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Our Editor's Review
Rocket Spanish is by far the best and most user-friendly Spanish-learning program. It starts at a very basic level, but will quickly advance as you go through the course. It also includes fun games to reinforce learning. It is also quite comprehensive.
The best way to learn a new language is probably to live in the native country of that language, but if that is not possible, Rocket Spanish is probably the fastest and easiest alternative to get a command of Spanish. Spanish is gaining acceptance in the US, and it is likely that this trend will continue to accept many Spanish words in future. With globalization, companies are now looking for multilingual workers and learning Spanish, which is expansive in its usage, is helpful. People who speak many languages often give out a sense of sophistication and are also perceived to be more intelligent by others. This also leads to better mental agility and will allow to react quicker and smarter to situations. Your problem solving skills will also improve.
Rocket Spanish is the cheapest online Spanish language product. This does not reflect on its quality. It certainly over-delivers in that respect. It also does away with the fluff that is not beginner-friendly. You learn everything from grammar to situational conversation like greetings, business discussions. If you are planning to learn Spanish for a business tour or so, then this will make you ready in no time.
Features: The audio lessons are narrated by friendly voices, so you will have no trouble following them. They are concise and go straight to the point, so you can start grasping the fundamentals of the language almost immediately. You can even download the audio files on to your iPod or CD so you can learn while jogging or just relaxing.
There is a 500-page material, which is the real meat of the course; though there are many pages, they are easy to digest. There is a real emphasis on pronunciation skills. In addition, there are also additional exercises and a memory game called MegaCards. This is where you really take what you learn and apply it, before using them in real-life situations. It gives you instant access to step-by-step audio lessons and even games; the games are a really neat addition. They really make learning Spanish fun and interactive!
Fundamentals: Two options are available with Rocket Spanish. You can buy a digital download version or a physical version, which is shipped; the physical version is expensive at $299.95 plus $49.95 for shipping. The instant download version is available at $99.95, less than one third of that price; recommend the digital version because it gives instant access to the lessons.
Ease of Use: It is a truly interactive course that you can start to use right away, as you download {about 25 minutes) it to your computer instantly. The course is designed to provide very fast results. The whole package is very well presented and it makes you want to learn more; makes you feel that your money has been well spent.
Teaching Tools: You can play the vocabulary software game and master the vocabulary. You can then spend some time on the audio software to learn how to speak Spanish like a native. You will also get familiar with their speaking style and accent. It aims to take beginners, through intermediate levels, to an advanced level. The course comprises 31 lessons. The first 12 lessons are beginner lessons. Nine intermediate lessons build on the basics. The remaining lessons are more applied and feature real-life situations where you can follow a conversation. Each lesson takes between 30 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on the skill level of the student and the knowledge of the topic being covered.
The topics are introduced along with any new Spanish words. The student will read through the introduction. Any Spanish word can be clicked on and the audio for the word will be heard. The audio takes the following format: first, the English equivalent is spoken, then the Spanish. Then there is a pause and the Spanish is spoken again. This gives the student a chance to speak the Spanish and practice what he/she is learning. A variety of written and multiple choice-type exercises end the lesson.
The Random button can be pushed at any time and a Spanish sentence or word from the current lesson will be spoken. This will allow the student to practice conversation and comprehension for the particular lesson.
An English-peaking narrator will lead users through the lessons. Spanish words are interjected as the lesson teaches them and users are encouraged to repeat them. Audio tests are used at the end of each lesson to solidify the words and concepts that have been learned. This program also includes written exercises to grasp the written as well as spoken language. Games are also a big part of this program.
Another feature that seemed to unique is the ability to interact online with material; the user can practice and test himself on ability. An object is shown on the screen and the person is given a list of names to choose from in Spanish.
MegaVocab—vocabulary recognition, match one of 6 pictures to a word picked at random by the software; MegaAudio—comprehension, listen to audio of a word or sentence and guess which of the four pictures represent the audio. These games are useful to consolidate the knowledge learned in the lessons or as a warm up exercise before the lessons begin. Flash cards are also provided.
The pictures in the Megavocab are a bit misleading at times, which makes guessing the correct words difficult. You can only improve your pronunciation by listening and repeating the audio; no feedback is given by the software as to how your accent sounds.
Word Tools: Rocket Spanish teaches you from simple words to fluent conversations. The impressive range of quality tools, including written lessons, audio lessons and samples, as well as the great memory games and software makes it the best cost-effective program. The newsletter has a new lesson in each issue.
Help/Support: The staff answers politely to any problems you have.
Summary: The course builds from beginner to advanced. It will give the student a complete grasp of the Spanish Language at the end of the course. Random button is good for adding a bit of spontaneity to the lesson. This is useful if you have done the lesson more than once and need to freshen it up a little.
Visit Rocket Spanish Website
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SPANISH COURSE REVIEWS 
