Tell Me More German, Premium edition

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Tell Me More German, Premium edition | 1.22 GB
Language-Learning Software (Windows)
Publisher: Auralog
4 CD-ROMs, 1 audio CD, headset/mike, user’s manual

Tell Me More German offers a single package “complete course” concept that covers the beginning to advanced levels. This latest version also adds more lessons and content in what seems to be an effort to align Tell Me More more closely with its main competitor, Rosetta Stone. The Tell Me More software has always been among the most interactive and well-designed foreign-language learning programs, and it still comes with a headset and mike for listening and speaking practice.

I tested the new German Premium edition of Tell Me More on a late-model desktop computer running Windows XP. The CD-ROM program installed itself and ran smoothly from the start. I like the stylish Shockwave-style user interface, although it sometimes runs more slowly than I’d prefer, even on a fast computer. (If the background music annoys you, you can turn it off.) The built-in help is very good and it came in handy when I was still getting used to the way things work.

Tell Me More has three lesson modes: Guided, Free-to-Roam, and Dynamic. The Dynamic mode is supposed to adjust and adapt the user’s learning content according to how the user is progressing. I did not have time to fully test this new mode, but if it works as claimed, it should be a plus. True beginners are advised to start out with the first lesson in Guided mode. More advanced users or the adventurous can roam in Free mode or try the Dynamic mode. You can also choose to hear all instructions in German, and you can copy the Tell Me More audio on the included CD for listening away from your computer. One of Tell Me More German’s true advantages is its flexibility.
Progress Chart, Scorekeeping, and a Dictionary
Tell Me More German offers a comprehensive progress chart and score-keeping menu that lets you track your progress in detail, including exercise scores and a percentage of completion for all activities. The program also allows several different users to set up an account and keep track of their individual progress.

The 8,000-word dictionary with sound, plus grammar guide has been carried over from earlier versions and is a very useful element of the program. But the new edition has an expanded cultural section with interactive maps and cultural texts on biographical, geographic, and historical topics (in German with glosses).

As I pointed out in my earlier reviews, the real strength of Tell Me More continues to be its above-average help with listening to and pronouncing the language. Auralog’s sophisticated tools for improving your pronunciation offer valuable help for anyone serious about learning to speak better German. This latest version offers a claimed 850 hours of German learning in more than 4,000 exercises.
Bottom Line
Tell Me More is a good program, especially now with a total of four lesson CD-ROMs and an audio CD. Compared to previous editions*, this Premium version offers more lessons and better cultural coverage. I can recommend Tell Me More to German-learners, although I think the $295 price tag is still high (the previous 3-CD version was $100 cheaper). Unlike the similarly priced Rosetta Stone, Tell Me More is still not available for the Mac platform.

More Infor: http://german.about.com/od/software/fr/tmmPrem.htm
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