"Tell Me More" Software Evaluation

Title of Software: Tell Me More

Producer: Auralog: Innovation for language learning

Target students (e.g., age or grade-level of students):

Proficiency level (e.g., beginning, intermediate, advanced):

Description: Designed for language learners of ESL, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese
The software has two interfaces. The first is self-study where student chooses what he/she wants to learn. Various links allow students to navigate through the program at their own pace. Many language drills and pronunciation drills are available. The second interface consists of a teacher operated mode where the teacher controls the course of study for the language learner. Various windows helps teacher give or deny access to students at various program levels.

Language skills targeted: Beginner to Advanced Speaker

Evaluation:
Perhaps the programs strengths is that it is easy to use. There are plenty of help buttons that allow users to navigate easily through the program. Graphics have good resolution, and it is easy to make out visuals. In the phonetic area, a computer graphic demonstrates how the sound is made. In addition the sound bite repeats itself until you make it stop. Weaknesses include comprehensibility of the spoken language. There is no way to clarify or make the sound better.

I would not use this program as the soul source for teaching English language learners, but I would use it as a station in order to supplement what is being taught in class. If the district paid for it, I’d be willing to use it in the classroom. Because of the language drills and repetitiveness of the program, I would have to say that program uses the audiolingual method. Although the software tries to be interactive, students learn by repetition.