Review: Fluenz Spanish

Fluenz Spanish is a great way to learn Spanish fast. It's a hot  new product that is based on current research into how adults learn languages.

You can try their demo online, and the program itself works on Windows and Macs, with a lot of files you can put on an mp3 or CD player to have with you wherever you go. Click on the image to go to their homepage, then try FREE DEMO in Spanish. For buying, you can get a discount at Amazon.com... here's a link to their popular Spanish 1 + 2 levels.

If I were beginning to learn Spanish now, I would certainly consider Fluenz as one of the top programs.

 The people at Fluenz say, "Learning should be personalized, virtual, interactive, mobile, and designed to recreate the memorable experiences of one-on-one tutoring."

They are innovative in how they are combining technology with a personalized learning situation. Bilingual Sonia Gil (oh, to have her accent in Spanish!) is your teacher throughout the lessons.

I liked how she explained that Fluenz is based on research into how adults learn languages. She pointed out that unlike very young children who absorb information like sponges, adults and teenagers use reason and memory. So it is most effective to use your English to learn Spanish.

After watching that, you get to go through a sample lesson. I made a few screenshots to give you the idea. 

 These are from Lesson Two. Sonia repeats things very clearly, and enough that you really learn them.

Below, she is explaining that the qu in Spanish is pronounced like our letter K:

This lesson gives you some discussion between a woman and a waiter in a restaurant, with Sonia explaining it all. She recommends that you listen to it at least three times, with and without subtitles. Here's part of the screen where you choose how you want to do it:

Unlike some of the other Spanish programs I examined, Fluenz Spanish teaches you the words you need to know for traveling or conversing. (I was pretty amazed at some of the unimportant words that Rosetta Stone  began by teaching you.)

Fluenz Spanish comes as a set of DVDs which you run on your Windows or Mac computer, along with files you can play anywhere because you can use them on any mp3 player or CD player.

By the way, the Spanish 1 Audio CD features Edgar Ramirez, one of Hollywood's most talented Latino actors. The Spanish 2 Audio CD features Ivan Loscher, whose voice is well known from HBO Latin America, his own radio shows, and numerous commercials. So you will be listening to beautifully pronounced Latin American Spanish.

Frankly, I had never heard of Fluenz before I began researching the best ways to learn Spanish; they are quite new. I am  impressed.

Fluenz Spanish is  available for a discount at Amazon.com, and this link takes you to the  page for levels 1 and 2. Customers rate it very highly. And here is the link for the whole package, levels 1 to 5, at Amazon.