Fluenz Spanish 1 - Macintosh

by Fluenz

Product Features

• Build your vocabulary and language abilities
• Spell and write accurately
• Speak without a script
• Retain what you've learned
• Read and understand your new language

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• ASIN: B000WH4JQ2
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 27, 2007
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,620 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)

Product Description

The only interactive language program offering an immersive environment that recreates the best elements of great one-on-one tutoring.

Be Fluent in Spanish

On-screen tutor Sonia Gil, a recent Cornell graduate, and alumni from Harvard and the University of Chicago created Fluenz Spanish to be the kind of application they had always wanted when learning languages. The result of their work is ideal for those who seek common sense explanations, sophisticated workouts that lead to real learning, and who thrive on a great teacher to keep them focused and engaged.

Love Spanish, Actually Learn It

The team of passionate language learners behind Fluenz Spanish wanted to move beyond what they felt was wrong with computer language education: simplistic methods that boast a natural, passive way to learn a language and treat adults like children. Instead, Fluenz brings the magic of a great teacher to lead, challenge, and inspire adults and teens with real learning.

An effective approach for English Speakers

It's impossible to understand many of the important subtleties of Spanish speech without a clear explanation, such as how Spanish nouns must agree in gender and quantity (plural or singular) with articles and adjectives. Fluenz is the only interactive program offering tutor-led explanations in English that guide learners through the strategies necessary to reach fluency.

The Magic of Learning: Audio CDs for Your Car or iPod

The Fluenz Spanish Audio CD is the ideal complement to the interactive program. This CD was recorded by Edgar Ramirez, one of Hollywood's emerging Latino actors. Edgar starred opposite Keira Knightley in Domino, played the fearsome "asset" in The Bourne Ultimatum, and has worked alongside William Hurt, Forest Whitaker, and Benicio del Toro.

Fluenz Podcasts: Download to Learn on the Go

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learn Spanish with Fluenz, September 27, 2007

By 

Dr. C. A. Holland (Columbia, MO, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fluenz Spanish 1 - Macintosh (DVD-ROM)

I did a formal review of the Fluenz Mandarin program and have had the opportunity to use the Spanish software before its official release. Fluenz Spanish 1 is designed for beginners (teens and up) who want to develop a good foundation before pursuing more advanced Spanish study or who simply want to be able to communicate on a basic level in Spanish. Familiarity with the Spanish language is an increasingly important skill in the US and it's very useful that Fluenz has come out with such a comprehensive intro-level Spanish course.

Like previous offerings from Fluenz, the Spanish program uses an elegant modern aesthetic, relying on the latest flash technology for video sessions and "workouts." The Fluenz learning system is unique in its use of an on-screen tutor who guides users on video throughout the program and its practice of "leveraging" your knowledge of English to help you learn Spanish faster. The developers have kept the same types of challenging exercises used in the Mandarin version, but have enhanced the crispness of audio and video and made the interface more user-friendly by allowing easier navigation through the many program components. I encountered somewhat awkward navigation with the Mandarin program, but this has been fixed in the Spanish software.

The program is divided into 30 sessions, each of which opens with tutor Sonia Gil, one of the developers of the program, who explains all content for the lesson and relates personal stories about the trials and tribulations of learning Spanish. After Sonia's introduction, there is a conversation which can be followed with or without subtitles (in English and/or Spanish). Next, Sonia comes back for the heart of the lesson, where she thoroughly breaks down every word and expression from the conversation, relating English and Spanish usage straightforwardly and effectively.

After Sonia's "breakdown," the session finishes with a series of interactive workouts designed to review the material from the lesson and help the user absorb it. There are at least 10 types of workouts by my count, covering (in various combinations) vocabulary, listening comprehension, writing, reading, and speaking. These range from simple exercises asking you to write the word you hear spoken to more complex matching games and voice recording. Each workout has its own color scheme for easier navigation if you want to jump to a specific type of exercise. The recording device in the Spanish program is similar to the one used in the Mandarin software, allowing the learner to record and compare her or his Spanish with that of native speakers. This device first covers simple phrases, and then offers you the opportunity to insert yourself into a conversation. After the completion of the review workouts, Sonia comes back to summarize and conclude the session.

There are a number of Spanish learning programs on the market, but few if any can match Fluenz in quality and visual attractiveness. The personal touch of having an on-screen tutor really stands out and the software feels like it was tailor-made for Spanish rather than taken from a generic mold. Given the price, I would have liked to have seen a more advanced voice recognition device (this feature is unchanged from earlier Fluenz software), but overall the Fluenz program is a refreshing new inclusion in the world of Spanish learning software.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Manzana en caja roja, September 28, 2007

By 

Joanna Carpui - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fluenz Spanish 1 - Macintosh (DVD-ROM)

In the world of learning software, Fluenz walks away with the "insanely great" prize. As Mac-like as anything I've seen in this space. Simple and cool UI; intuitive and effective learning; beautiful and elegant design; detail obsessed throughout. Ah, and great music. Kudos.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best yet, April 9, 2008

By 

J. Smith "yes boss" (all over) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fluenz Spanish 1 - Macintosh (DVD-ROM)

I have been studying Spanish off and on over the past decade. I have taken classes throughout highschool and college. I have used the usual audio/book study packages and I have also taken courses at language learning institutes while traveling abroad. I found my Spanish professor in college to be a great teacher but due to everyones "fear" of languages the few that wanted to learn were held back. I think you can learn a great deal in regards to grammar, sentence structure and so on in a classroom setting but in the end it usually rarely leaves the classroom.

At the end of the day I think most of us just really want to learn how to communicate and be able to navigate through our daily lives and not be handicapped by only being able to speak one language. It doesn't have to be "perfect" as long as the message gets across is how I view it. I think the lessons on the spanish 1 program are 100% useful aid in helping you learn how to go about your life/travels with a bit more confidence.

Their method of combining reading, typing, hearing, and speaking are spot on. For an initial release of a language learning program I am totally satisfied. Now if you have studied spanish before there is a portion of it you may already know BUT repetition is essential when it comes to truly learning a new language. This program has helped me conquer some of the things that have always struggled with in regards to gender issues by learning with the Fluenz program versus other methods (ie this, that and those issues I always suffered from being a major one) I think it is wise to repeat lessons several times going beyond the periodic reviews they have. You don't have to review the entire thing, you have the freedom to skip around so I suggest doing so. I suggest speaking it and imitating accents in an almost comical way if need be. If you take yourself too seriously you will begin to lose the confidence to speak which in my mind most people lack. I am glad they have several different voices when dealing with the audio components, I think that is another huge issue when people go out into the world and attempt to speak spanish. The accents throughout Spain, Central/South America, and the Caribbean are all very different and it helps to hear a variety of them and allows you to be better prepared for this issue.

All in all it is a really solid program and after using it I was reassured that I had invested my money in the Fluenz software. It isn't cheap but for once I feel you truly get what you pay for with this program. i feel they have done more than their part to enable you to learn the language, thus leaving the rest up to you. If you practice, practice, repeat, repeat you should do quiet well.

In summation it was superior to all other programs I have tried, I hope it is the same for you.

Once I get through Spanish 2 I will write a more detailed review on that.