Fluenz Spanish (Latin America) 1+2+3+4+5 with supplemental Audio CDs and Podcasts
by Fluenz
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Software Summary
Manufacturer: FluenzBrand: Fluenz
Format: DVD-ROM
Platform: Mac OS X, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP
Product features:
- 150 sessions of up to two and one-half hours each -- the most comprehensive software application covering the first five levels of Spanish anywhere. Fluenz Spanish 1+2+3+4+5 will guide you in English through the challenges of Spanish with a proven system.
- The Fluenz language tutor guides you on video every step of the way, recreating a one-on-one tutoring experience, utilizing explanations in English, placing you in real-world contexts, and immersing you in the culture.
- Fluenz blends beautiful full-motion video with a range of engaging, interactive workouts to improve your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills -- including a recording engine to perfect your accent.
- Fluenz's unique approach is currently being used by elite units of the US Navy, senior personnel at the UN and UNICEF, executives of Fortune 500 companies, and students at Harvard Business School and other leading universities.
- Includes Fluenz Spanish 1, Fluenz Spanish 2, Fluenz Spanish 3, Fluenz Spanish 4, and Fluenz Spanish 5 DVD-ROMs, five audio CDs for additional learning, exclusive, downloadable podcasts for further practice, and the handy Fluenz Navigator for on-the-go referencing of important words and phrases.
Software Reviews of Fluenz Spanish (Latin America) 1+2+3+4+5 with supplemental Audio CDs and Podcasts
Customer Review: Spanish dumbed down.
Summary: 2 Stars
I am writing this review having completed about 80 lessons so I'm near completing the third dvd. Maybe I haven't done enough lessons to be able to judge accurately both the Fluenz Spanish program and the Rosetta Stone, but I've had a lot more experience than those writing reviews having finished 4 lessons! I've read all the reviews on here, and frankly, I can't believe what I am reading. I just have to put in MHO. But it's not going to be humble, and I'll probably make a lot of people mad. Too bad.
I decided to learn Spanish for something to do, being retired and not wanting to go completely brain-dead. So I started with the Rosetta Stone program. It started out well enough but gradually I started to get more and more bored to the point of distraction. By the time I had finished about 2 1/2 dvd's, I could stand no more of matching pictures with Spanish words time and time and time again. I will say this for RS; I learned a decent amount of vocabulary. But the grammar instruction was non-existent, so I ended up supplementing the program with a couple Spanish grammar books. The best was 'Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish', a very well written book -- 5 stars all the way. Another book which continues to keep my interest up but isn't 'grammatical' is 'Breaking Out of Beginner's Spanish' by Joseph Keenan, which is pure fun (and potentially hazardous to your health).
Having sent RS back, I got the Fluenz Spanish 1 -- 5. It's taught in English by Sonia Gil who apparently has captured the sexual imaginations of some of the reviewers. For my tastes, she's not that 'hot' (appearing to be an 'almost A'), but regardless, whether or not she is sexy does not seem to be a good reason to buy an expensive language course. Let me start with what is good about the program.
The other reviewers who have said Fluenz has excellent support are right on. It has the best support staff I've come across in my many years on the Internet.
That's it; that's the end of what's good about the program.
I thought it would be strong on grammar, and it is better than the Stone, which by using the immersion technique has no grammar instruction. However, I expected more. (Incidentally saying that the RS system is immersion is a joke -- but I guess people being people, many buy into it.)
Now for the bad.
If you think you will be fluent in Spanish when you finish EITHER program, think again. You will be at most maybe 5% fluent. How could I possibly know this not having finished the programs? I cheated. I downloaded and looked at every level with special interest given to the last. It shocked me to see how little Spanish had been taught. I couldn't get Fluenz back in time to get a refund (a very good reason to mark your date of purchase), or else I would have. Why does Sonia's program end up teaching so little in 5 dvds?
Actually the reason is pretty simple. Sonia is teaching at a grade school or middle school level. She is incredibly slow going from one subject to the next. She is ponderous! By the time a lesson is finished, you may have learned three nouns and three verbs with a little grammar. She will go over 'ser' vs 'estar' -- to be versus to be; or 'ese' vs 'esa' -- that vs that, until you think she will never move on. Another reviewer had it right when he said Sonia uses teaching time as practice time. The program would have been so much better than Rosetta Stone if she just moved it along. She could have easily gotten twice the information on five dvd's with room to spare.
She had an excellent idea in creating a language program to go up against Rosetta Stone. The company had its chance. I predict it will survive for a year or two, and unless radical changes are made, it will crash. If I am wrong in anything I've said, when I finish the program, I will apologize to everyone.
This additional flaw was found by the end of disc 2. The program is sexist, leaning heavily towards women's interests. The best example I can give of this is that MANY of the lessons are on shopping. To counterbalance this, there was ONE lesson on sports. Another example is that the teacher will very often use 'la' instead of 'el' throughout the lessons. The feminine pronouns are used almost exclusively. This is so pronounced by end of the second disc that I have to call the program feminist, and if the shoe were on the other foot, the female population would be outraged. I would lower the program's rating another star if I could. Sonia herself says it is difficult to stick with a language self-learning program, but she seems to be making it a hell of a lot easier for women to maintain their interest in it than men. Personally I am tired of hearing whether a red or blue necklace is prettier.
And Ms Gil is stilted and corny, two characteristics I despise. Add a third; Ms Gil aggrandizes Ms Gil.
And she's going to live a hell of a lot longer than me, another characteristic I hate more than any of the others.
This program is geared to people who are going to visit Spanish-speaking countries, particularly for men who are going to take their women along (as well as all their credit cards -- Sonia will tell you repeatedly it's 'tarjetas de crédito'). I would give it five stars if that is your purpose. However, if you are planning to pick up your muchachas when you get to those countries, the program has nothing to offer you. It does not address how to pick up or bargain with a prostitute. It does not tell you how to explain to the cuchi what you want done in a Spanish way. And worst of all it does not include the most useful of Spanish words, the c-word, in its vocabulary. Incidentally, the c-word aside from being used liberally on the streets (and even Robin Williams' HBO Comedy Special) of spanish-speaking countries, does not have quite the rudeness factor that American women give it. I would not expect Sonia to teach it. She could have added, however, a few useful words like damn, hell or even golly gee whiz!
I've found another major flaw, and this one is on dvd 3. Sonja uses the grouping-of-letters "funnest". Well, I ask you, ladies and gentlemen, is there such a word as funnest?? Of course not! But she slips this non-word into the disc to infest your children's and your ears! God help us when this 'funnest' gets to your brains. I predict we will live in a world of zombies, yes, zombies who spend their days and nights doing nothing but listening to discs 1 through 5 and even so, not attaining greater than 5% fluency. Obviously this finding is the most dangerous of those I've come across so far ... but I plan to keep looking.
Meanwhile, whereas I have given Fluenz 2 gold stars, I've given Rosetta Stone 1 gold star for being atrocious.
WE ARE SORRY TO ANNOUNCE THIS REVIEWER HAS BEEN FOUND ON MIAMI BEACH. DEAD AND ALL, WITH HUGE CHUNKS OF HIS BODY CHEWED OFF. IDENTIFIED BY HIS DNA, HE IS NOW SIMPLY A BLOOD RED MASS WRAPPED IN A WHITE RIBBON STATING "TO YOU WITH LOVE FROM YOUR STAFF AT FLUENZ".
More Fluenz Spanish (Latin America) 1+2+3+4+5 with supplemental Audio CDs and Podcasts Customer Reviews:
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Description of Fluenz Spanish (Latin America) 1+2+3+4+5 with supplemental Audio CDs and Podcasts
Discover Spanish through the magic of a great teacherFluenz Spanish is based on three principles:
1) There's no substitute for a great tutor. It's often difficult to motivate yourself to learn a language on your own. Having a teacher to challenge and inspire you, while explaining exactly how the language works, makes all the difference.
2) The best way for adults to learn Spanish is with explanations in English. For example, it is impossible to understand the difference between the critical Spanish verbs "ser" and "estar" without a clear explanation in English. With Fluenz, a real tutor guides you in English along a path specifically designed for Spanish.
3) It's best to learn the most relevant words in Spanish right away. Fluenz has you handling a wide range of real-world situations right from the start.
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