Proper Spanish

SMART-START SPANISH Maker: Knowledge Adventure/Syracuse Language Rating: four stars System: Windows 95 or higher Suggested price: $39.95 More information: 1-800-972-0661;!www.knowledgeadventure.com Thereâ€™s

Friday, April 14th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SMART-START SPANISH

Maker: Knowledge Adventure/Syracuse Language

Rating: four stars

System: Windows 95 or higher

Suggested price: $39.95

More information: 1-800-972-0661;!www.knowledgeadventure.com

Thereâ€™s a logical, engaging PC Spanish class that we should all consider enrolling in. Once you show up for class, a bright introductory screen invites you to take the grammar lessons. Attached to the lessons is a glossary area to lean on when the need arrives.

Lesson 1 starts out impressively, putting the accent on pronunciation and stressed syllables, teaching you the basics of sounding out Spanish.

The virtual instructor is on video, and there are video conversations for drilling. In his introduction, the instructor reminds you that for ideal Spanish pronunciation, you need to form good sound and a proper accent.

The lessons offer grammar explanations - differences in English and Spanish vowel sounds, for example - plus video conversations that are friendly enough for kids.

In the video skits, you can rewind and hear conversations repeated and you can listen line by line when you click on the printed dialogue underneath the picture. Take a test after each lesson and instantly see how well you did.

Grammar lessons have great depth, delving into prepositions, demon- strative adjectives and the present progressive, to name a few subjects.

When youâ€™ve had enough learning or need a break, click on the main menu, insert the second CD and play delightful games. Or with a microphone - the software does not include one, but any PC mike will work - use the Sound Start segment to practice pronunciation.

Children and adults will get a kick out of the games. You get to choose among three learning modes: listening, reading and speaking. Pick according to your thrust; some students learn a foreign language for interpretation only.

There are six games subjects, including the two essentials - food and people - and three game levels. I strongly recommend Memory Mania in Level 1 for a fun ride and some brainteasing.

Donâ€™t expect much help figuring out how the individual games are played. English instructions are limited to the overall games area, not specific activities. Rely on intuition and the great visuals if you canâ€™t interpret the Spanish directions.

Drills in the Sound Smart area are great for practicing pronunciation. The program plays back your rendering, then you compare it to the native speakerâ€™s in the software.

You can set the audio to your voice type (child, man, woman), and a visual interpretation of the word you say is shown on the screen. The latter is excellent for the child who is beginning to read and is still inclined toward picture books.

A 48-lesson guidebook rounds out this solid study aid and worthwhile addition to your CD-ROM learning library.