English may be the default setting for doing business the world over but there's still no substitute for some basic-and-beyond conversational skills in the native language of another country if you're visiting on vacation. Berlitz's traditional strength has been on conversational language learning rather than the nuts and bolts of grammar and other linguistic rules of the road, and here the company updates its range of foreign language programs with new lessons and features.

Available for both Windows PCs and Macs (the six-CD set will run on either), Berlitz 2 offers three ways to get to grips with your language of choice: there are the computer-based interactive lessons, four old-fashioned audio CDs, and a set of exercises designed for MP3 players and iPods. With those bases covered, teacher's pets should have their chosen language nailed on in about a week at this rate. There are five products in the range that cover French, German, Spanish, Italian and Mandarin Chinese/Japanese.

We looked at Berlitz 2 French Premier and at first the interface was overwhelming, packed with tiny buttons, scrolling boxes and other screen furniture. However, stick with it and the sheer weight of instructional material starts to win you over because there's so much to explore, and plenty of ways to practice: repeating individual words and phrases, slowing down playback so you can hear tricky words more clearly, jumping between the 'theatre' where everyday situations are played out on video by native speakers, to the 'reading' section (which focuses more on grammar and lets you annotate lessons, create lists of problematic words to practice and so on), 'activities' (various word games) to pronunciation and conversation practice.

There's also a separate Flash Cards program with 1,000 words and phrases, which again is pretty counter-intuitive but is useful when you get the hang of it, and repetition really does work when you're trying to learn another language. Version 2 adds 15 new lessons, progress tracking so you can see how you're doing, what needs improving and marks off completed lessons, and adds extra writing, listening, comprehension and dictation tests along with new games in the 'activities' section

What's not to like? The installation is clunky on a Mac (instead of dragging the icon into your Applications folder, you have to hunt it down in the folder and double click the icon) and that interface is a mess, mainly because Berltz has its own idea of what good design is, rather than following proper Windows and Mac conventions.

Navigation is generally confusing and video windows don't always contain video (and when they do, it's unexpectedly poor quality). Audio volumes vary wildly as well: lessons videos are quiet while program audio takes your head off. Such drawbacks make the program harder to get to grips with than it should be.

Verdict
Berlitz 2 is a comprehensive language learning product for Windows PCs and Macs that provides all the tools a beginner will need to make them a decent conversational linguist. However, it's hampered by slapdash audio and video and an interface that turns what what should be an exciting linguistic experience into the equivalent of an electronic wrestling match.

Company: Avanquest

Tags: language acquisition ipod first language compact disc english language flashcard foreign language rosetta stone