children's software review

EazySpeak French (Levels 1 & 2)

Rating: 

Review Sections: Product Overview  Technically Speaking  Dollar Value    

 Product Overview
A foreign language learning title that's fun--even compelling? Very hard to find...until now. EazySpeak French is decidedly offbeat and even risque at times, but it has loads of appeal and actually teaches a few things.

EazySpeak French is a far cry from dry, linear software titles that drill foreign language skills. Now introduced to North America, its European roots are evident. "Euros" is the currency, and products like wine and cigarettes are purchased at the grocery store. While parents might raise their eyebrows at some of the locations kids explore (besides such locales as a restaurant and hotel, kids also stop at the bar and order drinks, for example) and situations (a female character is asked what she thinks of various clothing items another character is wearing, and sometimes it's only a hat or a tie while the character's private parts are covered only by a leaf!), kids just love the quirkiness. Certainly, it's a little risque by North American standards for children's software. However, its unusual characters and settings form part of the appeal. The rest of the appeal can be found in its anti-drill educational agenda.

Kids choose how to explore the program. At any time, they can click on the city icon which brings them to the Doki city screen where all of the activities can be accessed.

If kids click on the hotel, for example, they are greeted by a receptionist. She asks players questions about the kind of room they want, how long their stay at the hotel will be, and so forth. Once kids have answered all of the questions, she recaps their choices (at the same time, reinforcing the vocabulary phrases), and then asks them to find the key to their hotel room on the rack. Kids will find their number-labeled key for "chambre vingt et un", for example. A ride on the elevator is simple enough, yet fun. Children are asked what floor they'd like in the native language, and floors are named as they pass them (premier étage, duexième étage, etc.) and the question is repeated often. As kids wait for their surprise (different floors contain different surprises), French phrases and sentences are reinforced.

The program includes a Talking Calculator (kids enter any number, from small to large, and hear its French name), a Talking Dictionary (click on any image or word to hear its name), a Pronunciation Zone, an option for Doki chat (they can chat with other Doki users on the web), and more.

Games are incorporated into the different learning areas. For example, at the supermarket ("au supermarché"), after watching products go through the cash and listening to the (very bored) cashier name them, they move to an activity entitled "Faire des achats" in which they catch requested falling products with a shopping cart.

As mentioned above, the program includes a bar activity which involves ordering drinks (like wine and cognac). When they order drinks, they are asked a string of questions -- do they want the drink with or without ice, their mineral water "gazeuse ou non-gazeuse", and so forth. At the clothing store, characters start out naked with leaves covering their private parts, and ask users to select pieces of clothing for them, including underwear and bras. Another quirky moment involves selecting a phrase that best describes a female character's reaction to other characters' outfits. She might adore, like, dislike, or detest the outfit. A sure sign that she detests the outfit? She vomits! Players help a burglar crack the code to a safe and learn numbers as they do, select their itinerary at the travel agency, and order food at a restaurant.

The program is designed to immerse users in a world where they use French naturally and are exposed to phrases that they might encounter while traveling to France. Users are introduced to phrases used when making introductions, dining, doing groceries, checking into a hotel, and so forth. You won't find any grammar lessons or drills in the program. The software is appropriately targeted for people 12 years and up, but children approximately 9 and up can use the program on level one, if parents take note of the content and approve.

Our testers couldn't get enough of the product--a fact that impressed us, especially given the fact that getting them to play most foreign language programs is like pulling teeth.

Children can repeat phrases by speaking into a microphone (optional) and playing back their responses. Some activities require children to type words and phrases.

Navigation is not entirely intuitive, but this fact actually contributes to the entertainment value of the game. A hilarious tutorial explains the icons in an interactive manner, and a help button does the same job in a more traditional way. The offbeat characters, settings, and game format help make EazySpeak French compelling.

Included in the program are two levels of instruction in the quriky Doki cartoon world. Users are never spoken to in their native language, but they can select the language of instruction (English, Spanish, Greek, French, etc.), which appears in text format. The program is appropriate for supplementing foreign language learning at home, and is also available in Spanish (EazySpeak Spanish) and English (EazySpeak Anglais).

Technically Speaking
Minimum system requirements are Windows 98, Me, 2000, XP; Pentium II 400 MHz or higher, 128 MB RAM and 65 MB hard drive space. Mac users require OS X 10.2, G4 - 450 MHz, 128 MB RAM, and 65 MB hard drive space.

Educational Value
Players are immersed in the French language as they play interactive activities that reinforce French vocabulary words and phrases, with focus on vocabulary encountered when traveling. Grammar lessons are absent--the language is taught in a more natural manner.

Entertainment Value
The program is most notable for its appeal. Kids were clamoring for a turn to play. The quirky characters (a bored cashier and a smooth bartender, for example) and settings add much to the entertainment value.

Design
Navigation is not intuitive, but an entertaining tutorial acquaints kids with the program's icons and format. The format of the game actually contributes to the program's appeal.

Replayability
With two levels of instruction, multiple games, and high entertainment value, this program has strong replay potential.

Dollar Value
The suggested retail price of $24.99 is very reasonable considering the content and replay value.

Score: 9.5 out of 10

 
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