A comparison of language learning software/methods
| Programs | |||
| Name/Concept | Description | Price | |
| A | Learn Fast | Accelerated learning techniques using image sound associations in real life themes. | $79 |
| B | Audio CDs | Audio lingual approach developed in the 1940s. | $99-$300 |
| C | Traditional book software | Programmers put words in program circa 1992. | $89 |
| D | Flashcards | Flashcards with basic word groups like animals and numbers. | $49 |
| E | Older software | Basic text based programs rudimentary sounds | $19 |
| F | Image and sound software | Flashcards with sentences and grammar. | $279 |
| G | Mnemonics | Memory tricks to learn words. | $169 |
| H | School | Attending classes. | $500-$1,500 |
| I | Book | Book with 10 to 20 written exercise at end of each chapter. | $20 |
| J | Going to the country | Living abroad and study. | $3,000 |
| K | Dinner at a French restaurant | Dinner at a French restaurant | $79-$250 |
| Features | |||||||
| Written text | Rich in real life expressions | Images-sound association | Brainwaves | Stories | Music | Games | |
| A | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| B | x | ||||||
| C | x | x | x | ||||
| D | x | ||||||
| E | x | ||||||
| F | x | x | |||||
| G | x | ||||||
| H | x | x | x | ||||
| I | x | x | x | ||||
| J | x | x | x |
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| Comments | |
| A | Best value by far. The program was design not with the intention of sales, but over almost 2 years to make an interesting program that works. It works, you will get off the ground in your target language and have some fun. Amazing photos. |
| B | Good method for basic phrases but with no images its one dimensional and harder to recall. |
| C | Book on a computer, will not work. Might as well read a book. |
| D | Piece of junk. Low quality sound and no images or poor illustrations, poor design. Focus on child like words like "pig" and "cow" " rather than useful expression with the verbs "to be" or "want" or "have". Like " "I am tired" or "I would like some water". or abstract words which is the bulk of most conversations. |
| E | Piece of junk. Barely works, do not waste you money, companies are marketing this just to recycle old software, not effective. |
| F | Method is similar images and sound, but boring. One color, boring photos and no extra features. Focus is on complex grammar right from the start, therefore, the sentences are all constructed with grammar in mind, significantly detracts from its usefulness. Uses expressions like "The man is on top of the airplane." Rather than "I am taking a train to work this morning". At the end of the course you will not be speaking the language. |
| G | Works well for short terms retention but after to form sentences and recall in a flash you take longer to recall the word and some studies indicate this actually hurts long term retention. Learn it the right way from the start. |
| H | Years of frustration. |
| I | Usually written with good intentions, will not do it. |
| J | Great, as long as you study also for about 6 months. Many people I know live in counties and do not speak the language. It only works if you use something else to drill. |
| K | Just used to compare the price. Took 40 minutes to make and you get 1 hour of pleasure if the food and waiter and date is good. A program that teaches languages took two years to make is fun and you can use what you learn for the rest of your life. |
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| Conclusion |
| The closet thing to LearnFast is program F. Although this is a fairly decent program, well thought out, the main issue is its very boring beause it is based on grammatical constructs. After doing this for a few days most people give up. Further, the images are unclear and the grammar is too demanding, as well as the price, it is 350 percent higher. |