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Tarfumes.com - Fluenz Mandarin 1+2 Learning Suite Windows, Including DVD, Audio CD, Podcasts, and Fluenz Navigator. Next-Generation Chinese Learning Software
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List Price: $357.00
Our Price: $323.00
Your Save: $ 34.00 ( 10% )
Availability: N/A
Manufacturer: Fluenz
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: DVD-ROM
Brand: Fluenz
EAN: 0804879078128
Feature: Multimedia application specifically designed to help English-speakers gain fluency in Chinese
Format: DVD-ROM
Label: Fluenz
Manufacturer: Fluenz
Platform: Windows Vista
Publisher: Fluenz
Studio: Fluenz
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Features
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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:
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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.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: good software
Comment: 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
Customer Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Way to Learn Mandarin
Comment: 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!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Well worth the money, but dont u want a backup copy?
Comment: This product makes it very easy to learn Chinese. I have tried Pimsleur, but I found it very difficult because it was audio only. Also Pimsleur was a bit boring at times. I also am using Teach Yourself Beginner's Chinese but it is not as good as this. I thought the product was quite overpriced, especially since there is this ridiculous Amazon Policy of not selling Fluenz to Australian addresses, and therefore I couldn't get the discount, but I now think it was worth the money (Amazon should sell to O/S though).
The audio CD that comes with it refers to additional podcasts available as downloads from www.fluenz.com, but when I visit the website, I can't seem to locate them. However, putting in www.fluenz.com/podcasts will find them, there are 15 about 10 mins each.They r gr8.
There is one negative and that is the safedisc 4.85.000 copy protection. This means that you can't back up the disk in case of damage. I understand that they want to protect their work, but I should be entitled to make one backup copy. I want to do my fluenz at home and at work too, I am not willing to take a $300 disk and carry it around on a daily basis risking loss or damage. This would have been quite anxiety-making if it had not been for the good people on the internet who have discovered a way to circumvent safedisc 4.85, so now I can use it at home and work too without worrying, but the time taken to learn how to do this would have been better spent learning Chinese.
I like the slow pace of the lessons, but I think at the end you will only know a couple of hundred words at the most. Also, my chinese friend seems to think it has some examples of incorrect usage, he objected to using the measure word ge with shu eg zhe ge shu, he said NO, that should be zhe ben shu.
I would like to see the following improvements:
1. A plan for registered users to get a replacement dvd for a very small charge if theirs gets damaged
2. A Mandarin 3-4, this course is great, but I'm sure I am going to want more, I am completing it very quickly at the moment. I dont think enough vocabulary is taught.
3. A version that works on any WM5 pocket PC with a virtual keyboard, not just smartphones with physical keyboards
4. An upgrade policy so that if you purchased the windows version and then got a mobile device, you could upgrade to purchase the mobile version, provided you had already purchased the Windows version
5. Only correct usage, eg. not using the ge measure word if it is incorrect.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Fluenz is Worth Every Penny!
Comment: At first I thought the software was a little overpriced, but I comperad it with other softwares and programs and decided to go for Fluenz. I have to say, the service is great, if you have any problem they solve it as fast as they can. The lessons are really simple and easy to learn. The software is made so you can feel relaxed while you are learning and it teaches you the most important stuff of the everyday life.
I could not have chosen a better way to learn Mandarin. You learn fast and you learn good.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Very Good Product, Outstanding Customer Support
Comment: We've have been using Fluenz Mandarin for Windows for about two months, and have found it to be an excellent course in learning conversational Chinese. My two sons are the primary users (age 8 & 10), and both were very excited to show off their new skills to their Chinese grandma. Because the focus is on useful conversation, they were able to greet her and engage in a basic dialogue with her, which she enjoyed very much.
Having attended Chinese classes myself, I found this product much more in line with what you would learn in a conversational class vs. a dictionary-like approach. It is exciting and motivating to be able to use your skills at the outset rather than simply being able to recite a vocabulary of words out of context. Though some of the conversational skills are targeted at adults (e.g. asking for coffee), my children were easily able to adapt their knowledge and substitute in the words they needed. The combination of reciting, writing in pinyin, and hearing yourself is an excellent way to teach and reinforce the language so that anyone can progress comfortably and quickly. My 8 year old does struggle a little with the combination of spelling and tone, but I noticed that he speaks very correctly thanks to the use of the pinyin and tonal markings. Without the written component, I think it would be easy for him to forget the importance of tone. The explanations are concise yet thorough - so that each lesson moves quickly and keeps their interest. Their favorite part is practicing their skills at the end of each lesson.
Due to a mixup in product shipment, I had to contact Fluenz Customer Support. I found it to be prompt, courteous, helpful -- overall outstanding. Great product and superior customer support make this a product I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
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