Rating: 
Summary: A Complete Waste Of Money
Review: Don't waste your money on this CD-ROM. It won't teach you much about the German language. The first disc is okay. It teaches a few words and phrases. But then the second disc has people talking completely in German, using words that the first CD didn't bother to teach, and there isn't a single clue as to what they are saying. Don't throw your money away on this product. It's worthless. I learned more German from watching "Hogan's Heroes" than I did from this thing.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun and Educational
Review: I don't care how others rate this software. I know that two nights after getting it, I could make phrases in German that I would use as a tourist. I recorded my pronunciation to match it to the voice on disk, and I felt like I was becoming a true German. Foreign exchange students in our high school were amazed that I could speak to them in their language. And, I did it with no embarrasement. I can't wait for my trip to Frankfurt.
Rating:
Summary: Almost Worthless
Review: I found this software to be very disappointing. The material is organized by subject, and it is impossible to graduate from one subject to move on to the next. There are no guidelines for learning the material in a reasonable manner. The material that is included is shown with a flashcard system where the picture is shown and the word is pronounced, but there is little encouragement to have an individual think and use the langauge to answer comprehensive questions. The games that are played consist of picking the spoken word from a list of answers. While this may help someone listen to the language, it does very little to help someone learn to speak the langauge. The spoken language is learned through repeating the program. Your voice can be recorded, which is fine if you want to sound like a parrot. I think a better choice would be to force the user to speak first. The Second CD is completely in German, but without a good fondation, it is difficult to follow. There is very little help offered during the games. The talking dictionary was the worst of all. First, I had a very difficult time changing the options in the program. I tried going into the option screen but frequently had to repeat a change several times before the program would actually remember. The program was designed to run in the background and translate words that were clicked on. However, the speech only reads the word it is translating, so while you can translate a foreign language into your native tongue very easily, it doesn't allow you to translate the other direction. I also found that the program used up an immense amount of memory and kept popping up as I was typing, it slowed everything else on the computer to a virtual crawl. I tried killing the application, but it refused to stop running, I eventually had to remove it from the start menu and reboot to get the thing out of memory. I tried using it to read through a German website, but it was able to translate less than 50% of the words, with little consistency. If your looking to learn German, this isn't it. However, if you want to play a couple of games, learn a few colors, and maybe augment a different learning system then this may be a good program.
Rating: 
Summary: Good up until the 3rd CD
Review: I had a ton of fun with the first CD and I was learning at a fast pace. I was looking forward to starting the next CD but after going through that the only thing I could say was HUH? It was such a jump from the first. I had to use books to learn all the in between stuff. I went on to put the 3rd CD in. It was HORRILBE! I've been learning Germa long enough to know that the speaker doesn't even seem to be pronouncing the words right. It seems like he/she is reading them for the first time. They sound absolutely nothing or authentic to what I have been learning already. i.e. I typed in 'bitte' and it's supposed to sound like 'bitter' with a silient 'r'. But the speaker pronounces it in a english sound, 'bit'. That's one example of many. If someone has an explanation about this let me know. Maybe that's the way it's supposed to be. I was really disappointed in this CD.
Rating: 
Summary: It sounded pretty good but...
Review: I purchased this program as my girlfriend is German and I thought I would take a shot at learning a few words. Well that's about all you will get from this Cd Set a few words. The first Cd provides you with just enough German to make a fool of yourself in an airport in Frankfurt. I wasn't looking to master the German language, but I was hoping for a little more. Still for [$] it at least teaches you to look for something better.
Rating:
Summary: Give us a break.
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Give us a break.
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Es ist wundervoll
Review: If you are wondering where to start ...you just found it... this is a perfect place to start to teach anyone German. I bought it for my childern and they have not lost interest in it yet. It's scoring system and gamelike learning is exactly what is needed to teach children and keep them interested. It is very easy to use. It has both male and female speakers. Ich empfehle es in hohem Grade.
Rating:
Summary: Es ist wundervoll
Review: If you are wondering where to start ...you just found it... this is a perfect place to start to teach anyone German. I bought it for my childern and they have not lost interest in it yet. It's scoring system and gamelike learning is exactly what is needed to teach children and keep them interested. It is very easy to use. It has both male and female speakers. Ich empfehle es in hohem Grade.
Rating:
Summary: You, too, can be a flashcard maverick!
Review: 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.
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