June 8, 2009

I have found a FREE computer program to make learning languages easier. It is called WinFlash. You get one free month and then have to pay around $20 for the basic version. Here's the link: http://www.openwindow.com/index.html

You're pretty much useless in a new language until you get a thousand words or two under your belt. You need to hit that mark as quickly as possible to see visible results. This program gets you there more quickly.

The most boring part of learning any new language is memorizing new vocabulary. WinFlash overcomes the tedium.

This program is like an automated flash card deck--WITH AUDIO. You can input new words even in different scripts. I've used it with Arabic. You can test yourself going from English-2nd language or vice-versa. You can create fill-in-the-blank tests or multiple choice questions. You can record audio for aural comprehension. Entire sentences, no problem. You can divide words up by specific lists and test your memory only in what you want. You can even set the program to test you more often on words you got wrong.

I can't overestimate the usefulness of being able to listen to vocabulary on demand. It can take me hours to learn a list of words from a dictionary or book alone. Having learned several languages, this is probably the biggest tip I can give to someone starting out… listen to the word while reading it.

There is a built-in tutorial to get you started very quickly.

BEST OF ALL!! You can download for FREE already prepared decks of words here:

Dr. North has written on the value of learning a new language to increase your paycheck:

You can use this program for science subjects, historical facts, or anything else requiring rote memorization. They even have an organic chemistry deck.

I've written databases that do exactly this but this program has more features and saves time and frustration.

I highly recommend this program and learned of it from another good review:

If you want to cut down on the time and frustration learning new vocabulary this is one of the best tools you can find.