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
French materials to buy
- for beginners, beginners, intermediate-advanced, advanced, all levels & children
Selected Products
Beginners |
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Michel Thomas Foundation Course: French (Michel Thomas) [Audiobook] (Audio CD) |
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Michel Thomas |
Our Price: £69.99 |
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Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours, but click on the image for our latest price and availability Michel Thomas's approach to language learning aims to provide in a few hours a functional working knowledge of a language without books, note-taking or conscious memorizing. This course provides an eight-hour course. |
Beginners |
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Earworms |
Our Price: £11.99 |
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Beginners |
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Eurotalk |
Our Price: £24.99 |
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Platform: Macintosh, Windows |
Beginners |
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For more details on "All Talk" - the new audio course on CD click here |
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Linguaphone |
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Beginners, intermediate & advanced |
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CD-ROM - Auralog |
Recommended Retail Price: £49.99 |
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Usually dispatched in 24 hours, but click on the image for our latest price and availability
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Beginner - Intermediate level |
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BBC |
Our Price: £39.99 |
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This highly successful course has now been revised and updated
to include the euro and other key changes in France and French
life.
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Beginner - Intermediate level |
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GSP |
Our Price: £29.99 |
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Beginners |
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Get Into French Course Pack: CD-ROM, Audio CD and Book |
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BBC |
RRP:
£34.99 |
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Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours, but click on the image for our latest price and availability |
Intermediate - advanced level |
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Authentik- resources in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and English for intermediate and advanced level language learners |
Intermediate - advanced level |
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Intermediate - Advanced level |
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Our Price: £32.49 |
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-click on the image for our latest price and availability Features
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Advanced level |
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Michel Thomas Advanced Review Course: French (Michel Thomas) |
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Michel Thomas |
RRPrice: £10 |
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The brand new Review courses are a major new offering. For the first time, the student can quickly and easily review the entire teaching contents of the main course, to establish which areas need to be revisited or to consolidate learning. The Reviews can be used in many ways: when the student reaches the end of the main course to check or consolidate learning; as a quick refresher when the student returns to the main course after a lapse of time; for the newcomer to Michel Thomas looking for an overview of what the main courses contain. All the main teaching points have been lifted from the corresponding Advanced course and are contained on just 1 CD.
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For children |
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We have a selection of materials for children |
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All levels |
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French Pro by Linguaphone |
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RRP: £299.90 |
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Features
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LINKS (in alphabetical order)
Accent-click to help students/teachers etc. with inserting accented characters into Word docs when not using a 'native' keyboard.
Buy French
books & cassettes at BBC Shop.com
Macromedia Downloadable software for writing web pages....
REAL Nuffield French for Science Students (freeware), B. Cook et al 1999. Companion software to the Hodder & Stoughton course. More information
Teach Yourself Courses - over 1 million people buy these courses each year!