Instant Immersion German (4 CD-ROM)

by TOPICS Entertainment

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004RC2R
• Item model number: CS-037
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 3, 2000
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,592 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #90 in Software > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > German
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From Children's Software Revue® -- "Subscribe Now!"

A terrific value, this is a four-CD set that provides solid instruction in German for both the true beginner and the intermediate student. Included are four separate programs: Talk Now! German, World Talk German, Webster's New World Five Language Talking Dictionary and Who is Oscar Lake?. The first two programs provide instruction in the language, the talking dictionary is self-explanatory and the Oscar Lake program lets students solve a mystery as they learn to speak German. The software is easy to use and the content is deep. Activities are varied and plentiful but the record-keeping is negligent. A record and playback feature helps you practice pronunciation. In sum, you are getting a great deal here- lots of fun skill practice at a very affordable price.
Teaches: foreign language, German
Age Range: 10-up Copyright © 2000 Children's Software Revue

Amazon.com Review

While it's true that no better vocabulary-acquisition method exists than tried and true flash cards, they need not be of the paper variety. Instant Immersion German is one solution: a set of four CD-ROMs that will take some of the pain out of learning new German words simply by being quite a bit more fun than flash cards. In addition, the package includes the "Who Is Oscar Lake?" CD-ROM, a kind of interactive story game where different people give you clues to a mystery you must solve--all in German. This will be entertaining for anyone who has had about a year of German already, kids and adults alike.

The software package includes two other skill-level-dependent CD-ROMs. For absolute beginners, you'll start with the "Talk Now!" CD-ROM and learn basic words acontextually for colors, food, numbers, and basic phrases. You hear the German pronounced while an image of the concept is shown. Most teachers actually prefer this, so that students associate the German sounds and words directly with a concept rather than the English translation. Intermediate students will start with the "Word Talk German" CD-ROM, which has a variety of games to practice vocabulary and a few more dialogues; you can also take dictation exercises or use your computer's microphone to repeat after the audio and compare your pronunciation to the recording. (It's painful, we know, but it helps.) The fourth CD-ROM is "Webster's New World Five Language Talking Dictionary"--a nice perk for pronunciation practice but not a real replacement for your handy Collins Gem.

Caveats: First, the various CD-ROMs are not truly sequential, so do not necessarily expect to graduate from the beginning and intermediate CD-ROMs to the Oscar Lake game. Second, the software is no ersatz for a competent German teacher and loads of homework, so do not expect similar results. The pedagogical approach here does not emphasize student production of German, either in speech or writing, so you will learn more to recognize spoken and written words and phrases than to speak or write them yourself. Overall, however, Instant Immersion German is a strong and, above all, affordable vocabulary-building resource--and it will take the doldrums out of memorizing new words. --Erik Macki

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You, too, can be a flashcard maverick!, April 25, 2000

By 

"thegeekdiaries" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Instant Immersion German (4 CD-ROM) (Software)

It's like learning with flash cards. Remember the sense of accomplishment you had as a child in kindergarten when you *knew* the answer? That sensation and more can yours again with this course. The teaching technique works so well that it's addictive. You'll *WANT* to continue with the course. The curriculum consists of:

- word practice - you are introduced to new vocabulary by pictures of the items and the sound of the words' pronounciation by native speakers.

- speaking practice - you are shown the items in random order and you will have an opportunity to record yourself speaking the actual words in german and replaying them in comparison to the native speaker.

- an easy word game - the native speaker will say the words and you will choose the correct picture. You are scored on your answers.

- a more difficult game - the native speaker will say the words and you will choose the correct picture. You are scored on your answers.

The routine is repeated all through the first CD of the course on a variety of different topics. But, unlike other courses, the topics are actually relevant to speaking the language. The topics include items you frequently purchase, frequently wear, frequently visit, basic words, telling time, country names and body parts. It does not focus heavily or deliberately on issues like conjugation at the start, (that issue is difficult/confusing and discourages many language students from continuing). Even so, you quickly begin to understand the rules of conjugation and grammar by example, practice, and association. Because the immersion technique used by this course works so well, you will cease to think in English and think only in German. This is the key to speed of thought and fluency in any language.

Once you've conquered the first CD, your base in the language is complete and the remaining CD's merely build and expand on what you already know, - much like a small child being exposed to more sophisticated words and conversations. It becomes very intuitive.

This course works, because this *is* the way that children learn language,- by the example and feedback of native speakers.

If you want to get started in German QUICKLY, this course is great.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not bad for the price, but better software is out there, May 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Instant Immersion German (4 CD-ROM) (Software)

This software is OK--it's affordable, to be sure. But it's notthat great from a teaching perspective--it's just a flashcard system.A much better foreign-language software program is Smart Start German (which Amazon.com also sells). I think that's a better way to learn German, actually--although this software is fine if all you want to do is learn vocabulary.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Give us a break., March 3, 2002

By 

Straight Shaun (the poorhouse) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Instant Immersion German (4 CD-ROM) (Software)

I think that for the most part, reveiewers are being ridiculously hard on these products, and in some cases, just plain ridiculous. I've bought tons of German language learning software over the years, both cheap and expensive, and plainly said, the quality of this product for its price is astounding. Any one of the CDs included would be worth double the cost of the entire package. Take the Oscar Lake title itself, for example, which I have held off buying for years because it most frequently sold for over THREE TIMES the price of this entire package! I initially bought Instant Immersion primarily for that, with curiosity over the other titles, and having now tried them, I can attest that they're are all terrific. Granted, there is not much of a middle ground, difficulty-wise, between the first and second CDs, but you can't go wrong regardless. True beginners will get more than their money's worth from the first CD, and the same holds true of advanced students with the second...they're both excellent. Buyers will likely not be surprised to know that products that cost 5 to 10 times as much (and yes, I have purchased several) can have just as many shortcomings as this great package, difficulty levels or otherwise.

The Instant Immersion series has to be one of the most unreal values a language learning student can get a hold of; I've since purchased Japanese as well, after buying German, and I'm just as impressed. Don't sweat the reviewer nitpicking, and keep in mind how incredibly inexpensive these sets are selling for, and you'll realize you just can't go wrong with these products. No, you shouldn't count on them alone in learning a new language, but honestly, the same logically holds true with any book or software. Topics has more than earned one vocal fan here.