Materials and software
This section of the website is divided into 3 main parts:
1. advice on selecting materials and software for language learning,
2. products to buy, and
The products to buy section also contains:
- multi-lingual proofing tools
- multi-lingual wordprocessors
- multi-lingual speech recognition/dictation software
Translation software and dictionaries are found in other sections of the website.
Advice on Selecting Materials
Nowadays, there is a wide variety of materials available for learning languages. Modern materials and software such as CD ROMs, DVDs, cassettes, and videos, provide colour, variety and sources of authentic input (examples of real language used by native speakers). Traditional materials are mainly text-based and tend to focus more on reading and writing skills e.g. course books, work books, text books, graded readers, and grammar exercises - these can also be very useful. All these materials are designed for language learners, but we should not forget that there is a huge amount of authentic material designed for native speakers which can be used for advanced learners, and adapted for those who are less proficient: books, magazines, newspapers, games, music, films, radio, and tv.
When selecting materials for language learning you should try to find those that match your:
- language level e.g. advanced level
- age group e.g. adult
- reason for learning the language e.g. to improve your letter writing ability
- preferred approach e.g. like to do repetitive exercises
- mode of learning e.g. self-study
- price range e.g. £15 to £25
- equipment available e.g. using Windows 95+
Look for attractive materials, which you find interesting, colourful and useful. They should be clearly laid out and well-structured. Borrow materials from a friend or a library first, if you can, to make sure that you can get on with them. You can also ask your teacher or fill in a short online form to use our advisory service.
You can also consult the CILT resources library . Another possibility is the Hull CALL software database.
Global Office - an enhancement to Microsoft Office for 100+ languages
Global Writer - a word processor with a wide range of languages
Microsoft Office Proofing Tools - allows users to proof documents in 50+ languages
CD ROMs and DVDs from Eurotalk for learners of most languages and all levels
Selected Products
Beginners |
|
Eurotalk |
RRP: £24.99 |
 |
-click on the image for our latest price and availability Features
|
Beginners |
|
Alif Baa with DVDs: Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds |
|
Georgetown University Press |
RRP: £23.50 |
 |
Newly revised and packaged with two DVDs containing both audio and video exercises, Alif Baa with DVD: Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds, is the first part of the Al-Kitaab program. It teaches learners to recognize and produce both letters and sounds accurately through a variety of exercises designed to develop listening, reading, and writing skills. In addition, it introduces about 150 basic vocabulary words in authentic contexts, and it includes video footage of an Arabic calligrapher, a large collection of street signs, social greetings, capsules on Arab culture, and an English-Arabic glossary. |
Elementary |
|
Teach Yourself Arabic (book and double CD pack) |
|
Teach Yourself Books |
RRP: £29.99 |
 |
-click on the image for our latest price and availability Synopsis: The Arabic taught in this course is the standard written language of more than 150 million inhabitants of the Arab states, ranging from Morocco in the west to Iraq in the east. The language in this course is based on the kind of material seen in Arabic newspapers and magazines or heard on radio and television news broadcasts. |
Elementary |
|
Euro Talk |
RRP: £29.99 |
 |
|
Elementary |
|
Eurotalk |
Our Price: £29.99 |
 |
Platform: Macintosh, Windows Features:
|
Intermediate level |
|
Auralog |
RRP: £49.99 |
 |
-click on the image for our latest price and availability Features
|
Beginner to proficient |
|
|
|
Linguaphone - Dialogue |
RRP: £249.90 |
 |
-click on the image for our latest price and availability
|
LINKS (in alphabetical order)
Global Office - an enhancement to Microsoft Office 97/2000 for 100+ languages
Global Writer - a word processor with a wide range of languages
Microsoft Office 2000 Proofing Tools - allows users to proof documents in 30+ languages
Teach Yourself Courses - over 1 million people buy these courses each year!