Newsgroups: sci.lang
Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!fs7.ece.cmu.edu!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!lgc.com!wow
From: wow@zycor.lgc.com (--[ wally ]--)
Subject: Re: Foreign Language Learning Programs
Message-ID: <D14uv4.DJ@lgc.com>
Sender: usenet@lgc.com
Nntp-Posting-Host: scholz.zycor.lgc.com
Organization: Landmark Graphics Corporation  (Austin, TX)
References: <3d79m1$sv9@zip.eecs.umich.edu>
Date: Tue, 20 Dec 1994 23:35:28 GMT
Lines: 21

In article <3d79m1$sv9@zip.eecs.umich.edu> mwilder@quark.gmi.edu (Blutoe) writes:
>I would like to learn some foreign languages, namely Russian, german,
>Hindi, Japanese, Cantonese, Swedinsh, Finnish, Norweigan, etc.  What
>are good methods to learn these (and others).  I cannot take classes
>because my schedule doesn't permit.  In short, what programs that are
>tape/CD based are the best?  Barrons?  SA30?  Berlitz?
>
For German and Japanese, a good starting point is the Berlitz Think and Talk
series.  Other Berlitz programs range from not as good to good for learning only
a few words.

Audio forum (1-800-243-1234) has a catalog with some courses in the other
languages.

A good rule of thumb is: the less English on the tape/CD the better
(well, unless you're learning English). The English not only does not
help, but my claim is that it makes it harder to learn the language of
interest.   An accompanying book is a great place for English explanations.

-Wally

