Español en Marcha

Publisher: Univesidad Politécnica de Valencia - Camille Project

This review in Word format

Age group: 13-15 yrs

Year published: 1998

Curriculum: Spanish

System: PC

Min spec to run:
· Intel 80486 DX processor or compatible
· 8 Megabytes RAM
· Microsoft Windows 3.1
· Microsoft video for Windows 3.1
· 16 bits sound card
· Cd-Rom drive 4x
· Loudspeakers and Microphone / Headset
· VGA 256 colours video card
Summary
Español en Marcha is a multimedia interactive language course for intermediate students of Spanish as a foreign language on 1 CD-ROM. It has been designed for learners who would like to focus on the acquisition of communicative skills and who wish to improve their command of the past tenses at an intermediate level of knowledge.
The course includes more than 100 interactive tasks, enhanced with sound and illustrations. The various activities are arranged into five different sections: video, culture, grammar, conversational skills and vocabulary. It also includes a help on demand file which aids in using the courseware throughout.
Español en Marcha can be used with the help of three support languages:
· English,
· German and
· French.
This enables the users to access the exercise instructions, the help files and the bilingual electronic dictionary in any one of those languages according to their preferences.
Español en Marcha follows an intuitive user interface design permitting even 'computer illiterate' learners to be able to make the most of all the materials available. Moreover, the help files also include a section dedicated to a number of computer features such as how to go about writing the diacritics to the Spanish language with a non-Spanish keyboard.
Content
The content of Español en Marcha has been carefully devised to suit a communicative approach to teaching. However, it is also true that the grammar has not taken a back seat, it is very much present throughout the whole programme: the explanations are concise and to the point and give relevant examples. The situational language covered ranges from job interviews and going to the doctor to aerobic classes and renting a flat. The type of language used is suited for a good and committed intermediate student. The language can be challenging at times, but it is the sure way to get pupils to the next stage of their learning.
Español en Marcha has no workbook. If the teacher is to monitor progress, he can do it through written exercises, checking vocabulary or asking grammatical questions. Another way to do assessments would be to use the programme in class with the multimedia projector (check if they have one in your school).
Teaching with this Title
Español en Marcha covers the final stages of the Junior Certificate Curriculum. This CD-ROM has been designed for intermediate students: it covers a very broad range of vocabulary, communicative skills, videos and grammar (it covers all the major tenses and grammatical structures the students need to know at this level).
Intermediate students will find Español en Marcha quite similar to Español Interactivo (Beginners). However, the interface is different, perhaps a little more elaborate than its predecessor. The reference books included in this programme are:
· 'cultura',
· 'conversación',
· 'vocabulario (dictionary) and
· 'gramática'.
These books are readily available for consultation anytime. The books can be translated into English, French or German, depending on the help language chosen at the start.
Most exercises can be done with the help of subtitles, which can be quite advantageous for slow learners. Faster learners can also benefit from this by listening without the subtitles and then trying again with the subtitles on, to get a better grasp.
Español en Marcha can be both used as a self-access learning tool or it may be used in class with a group of students (if a multimedia projector is available in the school) or in a computer lab. The best way to use the programme is by using it in class and having the teacher monitoring the pupils' progress. The programme is a great tool to get the students to develop their independent learning. Skills such as listening and speaking (through the recording studio - you need a microphone) come very much alive by direct participation. The difference with a normal class setting is obvious: the computer never gets tired of repeating the same things over and over again… we teachers do!
Installation
The programme is loaded automatically each time you use it. The first time you use the programme go to 'set up'. Subsequent times, load the disc and go straight into 'run Español en Marcha'. You can also start the programme from the Windows menu.
The programme loads quite fast and has a song in the background. You should choose the help language (English, French or German) before writing your name at the top of the screen. Then press the 'enter' key or just simply click on the circle with the words 'en marcha' representing the sun. Then you are presented with 5 windows: choose any of them to go into the various sections. Those sections include a lot of interactive exercises and plenty of videos!
The programme can be used on a network server. Just follow the instructions in the user's manual.
Navigation
The interface for this programme differs substantially from Español Interactivo. It has a very modern look about it and instead of modules, it uses windows (with typical Spanish music in the background) to get into the various learning areas: culture, grammar, conversation, vocabulary and videos. The icons and buttons are the same as Español Interactivo. (See review on this programme).
The help button is always ready at hand to get further explanations: Flaudio (the mascot) helps the student find out how the exercise is supposed to be done. There are two help buttons: the one at the top is there to help you with navigation keys or icons, the one at the bottom shows you how to do the exercises.
This programme has a more sophisticated way to monitor progress than Español Interactivo. It records your percentage of hits and misses in all exercises, it tells you how long it took you to do each exercise and when you did it. The different tasks are marked with a tick once you have completed them. As with the other programme, you can make notes for each session and record them in the 'bloc de notas'. You can print them out at the end of the session if you wish. The next time you use the programme to access the 'bloc' you will not be able to, unless you seat at the same computer and write exactly the same name as before.
Documentation
The User's manual is of great help: it covers all the installation procedures, troubleshooting, optimisation and how to use the programme. It also includes a table of contents. The manual comes in English, French and German.