Lyric Language

"Lyric Language" audio tapes and videos have been available for several years. The new CD-ROM version of this popular foreign language program brings the popular video format to your home computer. This is the program you may have seen in stores and libraries showing the "Family Circle" characters. I expected these characters to have a bigger part in the program than they actually do. The CD-ROM based version is currently available in Spanish, French, German or Japanese. Each can be used to teach English to bilingual children speaking each language.

There has been much research in the past few decades as to the benefits of learning through music and song. This is the only music based foreign language program that I am currently aware of. If your children have responded well in the past to learning through the use of music, this is going to be the best foreign language program for your family to start with. Children who already respond well to music will learn words and phrases quickly. "Lyric Language" is for children and adults of all ages. Although obviously geared toward children, I found myself picking up phrases quicker with this program than most of the more "studious" programs on the market.

Eleven music videos expose your children to environments like the zoo, the beach, learning the seasons and many other basic ideas. Each video is live action and has a completely different song. The videos are not tedious and repetitive. I do wish the program ran full screen as this was a bit annoying to me, but nothing I couldn't get used to. Each phrase of the song is sung in one language and then repeated in English. The first time through your children are not going to pick up too many words or phrases. These songs will take repetitive exposure to benefit from this "immersion" technique. The more times your children use this program the more success they will see.

Several "game" sections allow your children to review and practice the skills they are learning. The "Learn and Play" area contains a "Multiple Choice" game where a word is spoken and your child must choose the correct corresponding picture. If your children are a bit older, they can play "Type the Answer" where they must type in the correct response in the foreign language. Reading is not required for this program, but a child who can read will learn much quicker with "Lyric Language." A "Puzzle" game has your children piecing together pictures which correspond to the word that is spoken. "Mix and Match" requires your children to find the correct picture for each phrase. Several phrases are presented at once in this game.

It is also possible to isolate the phrases and words from the videos for review and practice. Practice is available where a speaker will pronounce each word or phrase from the songs your children are learning. This helped me as it is often difficult for me to isolate the pronunciations of complete phrases. Recording your children's voices with a microphone is definitely optional with this program. Some programs depend on this input more heavily. Frankly, that microphone often intimidated me as I knew I sounded awful anyway.

This is a bread and butter language program and not one that will teach everything you will want your children to learn. It is great exposure and fun. Some of the language programs are a bit dry and could turn your child off if they are not sure about learning a foreign language in the first place. Younger children have few options when it comes to foreign language programs, and I am happy to report that this is a very acceptable option for all ages, but especially the younger folks in your household.

Grading:

Educational value- 4
Entertainment value- 5
Use of medium- 3 1/2
Age- all ages

You can find Lyric Language at http://www.cdaccess.com/html/quick/lyrlansppr.htm