Power-Glide Foreign Language Courses

While not my first choice for a computer based foreign language course, this course is very innovative. If you are willing to work away from the computer with your children, utilizing a tape recorder, and the included booklets, this is a fantastic program. Power-glide will work well for independent learners, but works esspecially well in small groups (families, co-ops, classrooms etc.)

Your Power-Glide package will come with eight audio tapes, each representing approximately ten hours of work. A large handbook walks you through the learning process. So what is different about this program? Power-Glide involves the learner on many different levels. Too many of the programs I have reviewed involve either rote memorization, or listening to endless dialogues about travel. Power-Glide involves you in a mystery, where learning the language helps you accomplish your goals. The language comes naturally, and quickly. My children were taken in by the story line immediately.

If you stick with this program, you will be much further ahead in your ability to read, write, comprehend, and speak a foreign language than if you had worked through most of the other programs I have seen, including The Learnables (which we tried as a family this past year.) My kids found the story involvement here much more pleasant, although a bit more work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although a CD-ROM is included, we found this only a cursory part of the program. We could have taken it or left it. We enjoyed the program either way. The CD did not flow naturally with the program as we worked through the booklet. For those who enjoy using the computer, however, many of the activities and stories are included for your use.

All in all this is one of the best packages we have used. No, it is not exclusively for your computer, but does allow you to tackle the subject from many angles, visually, verbally, auditorially and on the computer as well. We thoroughly enjoyed Power-Glide.

Educational Value: 5

Entertainment Value: 4 1/2

Replay Value: 4

Ages: all

Available from Power-Glide at http://www.power-glide.com