Fluenz Italian 1 Mac, Including DVD, Audio CD, and Fluenz Navigator. Next-Generation Italian Language Learning Software

Por: toraugholdlere | |

Fluenz is a software company founded by a group of passionate language learners who felt there had to be a better way. We believe in the power of one-on-one tutoring, so our technology is geared towards bringing real life instruction to the computer. In our Italian application, language tutor Sonia Gil guides you throughout the program, blending full motion video explanations in English with a series of highly engaging workouts, helping you to understand and speak relevant Italian. The Fluenz system follows three clear principles: 1) We learn best when we have a teacher. It's often difficult to motivate yourself to learn on your own. By bringing a tutor to the computer, we explain all concepts in a sensible way and you don't have to tackle Italian all by yourself. 2) It's easier to learn Italian by starting out in English. Italian is a tough langauge to learn and we are able to progress much faster by using our knowledge of English as leverage for helping us learn Italian. In fact, 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 Italian grammar and syntax to that of English, rather than trying to understand Italian grammar with Italian logic. 3) It's best to learn the most relevant words in Italian right away. 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 requires relevant learning. And, with 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.
Customer Review: A great learning tool
I studied in Italy for 5 months about 10 years ago. Having been proficient in Spanish I was able to pick up Italian pretty well during the 1x a week classes. But once I came back home to the US, I didn't have anyone speak with in Italian and keep up what I had learned. So over time I lost my ability to speak any meaningful Italian. I was always frustrated about that fact and wanted to re-learn the language but never knew the right way to go about it. I didn't want to go to class after work and I became lazy about it even though I kept saying I was going to start it up sometime. Finally, a few months ago, my friend from Italy mentioned to me a new program called Fluenz. He had seen it for other languages and promised me that I would like it better than Rosetta Stone or anything else. I decided to give it a try and he was 100% right. Fluenz teaches the language in a very practical manner that helps you get through day to day situations. The review above did a very good job of laying out the program. Each lesson takes me approximately 30 minutes. I'm halfway through Italian 1 and I already feel pretty good about going into a store, train station, a restaurant, taking a cab, meeting people, etc. And each lesson re-enforces previous lessons which is a very important facet--so you don't forget things you've learned and have to constantly find those earlier lessons to review. It's as interactive as I could ask for and breaks down the language in ways to help you remember. I truly recommend Fluenz for anyone looking to learn a new language or just improve on one they already know. I can't wait to finish Italian 1 and move on to Italian 2.
Customer Review: If only high school languages were taught like this
I suppose you could pay more money to learn a language by hiring a private tutor. And I imagine you could take a lot more time by enrolling in a college course. But if the idea of using a software-based system sounds appealing, you won't do better than Fluenz. I say this with some authority, having spent hundreds of dollars on Rosetta Stone, Berlitz, and other language-learning software -- not one of which deserves to be mentioned in the same breath with Fluenz. What's so great about it? For starters, everything they teach you is relevant to what a traveler in Italy will need to know in order to meet new people, ask directions, see the sites, order food, find the right train, conduct business, etc. I mention this in contrast to Rosetta Stone, a similarly priced software program that seems insistent that you learn the silliest phrases -- things that absolutely will never come up in conversation. Sure, I imagine you could make the case that Rosetta Stone (eventually) teaches you to substitute relevant words for the ones they supply. But in the meantime, you're stuck learning about running horses, red blouses, and jumping dogs. Fluenz does an infinitely better job of thinking through the kinds of things a visitor to Italy will actually need to know. Next, the Fluenz system is so much more interesting to use, with an on-screen hostess to give you direction on pronunciation and usage. Rosetta Stone consists of endless clicking on objects to match them to a word or phrase being spoken. This is compelling for about...oh, three minutes, and then it becomes tedious. By contrast, Fluenz frequently moves you around from listening to words and phrases, to repeating them, to matching them, to writing them, to putting them in context. And you don't stay with any one type of learning tool long enough to get bored with it. Finally, there's the uniqueness of the program. While Rosetta Stone teaches Italian to every user in the exact same way -- whether that user happens to be In Bombay, Brussels, or Belorussia --Fluenz assumes you speak English, and uses what you already know about English to make learning Italian easier. This facet of the program, by the way, must be experienced to be appreciated. If you've tried Rosetta Stone and been a bit underwhelmed, you must try out Fluenz. At the very least, go to their web site (at Fluenz.com) and take a look at the demo. You'll see what I mean about it being a vastly different and more useful learning tool than anything you've likely come across previously. Arrivederci.

Call centre software systems perform a variety of functions such as automating processes, reporting in real time and integrating different channels of communication between agents and customers.

Depending upon the complexity of tasks and the magnitude of the enquiry turnover, there are several types of call centre software systems such as telephone call routing software, predictive diallers and call centre control software etc. available in the market place. Typically, most call centre software solutions have the following features:

Reporting -
Since call centres need to have real time interaction with customers, keeping check of agent performance so as to maintain and improve the quality of customer service, is of critical importance. Call centre software systems perform this task very efficiently by providing real time reports to managers. Performance reports over time can also be produced.

While every call centre software solution provides some standard performance reports, one should look for flexibility and customisability so that the call centre is ready for future challenges and requirements.

Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) -
The customer needs to be attended to - sooner rather than later is the goal of a call centre striving to serve its customers well. But the number of agents handling many customers over a number of channels makes it tough to manage efficiently if an automatic call routing aide is not available. The automatic call distribution feature of call centre software simplifies this rather complex operation.

Not only does it route the call to an available agent, it also provides any information available on the customer to the agent, thus giving customers a personalised experience.

Call centre software solutions with advanced ACD features can also pick and choose the most appropriate agent for a particular caller based on their past calling history, complexity of problem, agents skill etc. This helps with customers getting the right service in good time.

Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) -
The most frustrating experience for any customer is to call a call centre for the nth time and have to repeat all their details over and over again. Computer telephony integration features stop this kind of situation arising.

The customer's data and previous call history are stored in a computer that is integrated with the telephone system through software. The moment the customer gets connected to an agent, all this data is made visible to that agent on their screen, leaving the customer free to pursue their current problem without having to repeat themselves.

Such is the effectiveness of this feature that computer telephony integration has become a default feature for any call centre software solutions. Advanced versions boast of soft phone functionality (use of computer to control calls) and predictive dialler capabilities (an agent is connected only when a live person answers the automatically placed call).

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) -
Quite a few callers have queries that can be solved by just accessing a database without engaging an agent. An Interactive voice response feature interacts with customers and leads them to a solution through a set of predetermined questions. It is a very important feature, and can be an expensive add on, so do enquire about its availability with your chosen package.

Apart from above mentioned 'must have' features, call centre software solutions generally have some other features like workforce management for real time monitoring, call blending for switching agents between handling inbound calls and outbound calls, and multimedia handling for simultaneously handling of queries over different communication channels such as email, web, fax, chat and phone calls.

The performance of a call centre depends a lot upon the efficiency of the call centre software. So do a thorough investigation of your systems, processes and future plans before deciding upon any call centre software solution - be it operations specific such as telephone call routing software, predictive dialler or general call centre management software. Moreover always go for the software that is scalable and customisable according to your specific business and turnover requirements.

Kath Dawson is a researcher and writer with an interest in call centre software systems such as telephone call routing software and predictive diallers. Her articles have appeared in various newspapers, magazines and online media.

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