Several unique terms and phrases describe the features of software we review on this site, some easier to grasp than others. This list briefly defines terms relevant to Learn French Software.

Ratings

Features

Learn French software should be intuitive and simple to use.

Fundamentals

Learn French software should offer features beyond basic language instruction; the software should apply to both novice learners and advanced. Learn French software should involve all your senses in learning the language: sight (images and reading), touch (writing) and sound (listening and conversation practice).

Ease of Use

Learn French software should install successfully with few steps.

Teaching Tools

Learn French software help files should be well written and easy to locate. French language software should offer tutorials to explain difficult concepts. The language software manufacturer should list contact information for telephone and online technical support.

Word Tools

Learn French software should teach you how to read and write in French, assist you with pronunciation and include exercises to build your French vocabulary. Learn French software should also include French grammar training.

Tech Support/Help

Learn French software should teach you how to read, write and speak French

Features

Personal Progress Tracking

This feature tracks and illustrates your improvement while using the French language program.

Personalized Learning Paths

This feature allows you to customize how you learn French using the software. You can learn at your own pace. Most Learn French software will help you determine which learning options meet your needs best.

Additional Internet Resources

The companies that produce French software can include extra learning material on their website to improve the learning experience. This may include everything from grammar, to culture lessons, to simple dictionaries.

Fundamentals

Basics: Reading/Writing/Vocab

Allows you to develop your French reading skills using newspapers, cartoons and other authentic French paraphernalia.

Grammar

Gives you an in-depth study of sentence structure, verb conjugation and the other basic French language skills.

Listening Comprehension

Helps you judge how well you understand phrases, conversations and French song lyrics.

Pronunciation

Speech recognition technology recognizes what you say, assesses your pronunciation and corrects your mistakes. It also pinpoints and highlights mispronounced words within individual sentences.

Conversation Practice

This tool allows you to communicate directly with a French speaker, real or computer simulated, through the Internet or other methods.

Teaching Tools

Images

Pictures used by the program to help you study vocabulary and French culture.

Audio

Separate audio aids included with the French software.

Video

Used as a teaching method; sometimes built into the French software or included as separate DVD videos.

Speech Recognition/Recording

Programs with speech recognition or recording capabilities allow the program or the user to compare their voice and pronunciation with a native speaker in order to improve pronunciation. Most programs provide feedback on how accurate your pronunciation is.

Word Recognition Activities

These activities are designed to quiz users on French vocabulary. There are many forms; some of the most common are crossword puzzles, word finds, word-picture association and defining.

Culture Lessons

Culture lessons can teach the history of a specific French-speaking country, or it can even get more specific about current cultural differences in accent, vocabulary, food and other similar topics.

Books

Identifies any books included with the French language software.

Online Testing

This feature allows users to take tests online to evaluate their knowledge and fluency in French.

Online Chat

An online chat feature allows users to chat over the Internet with native French speakers in order to practice their conversation skills and vocabulary.

Word Tools

Word Translator

Allows you to type a word or phrase in either French or English; the term is then translated into the opposite language.

Word and Root Search

A search tool that allows you to look up conjugated verbs.

Glossary/Dictionary

A glossary is an alphabetical list of words and their meanings or interpretations in various contexts. In the translation industry, a glossary refers to a bilingual or multilingual terminology list; this is often confused with a translation dictionary.

A dictionary is a tool that defines the terms of a language. The terms are arranged in alphabetical order. Usually, a language dictionary will give the spelling, pronunciation, and meaning for each word.

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