French Computer Programs
- Système-D (IBM)
A Bilingual wordprocessor specifically designed for writing in
French. The wordprocessor, in addition to a full set of easy
to use editing utilities, helps a student of any level of
French to write with confidence that grammar and vocabulary
usage are used properly. There are three components that make
this application one of the most powerful bilingual
applications on the market. A bilingual dictionary of 8,000
French words and their usage is easily accessible upon request
while composing a paper. A reference to grammar with 250,000
conjugated verb forms and example of usage is also easily
accessible to the student to check for proper grammar. A
functional phrase index containing an index of hard to find
idiomatic expressions and conversational phrases, is also
easily and quickly accessible as the student is writing.
Advanced students can use the indexed references to express
their ideas effectively and creatively. For the instructor,
the program provides a full report of recorded references to
the grammar, dictionary and phrase indexes used by the student
while composing. This unique tracking utility provides the
instructor with a tool to analyze the student's writing
process and progress, as well as using this information to
reinforce effective writing strategies.
- Learn To Speak French CD-ROM Course (MAC)
A complete French course based on materials developed by the
U.S. Foreign Service Institute, emphasizing speaking and aural
comprehension. The HyperCard-based course has 36 lessons. Each
lesson is centered around a situational setting and a
dialogue, and contains setting, dialogue, grammar, vocabulary,
cultural notes, and interactive exercises, both for grammar
and listening comprehension.
- Pronunciation Tutor (MAC)
Covers the basics of vowel sounds (unaccented, accented, and
combinations), consonants, words, phrases, and full sentences.
By clicking on the syllables, words, and sentences, a native
informant repeats them as many times as the student wishes.
- Survival Manual (MAC)
Over 8 megabytes of high-quality, native speaker voice
reproduction compressed into four diskettes using Farallon
Computer's new Sound-Edit digitized sound compression and
real-time decompression technology. More than 600 recorded
everyday French words and phrases covering such topics as
Food, Hotels, Transportation, Communications, Doctors,
Numbers, Clothing, and more, as well as notes about everyday
life in France. Includes more than 500 additional non-recorded
words and phrases.
- Verb Tutor (with sound) (MAC)
With all 200 sentences recorded in high quality, native -
speaker voice reproduction. Click on a button and hear the
sentence pronounced. Ideal for working on oral comprehension
skills as well as verb conjugations. The sentences comprise
over 1,600 words with an average sentence length of 9 words.
These are not simple little three-word sentences but lengthy,
real life everyday conversational type phrases.
- Tense Tutor (MAC)
A companion program to Verb Tutor With Sound. Drills on 200
additional sentences, all read in high quality digitized sound
by a native speaker. Whereas the Verb Tutor tests on all
tenses of a single verb, tense tutor allows user to select the
tense he wants to be drilled on and then drills him on many
verbs in that same tense. It is totally user modifiable. You
can change the sentences it comes with, delete them, add new
verbs and sentences; modify, delete and add translations and
explanations as well. Add conjugations for the new words.
- Word Torture (MAC)
Automated vocabulary drills. Comes with from 1400 to 1600
verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, comparatives, etc. Use as
drill and type in the translations, or use as flash cards.
Program can keep score and redrill on missed words. You can
create drill sets of different sizes. Drill from target
language to English or English to target language. Random
generation assures that words will never appear in the same
order (unless you want them to be). Set the time interval
between seeing the word and its translation. Can be user
modified; add more words to those that come with the stack.
- PICS Listening Tool (MAC)
A computer controlled video disc workshop designed to tutor
language students with carefully picked foreign movies, TV
shows and commercials. A video disc player containing French,
German, or Spanish videos is connected to a microcomputer to
control viewing from different chapters to scene by scene
viewing, to frame by frame viewing. This control is provided
to step through the video sentence by sentence allowing
careful listening of each sentence and comprehending each
meaning. The application also provides a number of lecturing
tools for the student and/or teacher to use: sentence by
sentence play, keyword on demand, transcript on demand,
alternate soundtrack (used to provide a slower more pronounced
soundtrack of the dialogue), listen-then-read, preview via
images, video before audio, audio before video.
The teacher may use this application to make a
presentation for a lecture or the student may use this
application to practice on his or her own. The following is a
list of videos available with the videodisc and computer
workstations.
French Videodiscs
- Telematin (IBM)
Telematin is a breakthrough in video. Its carefully selected
authentic programming especially re-edited for use in U.S.
schools, contains over one hundred segments assembled from
twenty-seven different Telematin programs chosen from among
hundreds of Telematin broadcasts. Included are weather
forecasts, news broadcasts, ad sequences, popular songs,
household hints, travel tips, etc. Included with a Teleguide,
a comprehensive workbook and instructor's manual designed to
accompany the program. 60 minutes.
- Un Bon Depart (IBM)
Bernard has moved to Paris from a small village in the
provinces to work for the PTT. He is befriended by Jean-
Claude, a co-worker and compatriot, who gives him some tips on
life in the big city (enjoying Paris nightlife, finding an
apartment, meeting people).
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