Our Spanish Language Software Reviews

Jun 2nd, 2009 | By W.P. Allen | Category: Top Story

There are many Spanish language software programs available online and based on our research and testing, many of them do not provide enough components in their programs to allow for effective comprehension of the language.  Many programs online make big promises (and come with big price tags) but fail to deliver on those promises.  Therefore we have listed below ONLY the top programs (or the programs that will actually teach you Spanish), along with review comparisons, short product overviews, and links to our full reviews of the programs. 

We tested each product below for 3 months with test subjects who had basic to advanced levels of Spanish language comprehension.  The testing results are based on the program’s price, features, fundamentals, ease of use, teaching tools, word tools, and help/support.
 

Spanish Program Review Comparisons
Programs
Rocket Spanish Fluenz Tell Me More Rosetta Stone

Product Picture
 

Full Review
Read Read Read Read
Price $99 $218 $399 $650
Overall Rating Excellent Good  Fair  Poor
Ratings Features : Excellent
Fundamentals: Excellent
Ease Of Use: Excellent
Teaching Tools: Excellent
Word Tools: Excellent
Help/Support:
Excellent
Features: Good
Fundamentals: Good
Ease Of Use: Excellent
Teaching Tools: Good
Word Tools: Excellent
Help/Support:
Good
Features: Fair
Fundamentals: Fair
Ease Of Use: Good
Teaching Tools: Good
Word Tools: Fair
Help/Support:
Poor
Features: Poor
Fundamentals: Poor
Ease Of Use: Fair
Teaching Tools: Fair
Word Tools: Poor
Help/Support:
Poor
Visit Website  Click Here  Click Here  Click Here  Click Here

 
Product Overviews With Bottom Line

rocketspanishsmall3

Rocket Spanish

Overall Effectiveness:  Excellent

Product Features

31-lesson Interactive Audio Course
Premium Grammar Guide Books And Exercises
MegaVocab Software Learning Games  
MegaAudio Software Learning Games  
24 Hours A Day Rocket Language Support   

Product Description

Rocket Spanish contains: 31 interactive audio lessons that average 20 minutes in length (over 12 hours of audio lessons), transcripts of the audio lessons, beginner and advanced grammar lessons (210 pages of illustrated grammar lessons), 180 minutes of grammar audio tracks, 400 grammar excercises, 23 advanced grammar lessons (160 pages of advanced grammar rules), MegaVocab Software Game (1,000 words and 20 topics), MegaVocab Creator (add your own words and pictures, MegaAudio Software Game (recognize the sound of over 1,000 words), "On Call" 24 hour a day Spanish Teacher.

Bottom Line:  Based on our testing criteria, Rocket Spanish ranks much higher than the other Spanish language software we tested.

Visit the official Rocket Spanish website to learn more.

Read Our Full Review

 

fluenzsmall2

Fluenz

Overall Effectiveness:  Good

Product Features

2 DVD-ROMs
2 CD-ROMS  
Navigator Booklet  
Fluenz Brochure  
Trouble Shooting Guide  

Product Description

Fluenz Spanish 1+2 offers an extremely comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of the language. Those who have already studied some Spanish will benefit from the emphasis on those areas of the language that have traditionally been difficult for English speakers. The key to gaining confidence with any new language is a true understanding of the foundational elements, including conjugations, prepositions, and articles. Because Spanish 1+2 thoroughly covers these important parts of speech in a way that makes sense rather than depending on mere memorization, users will be able to build a wide variety of different types of sentences.

Bottom Line:  This software is effective but also very expensive.  Our top ranked program Rocket Spanish is more effective with a much lighter price tag.

Visit the official Fluenz website.

Read Our Full Review

 

tellmemorespanishsmall1

Tell Me More Spanish

Overall Effectiveness:  Fair

Product Features

2,000 hours of Spanish Learning  
Speech recognition technology  
10 hours of video  
24/7 online support  
Progress tests   

Product Description

This Spanish language software contains: 2,000 hours of Spanish learning and 10 different levels, 10,000 excercises, advanced speech recognition technology (asses your pronunciations), 10 hours of video, 24/7 online advisor, real news broadcasts, test your progress (at any point during the course you can take a test to evaluate your progress).

Bottom Line:   Based on our testing and research, Tell Me More Spanish falls short in several categories and cannot be recommended.

Visit the official Tell Me More website.

Read Our Full Review

 

rosetta-stone-small1
 

Rosetta Stone Spanish

Overall Effectiveness Poor

Product Features

CD-ROM
Headset microphone  
User’s guide
Audio companion  
Daily support  

Product Description

Rosetta Stone is a Spanish Language software package aimed at effectively teaching users the Spanish language.  This program claims to contain: Version 3 Personal Edition CD-ROM, a headset microphone, user’s guide. The program claims to: build language basics and vocabulary, write and spell accurately, speak the language without a script, retain what you’ve learned, read and understand what you’ve read in the new language. The topics claimed to be covered: age, household items, family relations, greetings and introductions, times of day and calendar terms, buying and selling.

Bottom Line:  Based on our research and testing of the Rosetta Stone Spanish language software we cannot recommend it.  We also find it troubling that the software has had 14 complaints to the Better Business Bureau and RipOffReport.com.  The price is also very high for what you receive with the program.

Visit the official Rosetta Stone website.

Read Our Full Review

 

email2friend
Tags: , , , , ,

3 comments
Leave a comment »

  1. [...] A complete side-by-side comparisons chart with our other ranked and reviewed products as well as a full list of product overviews is available on the Spanish Software Reviews page. [...]

  2. [...] Spanish Software Reviews page [...]

  3. [...] A complete side-by-side comparisons chart with our other ranked and reviewed products as well as a full list of product overviews is availble on the Spanish Software Reviews page. [...]