CD-ROM Reviews: September, 2005

-- School Library Journal, 9/1/2005

Foreign Languages

Mucho Spanish. 3 CD-ROMs. Systems: Win 98 & later, Macintosh OS 9/05 X & later. Mucho Spanish. 2005. ISBN 0-9767277-0-6. $59.99.

Gr 5 Up–This series covers spoken Spanish from basic vocabulary through advanced grammatical concepts. Instruction is presented in print format with the option of hearing each word pronounced. The words and concepts presented are then used in dialogues, conducted by an adult couple and their 14-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy. Each disc is set up in a three part menu. The first disc covers commonly used words, tu and usted, nouns and articles, adjectives; present tense verbs, numbers, dates, and times; prepositions, questions, and a dialogue using the concepts. The following two discs provide instruction in the past and future tenses, adverbs, possessives, comparatives, superlatives, object pronouns, idioms, reflexives, present participles, and imperatives. The progression through each topic is methodical, with ample opportunities for repetition.For example, sections introducing verbs show the conjugations, and allow for clicking on specific words to hear pronunciations. Clicking on an arrow in the lower right hand corner of a screen feeds into a dialogue using the words in context. Buttons on the bottom of a dialogue screen allow students to return to a particular section or sentence to hear it again. A section for teachers on the final CD provides sentences that can be used to communicate with Hispanic parents. Students are moved from level to level at a steady pace. The pronunciation is clean and fluid. Most beginning speakers will be able to understand the simple dialogues quickly. The animation is lackluster with mouth-only motion. The lists of words and concepts are pedantic looking. There is no search function or option for downloading or printing. There are a few spelling errors within the program. While the series is marketed as dual platform, using the CD on an OS X Macintosh proved impossible. Students might prefer Easyspeak (Kutoba Interactive, 2004) for the graphics, game aspect, and positive reinforcement. However, Mucho Spanish is more adaptable to classroom use.–Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WA

Browse the June CD-ROM reviews