-speaker could use this program to learn German, or a Spanish-speaker could choose to learn Japanese, etc.
Available only for Windows, the minimum requirements are low (90 MHz Pentium PC with 24 MB of memory, 60 MB of storage per student, a 4X CD-ROM drive, a 16-bit sound card, microphone and speakers or headphones), but see the Instinct Web site link below for current info. For this review the program was tested on a 90 MHz Pentium PC with 24 MB of RAM and generally ran smoothly without any problems.
The only major hitch occurred when I lent the CD-ROM to some friends for testing. Since the program is designed for kids, I wanted to have their children give it a try. Unfortunately, they were unable to get the program working on their computer, even after I had lent them a microphone. I suspect it had more to do with my friends' computer skills than with the program itself, but it was a lesson concerning the ease of use of software in general today. However, as I said, there were no real problems running Language Adventure I on an old 90 MHz PC. It should run even better on today's much faster PCs. (A free software update for Windows XP is available.)
A German Language Adventure
Video is available for $45.00
Order from Lang. Adventure
Getting started the first time and setting up the program from the CD-ROM went smoothly and trouble free. Once the program is configured, on screen you see a control room interface with a colorful array of buttons, switches, panels, and screens. Colorful—but a little confusing at first. No doubt a ten-year-old will find it cool, but for an adult like me it was a bit overwhelming. I found myself using the "Help" button a lot—once I figured out where it was. (The question mark was a good clue, but none of the buttons is labeled—in any of the program's six languages. You have to refer to a diagram on the CD-ROM jacket.) This is not a program whose modus operandi is obvious from the start. The maker's claim that it "...gets children telling a story and answering questions in a foreign language within minutes" is an exaggeration.
Once I had downloaded the user's manual from the Language Adventure Web site and printed it out, I felt much more comfortable. But the manual could be more detailed in some areas (such as how to get into Author mode), and parents and teachers will need to help younger children get started with the program. The good news is that once a child (or adult) learns the ropes, they discover a program that is creative and fun, with well-designed graphics.
It is also a flexible program, capable of being customized in a variety of ways. There are three learning-level settings: pre-reader, beginner, and advanced. A fourth option allows custom settings. Different users can each set their own individual preferences. You can also choose "observer" mode to just watch and listen to a segment—useful for young pre-readers or to just familiarize yourself with the vocabulary and pronunciation. But one of the program's strengths is its interactive format and the ability to record your own pronunciation and compare it with the native speakers as you proceed through a lesson. The German spoken in the program is clear and accurate, and the recording function works well.
The "adventure" in Language Adventure consists of following the friendly blue alien Una, her orange-haired brother Om, and their bionic dog Pico across the colorful terrain of another world, through outer space, and through various Egyptian settings. A suitably Einsteinian professor also pops up on occasion. (Kids may notice that for some reason the Professor and Om don't have masculine voices.) Although things may seem a little slow at times for any 12-year-old used to whiz-bang computer games, the lessons are well-designed and introduce common vocabulary such as colors, parts of the body, food and drink, etc. The Narration (repetition), Quiz, Author, and Discover modes offer an array of creative exercises related to language-learning. I liked the Quiz mode's "click on this" exercises, which effectively test comprehension in the new language. The Web site offers downloadable extras such as Pico's Coloring Book and Pico's Comic Book. The program can also generate and print reports on each learner's progress.
I recommend Language Adventure I by the Instinct Corp. for parents and teachers who want a good language-learning program for their children/students. The program's six languages, good graphics, and story-telling format make this CD-ROM a worthwhile purchase. I would prefer a more transparent, less complicated user interface, but Language Adventure I is an imaginative learning tool for young children. Recommended retail price: $49.95. (Free demo version download; video version.)
See the Language Adventure Web site for more information.
For more about how Language Adventure I has worked in a school setting, see Language Adventure at Maloney School by Pam Giffin-Brees, Maloney School, Grade 2, Fremont, Calif. (from the Language Adventure Web site).
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