Always wanted to learn a new language but never had the time? Get into Spanish with this exciting new interactive course for beginners from BBC Languages and Cambridge University Language Centre. Designed for people on the go, the flexible approach of Get into Spanish puts you firmly in control of how, when and where you learn - and you'll have fun too!

The course recreates typical holiday situations in animated locations around a virtual town. Its focus on real language means you'll be communicating in Spanish right from the start. A complete self-study course on CD-ROM, supported by a book, audio CD and website, Get into Spanish is an innovative and enjoyable new way for adult beginners to learn the language.

CD-ROM

Take part in fully animated interactive dialogues and pick up the skills and confidence to communicate.

Choose a way of learning that suits you: familiarise yourself with new language in the Learn It First activities, or jump straight in to Have A Go at speaking.

Record your voice and compare yourself with native speakers.

Access instant learning support via the comprehensive built-in Phrase Book, Basics section and concise pop-up grammar notes.

Book

Use this handy ten-unit book whenever you'd like to revise and refresh the language you have met on the CD-ROM. Dip into it at home, on the move or on holiday!

Audio CD

Build on the language you've learned by listening to the adventures of Simon Martin, a young British web designer, as he touches down in Alicante in search of new horizons.

Web site

Access games, activities and opportunities to learn about Hispanic culture around the world with your password to our dedicated website. Get handy tips on learning a new language, as well as advice on the most effective methods of self-study.

Above all, enjoy learning a new language with Get Into Spanish. (Source: Back cover)

MY COMMENTS... This is a computer based course and is not really for learning on the go! If I were a complete beginner, I would not throw myself in at the deepend, which is one of the recommended ways of using the disc. I would start with the learn it first activities with the sub-titles for both Spanish and English turned on! and concentrate initially on listening, reading and understanding the conversations. I would do the activities when I felt more comfortable with the language (of course not everyone is the same as me...)This course does require you to read the instructions and learning notes, and I would recommend reading the introductory notes on first use. When doing the activities, you can often make things easier by clicking the check my answers button! (If you get several answers wrong, try correcting them one at a time!). At the very beginning you might like to use the basics section, which covers phrases like 'Hello'. Not all the phrases are spoken in this section, but the majority are. Again, read the notes provided and all will make sense. This is a course you need to experiment a bit with, to find out how it works best for you, and to find out how to turn various features on and off!

I have not tested the microphone and speaking section as I am not a great lover of the facility in general. I don't think the technology as generally available is really up to it yet! I prefer just to read along with the narrator after listening to the dialogues a few times...

As far as the book is concerned, it contains a selection of phrases and then discusses the associated grammer. The words do not have their phonetic equivalents printed, but if you've listened to the dialogues enough, that won't be a problem.

The audio CD is really to be used when you have covered most of the material on the CD-ROM, as extra listening practice.

(My note: this is for Windows PCs only - it says Windows 98, ME and XP on the box, although I have run it on a Windows 2000 machine without any problems (haven't tried 98 or ME) - I had no problems installing the disc, except I did have an initial failure on an XP machine, when I tried to instal it before Windows had finished loading all the start up items - which was a little silly of me! Restarted the machine and waited for Windows to completely finish laoding and there was no problem! Disc one is for installation, disc 2 for running. It does come up with a message on start up that I recommends that I change my display settings, but I have just ignored it, and had no problems. This programme works like many games, in that it takes over the whole screen, so if you want to read your e-mail you may have to close the programme, and come back. It does have some tracking facilities, to show where you have been, and what you have done. This tracking can be set up for up to 5 users at a time, so is ideal if there is more than one of you!)

Learning a language takes time, don't expect to remember everything immediately. The more you listen and read along with a language, the more will sink in. It gets easier with practice and familiarity. If you want everything given to you slowly in a strict linear fashion, don't buy this product. However if you want flexibility, like to experiment and don't mind reading occasionally this would be a very useful tool on your journey...

Unfortunately it's not suited for a complete beginner.

The CD starts had lots of Spanish conversation (and no translations). It doesn't start with "hello my name is" or "good morning" - but with a guy losing his luggage in the airport!

The CD-ROM also seems to assume some knowledge of Spanish as the topics covered include checking in at a hotel, ordering a meal in a restaurant. These are things that you will need to know, but still I'd like to learn how to say hello to people first!!

The Book does cover the basics, but without hearing how they are pronounced I wasn't very confident learning from it.

Overall I'd say this is a perfect course if you have a basic knowledge of Spanish already - but not for total beginners