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Fluenz Mandarin 1+2 Learning Suite Windows, Including DVD, Audio CD, Podcasts, and Fluenz Navigator. Next-Generation Chinese Language Learning Software | 
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| From: Fluenz
Category: Software
List Price: $357.00
Buy New: $323.00
You Save: $34.00 (10%)
New (3) from $323.00
Rating:  38 reviews
Sales Rank: 960
Format: Dvd-rom
Platforms: Windows Vista, Windows Xp
Media: DVD-ROM
Operating System: Windows Vista
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 5 x 5 x 5
UPC: 804879078128
EAN: 0804879078128
ASIN: B000PRBV74
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | Multimedia application specifically designed to help English-speakers gain fluency in Chinese | | • | Language tutor Sonia Gil guides you on video every step of the way to create a live, classroom-style learning environment | | • | Leverages your knowledge of English to accelerate your learning of Mandarin, with an emphasis on words you are most likely to use | | • | Next-generation platform blends beautiful full motion video with engaging, interactive workouts, including voice recording so you can compare your accent to native speech | | • | Includes Mandarin 1+2 DVD-ROM, audio CD for additional training, and handy Fluenz Navigator for on-the-go referencing of important words and phrases |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Fluenz is a software company founded by a group of passionate language learners who felt there had to be another way. At the center of our Mandarin program is language tutor Sonia Gil, who went to China herself to learn Mandarin. Sonia is there to guide you throughout the program, blending full motion video explanations in English with a series of highly engaging workouts, helping you understand and speak relevant Mandarin. The Fluenz system follows three clear principles: 1) Live Learning - Learning a new language, especially one as unfamiliar as Mandarin, is difficult to do on your own. With Live Learning, we have brought to computer education the essence of the classroom experience: a teacher. All words and phrases are thoroughly explained and you are guided through a structured learning process. 2) Leverage Learning - Modern linguistics tells us that as adults, we need to use the tools of the language we already know and apply them to learning a new language. With Fluenz, you learn first in English and relate basic Mandarin grammar and syntax to that of English, rather than trying to understand Mandarin grammar with Mandarin logic. Using the English you already know to learn Mandarin is the essence of Leverage Learning.3) Relevant Learning - You need to start learning the words and structures that will allow you to communicate the most in the least amount of time, taking into consideration which words are easier to remember for English speakers, which expressions make the most logical sense to us, and which are most useful--"cell phone" instead of "red apple." Being able to communicate right away in simple ways is the key to Relevant Learning; And, with more than 13 types of workouts covering verbal expression and comprehension, as well as reading and writing, you practice and internalize what you learn in the video lessons.
Amazon.com
The only interactive language program featuring a real teacher who guides learners every step of the way, explaining in English the intricacies and shortcuts of Chinese. Ideal for those who thrive in a teacher-oriented learning environment, who need to understand how the language works in plain English, and who seek relevant Chinese they can actually use while in China. The team behind the application combines recent Harvard and Cornell graduates, some of whom went to China to learn the language and understand the specific challenges for English-speakers, seasoned Chinese teachers trained in the teaching of Mandarin to non-Chinese learners, and veterans of technology start-ups. The goal was to create the ideal program they would have needed when they went to China.
The Program:
Fluenz Mandarin 1+2 is composed of 45 full sessions taking up to 2.5 hours of work each. Every session combines realistic conversations between native Mandarin speakers with comprehensive tutorials explaining each new word and structure being learned, followed by a series of increasingly challenging workouts that provide thorough training in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Each session features a set of clear, common sense tools that progressively increase the learner's range of communication. Instead of endless expressions that follow simple present tense sentences no one really needs (the man eats, the woman runs), Fluenz builds steadily from useful structures like questions and commands (Where can I get a taxi?, Stop here), and useful vocabulary (restaurant, transportation, directions, etc.) to more and more complex speech.
What You Learn:
- The program covers the four-tone system of Mandarin pronunciation, essential verbs, sentence constructions in past, present, and future tenses, correct pronoun use, the ability to formulate different kinds of questions and answers, how to issue important commands, how to express time, location, and give directions, and essential vocabulary for surviving in the Mandarin-speaking world.
- Fluenz emphasizes what you need to say in in real-world situations, such as "Can I pay with a credit card?" and "I want this one," rather than the traditional simple sentences usually taught ("This is an apple").
 - The program includes extensive work on asking for, understanding, and giving directions. After training on directions, it shifts to comprehensive work on structures.
- Building upon all the structures related to directions and time, Fluenz places considerable emphasis on transportation situations, including specific vocabulary and expressions involving cabs, train stations, bus stops, and the airport.
- After establishing a strong base in essential restaurant, cafe, food, and drink vocabulary and expressions in the first few sessions, the program provides thorough practice on situations specifically related to going out to eat in China.
- Shopping also receives a lot of attention, with in-depth explanations and practice on a range of skills related to communicating with both small shopkeepers and shopping mall clerks. For example, Fluenz includes considerable work on adjectives in order to describe items and make comparisons, while providing key tools to negotiate prices--a critical ability if you're bound for Beijing.
- Essential vocabulary and phrases related to the world of work and the 2008 Olympics.
How Fluenz gets you there: - A real on-screen tutor who guides you every step of the way.
- Using English to help you learn Chinese.
- Teaching relevant material from the very beginning.
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The Fluenz Approach to Chinese:
- Chinese is easier to learn than most people imagine, but it must be clearly explained. For example, one of the biggest challenges for Westerners is the fact that each syllable must be pronounced with one of five very different tones. Two words can have the exact same letters, like ma, but they can mean either mother or horse depending on which tones are used. While these tones are very difficult to learn by simply listening to them and hoping to imitate them, a simple, common sense explanation in English (comparing familiar English sounds with each tone) can go a long way to mastering them and to navigating the many exceptions and changes that govern their use.
- Using English can make all the difference in understanding "measure words," a key concept in Chinese that is absent from Western grammars. There is no way a learner can grasp when and how to use the right "measure words" unless the concept is explained and practiced in English. Mere imitation of expressions is simply no substitute for a good understanding of what's going on.
- The Fluenz recording engine helps people hone their use of tones through self comparison, which makes far more sense than voice recognition systems that are so finely tuned to the five tones that it becomes very difficult to get it right. While voice recognition has advanced in recent years, its use in the learning of Chinese by English-speakers can actually hamper learning by forcing them to meet impossible standards. Beginning Mandarin speakers should first focus on being understood, not on achieving a perfect pitch.
Audio CD + Podcasts:
The program includes an audio CD for the car stereo or Ipod providing extensive workouts linked to the material covered in the DVD-ROM. In addition, Fluenz Mandarin users get access to a series of informal and entertaining podcasts developed by the Yi Wei and Eric Biewener, part of the Harvard team working at Fluenz. The podcasts cover issues of pronunciation, culture, etiquette, as well as providing additional workouts based on the common sense approach guiding the entire program.
What's in the Box
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| Customer Reviews: Read 33 more reviews...
 Excellent program for learning Mandarin December 8, 2008
I have been attempting to learn Mandarin for several years and have tried several different books and CDs. I found Fluenz to be far and away the best program. I found that many of the programs just expected you to learn by listening and repeating without any real understanding of how the sounds relate to actual words which you can then reuse to make sentences of your own. This made it very difficult to retain anything. With Fluenz they explain each word so that you can understand it the next time you hear or see it in a different context. I also found that learning the tones was much easier with their method and made it so that I could recall the correct pronunciation which makes it easier for you to be understood. Finally, they build slowly with each lesson so that you tend to retain what you learn. I highly recommend the Fluenz program to anybody trying to learn Mandarin. I found that learning Mandarin is very different from learning other languages, e.g., Spanish, French, German, etc. and the traditional approaches used by some of the other language courses are not effective for Mandarin.
I am anxiously awaiting for Fluenz to release a level 3 version of their course.
Fluenz Mandarin is awesome December 4, 2008
My husband and I each purchased Fluenz Mandarin to prepare us for a move to Shanghai. We cannot say enough good things about the product. It was easy to use, interesting, and gave us a great language foundation.
The format was perfect for us and particularly for my husband who had limited time to work on his language skill. The few times we contacted Fluenz with questions, we had immediate response by phone or email. We are now waiting for Intermediate Mandarin!
GREAT!!!!!!! October 25, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I'm halfway done with the Mandarin DVD and it is just great. I was debating about Rosseta Stone or Fluenz and so glad I went with Fluenz. If you want an analytical interactive adult approach to learning Mandarin this is the DVD to get. I tried Rosseta Stone from a guy at work and it was ok, but not my style. This seems to teach in a logical way that you can extrapolate on instead of just learning phrases.
Also the Audio CD and Podcasts are great learning tools. I thought they would just be filler stuff, but the Podcasts have helped me with tones more than anything.
I also chatted online with Customer Service (to find where to download the Podcasts) and he was very helpful and friendly.
I'm in Taiwan now and halfway done with the DVD. I start taking classes at Taiwan Cultural University learning Mandarin for 11 weeks 14 hours each week. This DVD has really helped me out and has me primed and ready to go.
 good software October 5, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
good software, great simple language tuition, I am generally very satisfied, the practice sessions are good
what is bad:
the DVD is good but be aware that it has to be in your drive to work so if, like me, you travel without one you are stuffed
the podcasts are great but should have been included in the audio CD
other than that, highly recomended
Wonderful Way to Learn Mandarin August 20, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I got a great start learning Mandarin from Fluenz! I found Fluenz more useful than a book with CD because it is very interactive, ensuring that I learn each grammar concept and word thoroughly before moving onto the next lesson. The vocabulary covered will enable you to get around independently in China and also covers much of the ground a business person would want to know. The CD only alternative, e.g., Pimsleur, I don't feel is worthwhile for Mandarin because it won't give you access to Pinyin, a form of written Mandarin which is easy to learn and which is indispensable if you want to learn more vocabulary. And I thought the Rosetta Stone sample simply sucked - I don't think I could learn any language that way.
The only reason I gave this title four stars rather than 5 is that the software implementation could be a lot better. In several lessons we are treated to a video of Sonia Gil (who is very easy on the eyes, by the way!) speaking with her voice about 5 seconds ahead of her image. The ingenious tablet to type pinyin vowels is marred by the fact that the location of the cursor jumps unpredictably while you are typing answers - you better watch what you're doing and expect to have to hit the back key often - this takes up extra time and attention better spent on learning the language. Also, you can type in an incorrect answer and move on, something the software is supposed to prevent. Other times, the posted answer is incorrect, leaving me with a feeling nobody proofed the software. And finally, the instructions at the start of the DVD did not cover all sections of the lessons.
Some suggested improvements - An index to the lessons and topics with hot keys, when someone asks for an answer keep their incorrect answer visible so they can see and learn from what they did wrong. I'd also enjoy some lessons on words associated with emotions and family rather than just shopping or asking directions, e.g., happy, sad, worried, how many brothers or sisters.
Criticisms aside, this course is well worth the money. I enjoyed learning from it!
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