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Instant Immersion Spanish Deluxe v2.0 Review

Instant Immersion Spanish Deluxe v2.0 and v3.0
Spanish Language Learning Program!

"Not only is Spanish similar to English, but Spanish is approachable in many ways. If you are an English speaker and you want to learn a language, and you're over 12, go for Spanish. That's the one that will beat you up the least." John McWhorter, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, in Lecture 34 of "The Story of Human Languages" published by The Teaching Company

Over the years I have used or reviewed a number of different Spanish language learning courses. Some I found were quite good, others were very poor indeed.

While I do believe that learning Spanish while living in a Spanish speaking country is still the best way to become fluent, that is not practical for most people.

Nevertheless, I have found that there are several Spanish language learning programs that can get you to a decent level of proficiency if you are actually serious and follow the programs as designed. These programs can even be used to prepare yourself prior to going to a Spanish speaking country to learn Spanish if that is the learning approach you choose.

While there are some programs that stand out above others, there is no program that is perfect for all situations and needs.

If you are going to take the time and make the effort to learn Spanish, which Spanish language learning programs offer the best approach to meeting your goal? In this series of reviews we'll take a look at the top self study Spanish language learning programs, discuss their strengths and weaknesses, and provide you with our recommendations.

Popular Spanish Language Learning Programs
Based on our research and customer feedback as of June, 2008
  • Instant Immersion Spanish Deluxe Highlights
  • 12 hours of interactive lessons
  • Conversation Book
  • Beginner & Advanced Grammar Books
  • Software Learning Games
  • $299 (Shipped version)
  • $99 (Downloadable version (Limited time))
Instant Immersion Spanish Deluxe product box image


Instant Immersion Spanish Deluxe product box image
  Instant Immersion Spanish v2.0  and v3.0   Deluxe Editions     
  www.topics-ent.com/software_language.php

Overall Rating
  Not Recommended

The comments I made about Instant Immersion products in the Instant Immersion Spanish v2.0 review, apply here also.

Perhaps even more so.

When I loaded the first Instant Immersion Spanish Deluxe CD onto my computer I had a number of problems getting it to run properly and on several occasions it inexplicably either just hung or shut down. The multimedia exercises do not seem to follow any defined path and the characters' responses to your choices, while initially somewhat cute, quickly grow old and seem silly.

My overall impression is that there is very poor product quality control in the development process. Additionally, the teaching methodology leaves much to be desired as it is not organized nor presented well. While it is not expensive, in my opinion it will waste your more valuable asset, and that is time.

Unfortunately, I although I have not personally used version 3.0, Mr. Cooper's evaluation of the Instant Immersion Spanish v3.0 Deluxe edition quoted below is consistent with my experience of Instant Immersion v2.0.

Instant Immersion Deluxe v3.0 software comments by B.D.Cooper, Grosse Pointe, Michigan
"I've been working with this program for three weeks now, and I have yet to learn anything.

There are no instructions about how to proceed with the lessons, and I was for a long time under the impression that the instruction would be on the CD-ROMs, practice on the audio CDs, and learning in context on the "interactive" DVD and the game. In fact, this is all wrong. There is no instruction on the CD-ROMs, merely quizzes, word searches, etc.

The heart of this program is the 5 audio CDs. But the CDs don't take up the topics in the same order as the CD-ROM exercises. For a couple of weeks, I struggled with the audio CDs, which I found difficult without a written transcript. But then I found that the company had posted a complete transcript, which helped a great deal. But the transcript is more than complete: it is for 8 CDs, and there are only 5 in the set. I really miss the material that is on discs 6, 7, & 8.

Furthermore, the scoring on the evaluations is odd -- sometimes it is based on 4 exercises, but there are only two provided. So the best score you can get is 50%, even if all of your answers are correct.

I had no technical trouble at all with the program CD-ROMs. The "hidden keys" are odd, but no problem (why hide them?). But my computer (a new Dell Inspiron 1720 with Vista) has had many problems with the "interactive" DVD and the game. The game freezes up at the same point every time I play it, and the arrow keys seem to go dead on the video. Amazon says this program is for Vista, but on the help instructions for the game (the only place I can find a list), Windows 2000 and XP are listed, but not Vista. I can't get the game past the police interview, and I have found the "interactive" video almost impossible to use.

This are many little glitches not worth mentioning (e.g. "Stai calma" on transcript page 17 cannot mean "I remain calm"; it has to be "You (informal) are calm" or maybe "Stay calm"). But I won't go through all of them. I cannot believe that millions of people have learned Italian with this program, which seems to me a disorganized mess. I learned far more from the Danesi paperback. I wanted something with more interaction and context, but this isn't it. "

As you can see, Mr. Cooper's experiences were very much the same as mine. If you want to learn Spanish, look elsewhere.

Not Recommended

Reviews of Other Popular Spanish Language-learning Programs
Pros:
  • Comprehensive Course
  • Audio MP3 files (downloadable version) that you can burn to CD or load to your PDA or iPOD
  • Basic and Advanced Gramma Books
  • Game Software Makes Learning Fun
  • Interactive
  • Native Spanish Speakers so you learn correct pronounciation
  • Comes in either shipped or downloadable versions
  • Cheapest comprehensive program on the market
Cons:




  • Fluency in 3 Months Claim (not realistic for most people)
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