| The answer used to be at a local school or | | | | attain a deeper understanding. |
| community college, however today when | | | | These systems also usually have some form of |
| someone asks me "Where Can I Learn How To | | | | flashcard exercises. Flashcards have traditionally |
| Speak German?" I simply answer "On your | | | | been an important tool in the language learning |
| desktop". | | | | process. With these systems the flashcards are |
| You see, today, with our high speed internet | | | | virtual; they live in your computers hard drive and |
| connections and our high powered computers, we | | | | can be called up whenever you're ready to use |
| have all the horsepower we need, right on our | | | | them. Further, in the better systems you'll be able |
| desktop (or laptop) to run even the high-end | | | | to add additional words and phrases to them. In |
| computer based German learning software. | | | | effect, the system will grow as you learn more |
| System requirements vary, but typically as long | | | | of the language. |
| as you have working speakers and your | | | | Next you should also expect to see some sort of |
| computer was built within the last seven to ten | | | | user support. The high-end systems actually give |
| years, you can run any of the better software | | | | you access to a member's only forum or chat |
| packages. | | | | room. Here you'll be able to converse with other |
| So what do you get in these packages? Well, all | | | | German language students and, more importantly |
| of the better packages use a multi-pronged | | | | you'll be able to ask questions from German |
| approach to learning the language. You'll be | | | | language experts. This is a great benefit; it's like |
| immersed in German in several ways. | | | | having your own personal German teacher |
| First there's the audio portion. You'll hear the | | | | available twenty four hours a day. |
| perfect pronunciation of German words and | | | | Finally, most of these systems are available via |
| phrases in a conversational setting. You'll start by | | | | download. In other words, you don't have to wait |
| learning how to introduce yourself and quickly | | | | weeks for the system to be delivered; you can |
| progress to more difficult concepts. Soon, you'll | | | | purchase it, download it and start using it within |
| have learned enough to carry on a typical | | | | minutes. And the cost, well they range in cost |
| conversation or order lunch from a German | | | | from about $40 to several hundred dollars (US) |
| restaurant. | | | | (my personal favorite system sells for under $100 |
| Next, there is usually a selection of interactive | | | | and includes all the bells and whistles of the really |
| games. These games are specifically designed to | | | | expensive products). |
| reinforce the concepts you're already learning in a | | | | So, the next time you're wondering "Where Can I |
| fun, relaxed setting. You'll practice and learn the | | | | Learn How To Speak German?", remember what |
| words and phrases you've heard in the audio to | | | | I said and look no further then your desktop. |