This software is designed with adult language learners in mind.  Everything from the graphics to the topic of dialogues and vocabulary reflect this target of a more mature audience.  The lessons are geared for the beginning learner who would like to gain a “basic working knowledge” of the Russian language. The lessons are very user friendly with each unit containing activities, games and a culminating quiz.  Activities are varied across the four skill areas, but there is a tendency to focus upon reading comprehension.  The prompts and links throughout the program are clear and as a whole make navigation easy.  Graphics are clear and age appropriate.  They do not look childish as many language programs seem to.  There is no real animation or anything too “flashy”, but the lessons are interesting and should hold the learners’ attention.  Students may work independently through the program although the clear breaks in the lesson would allow teacher interaction and a guided progression through the tutorials perhaps culminating in conversational practice between teacher and student or among a group of students.  There is no complementary book that I could uncover outside of the book that accompanies the software.  I would definitely recommend the purchase of this software for an adult language program’s computer lab.

#2 Title:  “Side by Side”
 Publishing company: Pearson Education 
 Date:  2000
 Cost:  dependent upon purchasing package (with or without course books, audio, video etc.)

Designed to accompany the third edition of their reader and workbook in the series “Side by Side” by Molinsky and Bliss, this program is primarily designed to supplement and provide testing which is not included in the texts.  This particular version is a supplement to the beginning level series.  Instructions, prompts and graphics are appropriate for adult beginning learners, but rather plain.  Perhaps this was a purposeful design strategy in order to keep fledging learners focused upon English text.  The focus is primarily upon reading and writing with little in the way of verbal interaction.  While it appears rather “stripped down” when taken into consideration as a supplement to the texts and other audio and video aids it seems quite logically and practically constructed.  Particularly if one is purchasing and ordering the entire program, it would make a worthwhile addition to an adult language lab.

#3   Title:  “Short Cuts”
 Publishing company: McGraw Hill
 Date: 1997
 Cost:  $45

This software is designed to complement the student workbook in the series titled “Short Cuts” by James Mentel.  The level is for very low beginning students and the design of the exercises is indicative of this targeted audience.  Instructions in English are kept very basic and concise.  Graphics could be more modern, but instructions are clear and connect clearly from activity to activity.  The games included in the program would be particularly useful to break up the pace of a long lesson with adult learners.  The culminating “quizzes” included are a bit too lengthy to be as practical for in-class use.  If students were given access to the computer lab outside of class this feature would be more practically applied.  There is little that is new from the original student workbook to be found here however.  If choosing between the program and other supplements this would be an added luxury rather than a necessity. 
 

#4  Title:  Spanish Now!
 Publishing company:  Transparent Language
 Date: 1996 
 Cost:  $129

The design of this software is very similar to the company's program for Russian reviewed earlier.  There are quizzes, interactive dialogues, crossword puzzles, and a record and playback option that allows students to focus more upon verbal skills.  The most interesting feature to this software for me was the choice of Spanish vocabulary and content of the lessons in general .  The age old debate of which variety of Spanish to teach surfaces in each decision and here we see primarily South and Central American "survival" Spanish utilized.  There are aspects of the language introduced which are Castillian, but the variety is even.  The other feature which really stands out in this program is the dialogues and stories which highlight specific traditions and cultural points about the Spanish people.  Graphics  in this section are primarily photographs and serve to really give the feeling of a virtual trip!

#5 Title: Easy Language-17 language edition
 Publishing company:  IMSI  
 Date: 1996
 Cost:  $150

This software is designed for the traveler or businessperson looking to learn survival skills in several languages.  The lessons are geared for beginners, but options are given to accelerate quickly to higher levels.  The video clips and short films on each country are well done and interesting.  Another feature which stands out is the ability to change the language of instruction to allow for differing native language or to allow the learner to draw comparisons between new languages.  The graphic for the vocabulary and quizzes look a bit dated and the shift from activity to activity seemed slower than it should be.  The software claims to introduce 25,000 words in each language.  This would make a great edition to any language lab simply due to the range of languages included..  Oh, and there is a very neat dictionary and travel companion booklet accompanying the software.