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TESOL CALL Interest Section
Software List
Deborah Healey, Editor
Vocabulary
Achieve: Writing and Language Arts
Machine: Win/Mac
Publisher: Learning Company, The
Approximate single-unit price: 25
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: 2-6
Special use: Elementary
Description: Designed to meet a third through sixth grade language arts curriculum- grammar and spelling, parts of speech and sentence structure, lsynonyms and antonyms, build vocabulary. This incorporates Word Munchers, Schoolhouse Rock/Grammar Rock, Writing Trek. Designed for native speakers, but useful for ELLs.
Alphabet, The
Machine: Win
Publisher: Protea Textware
See also Wida
Approximate single-unit price: 80
Purchase options: home version (cheaper); lab, site
Level: Literacy, beginning For: Adult
Special use: literacy
Description: For beginning level students with zero or near zero English literacy levels. Teaches and tests the names of letters, upper/lower case matching, alphabetical order, etc. Select American, Canadian, British or Australian models. Students can record words and sentences. Windows 2000, 2003, XP, Vista.
Back Home
Machine: Win
Publisher: Wida Software
Approximate single-unit price: 35
Purchase options: £20
Level: Intermediate For: All but K-5
Description: A multimedia package based on 12 EFL songs by Christopher Jones. The songs cover a wide range of vocabulary, grammar and functions. The package uses a wide variety of activity types created with the Authoring Suite.
Billiards 'N Homonyms
Machine: Mac
Publisher: Heartsoft
Approximate single-unit price: 20
Purchase options: lab, site, network
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: 3-8
Special use: elementary, bilingual
Description: Students see a sentence to complete at the top of the screen, and try to shoot a billiard ball at the pocket near the appropriate homonym. Correct choices make it into the pocket. The word lists can be customized. The English and ESL version includes two sets of disks, one in English and one in Spanish. In the Spanish version, vocal instructions are in Spanish and text is in English. Part of the Heartsoft Bestseller collection. Mac OS 7-9; Windows 95/98/2000/XP.
Coin Changer
Machine: Mac
Publisher: Heartsoft
Approximate single-unit price: 20
Purchase options: lab, site, network
Level: Literacy, beginning For: All
Special use: bilingual
Description: Practice for beginners in recognizing the value of (US) coins and bills. The ESL version includes a set of disks in Spanish as well as in English. This program is also sold as part of the Heartsoft Bestseller package. Mac OS 7-9; Windows 95/98/2000/XP.
CALLEAP
Machine: Win
Publisher: Wida Software
Approximate single-unit price: 120
Purchase options: £80
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: HE
Description: Uses Wida's Gapmaster program to offer a range of practice materials for English for Academic Purposes students. 21 exercises work on finding the missing words, word building, finding and correcting mistakes in a text, answering questions about a written text, and analyzing data in a table. A student workbook, teacher's manual, and learner's manual are included. CD-ROM.
Check My Words
Machine: Win
Publisher: CompuLang
Approximate single-unit price: 100
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: All but K-6
Description: This is a Microsoft Word add-on that allows users to click on a word in Microsoft Word (Office XP/2003/2007) to see a concordance and get the pronunciation through text to speech, not recorded human voice. Windows 2000/XP/Vista. It is the successor to Word Pilot 2002. Free evaluation download at http://www.compulang.com/main/download.php.
Collocate
Machine: Win
Publisher: Athelstan
Approximate single-unit price: 45
Purchase options: site, network
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: All but K-8, T
Description: Collocate works from a textbase of 46 million words, using statistical analyses (t-score, log likelihood, MI) as well as frequency information in order to present a list of collocations. The program will list all the collocations containing the searchword and provides frequency and/or statistical information (Log Likelihood, Mutual Information, t-score). This text analysis software is straightforward to use, and the statistics within the program are there simply to provide the user with different view of the corpus data. Classroom teachers will probably wish to ignore the statistics, while researchers will find them very useful. Results can be saved to a text file or printed.
Concordance
Machine: Win
Publisher: R.J.C. Watt
Approximate single-unit price: 100
Purchase options: $40 ea additional copy
Level: Intermediate, advanced, teacher For: All
Description: Text analysis and concordance software. Powerful and flexible program. You can download a 30-day trial from the website at http://www.concordancesoftware.co.uk/. Special offers for teachers purchasing class sets.
Crossword Creator
Machine: Mac, Win
Publisher: Centron Software Technologies
Approximate single-unit price: 30
Level: Intermediate, advanced, teacher For: All
Description: Crossword puzzle maker. Includes a thesaurus to help in generating clues. This package received several recommendations and was praised for being easy to use, though it helps to read the documentation in order to take advantage of all the features. Puzzles can be solved on screen, printed out, or exported to a word-processor. Can be downloaded or ordered on CD.
Dynamic Classics
Machine: Win, Mac
Publisher: DynEd International
See also Alta ESL
Purchase options: contact publisher
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: All
Special use: Bilingual (Jap)
Description: Dramatized retellings of Round the World in 80 days, A Christmas Carol, Alice in Wonderland, and Robin Hood on interactive CD-ROM supported by dictations, fill-ins, character matrix, and on-line comprehension aids. For listening, reading, and vocabulary development. Voice recording. Pricing options include per-student-use cost. Contact the publisher for details. Windows 98/NT/2000/XP; Mac OS 9, X.
English for Success
Machine: Win, Mac
Publisher: DynEd International
Purchase options: contact publisher
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: 6-12
Description: Basic to intermediate-level comprehensive program for pre-teens and teens. It includes not only general English (listening, speaking, vocabulary, reading, grammar), but also the social language needed for school and school subjects such as math, geography, history, and science. A record and playback function is included. Record-keeping includes a "study score" function. Windows 98/NT/2000/XP: Mac OS 9, X.
English in a Flash
Machine: Win
Publisher: Renaissance Learning
Purchase options: Enterprise-level; contact publisher
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: All
Description: Enterprise-level setup. Vocabulary-based practice that also includes some grammar, listening, and speaking. After vocabulary and some grammar practice, learners can listen to a story using target vocabulary and structure while reading along. Learners can record themselves for feedback by the teacher. Beginning vocabulary and academic vocabulary sets are available. Windows server is required; clients are browser-based and can run on Windows or Macintosh.
English Teacher, The
Machine: Win
Publisher: Online Educational Solutions
Approximate single-unit price: 30
Purchase options: quantity discounts avail.
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: Adult, HE
Special use: bilinguarl
Description: Electronic workbook with record-keeping. The program automatically sets up future reviews of each lesson depending on the student’s answers. Learning sessions and their results are recorded for the teacher to review. Each new lesson includes reviews - how often depends on the student’s measured performance.
ESL Pro
Machine: Win
Publisher: ESL Pro Systems
Approximate single-unit price: 30
Purchase options: multi-user, site
Level: Literacy, beginning, intermediate For: All
Special use: literacy, bilingual (multi)
Description: This CD-ROM-based program uses graphics, sound, animation, and text to improve pronunciation skills. Learners can record and compare their speech. Customized versions are available for speakers of French, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, German, Chinese, Hindi, Portuguese, and Russian. Included as part of the English Tutor package.
Eurocentres CALL Library
Machine: Win
Publisher: Wida Software
Approximate single-unit price: 110
Purchase options: £75 for 1-5 users
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: All
Description: Ten volumes of exercises to use with the Wida Authoring Suite programs (Gapmaster, Storyboard, Matchmaster, Choicemaster, Testmaster). Volumes include Elementary Grammar, Vocabulary, and Functions; Intermediate Grammar and Vocabulary; Advanced Grammar, Vocabulary, and Functions; Cambridge Proficience Practice, and International Business Topics. On CD-ROM. Windows 95/98/NT; not verified on XP or Windows.
EuroTalk English Complete Set
Machine: Win, Mac
Publisher: EuroTalk
Approximate single-unit price: 100
Purchase options: network, site
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: All
Description: Complete set of Eurotalk vocabulary building programs, designed for beginning to intermediate/advanced learners. The set includes Talk Now. Talk More, and Vocabulary Builder CD-ROMs for beginners, World Talk CD-ROM for intermediate level learners, and the Movie Talk DVD-ROM for advanced learners. The programs include listen and record functions, games, and exercises. Mac OS X; Windows 2000/XP/Vista.
Expert Gallery
Machine: Win
Publisher: Lingonet Oy
Approximate single-unit price: 100
Purchase options: 5-user, network
Level: Advanced For: Adult, HE
Special use: business
Description: Financial English is a video-rich CD-ROM based on a consultation session with an experienced accountant explaining how to go about setting up a company and managing its finances. The content is authentic both in the sense that it is an expert answering questions without a script and because his answers are the same as he usually gives to his clients. The authentic language is scaffolded with language support, including a glossary of terms, listening to the summaries in clear standard English, and a range of exercises such as gap fill, ordering, jigsaw, and collocation activities. The descriptions of business procedures and the weighing up of alternatives form the basis of reporting tasks which encourage students to break out of the shell of passive learning. A review is online at http://www.lydbury.co.uk/besig/resources/cdroms/add-140599.htm.
Findword
Machine: Win
Publisher: Higgins, John and Muriel
Approximate single-unit price: 5
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: All
Description: Utility which looks up a dictionary to retrieve lists of words which match a pattern, whether a spelling, pronunciation, or grammar pattern. A help file and dictionary are included. Examples of how the program can be used can be downloaded from the Higgins website at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/wordscape/software-new.html. This program can be downloaded for a small fee from http://www.lulu.com/content/864700. Windows 2000/XP: not verified on Vista.
First English
Machine: Win, Mac
Publisher: DynEd International
Purchase options: contact publisher
Level: Beginning For: 6-12
Description: Multimedia English course for true beginners ages 10-17. The focus is on listening, vocabulary, and grammar, with speech recording and playback available. Course material includes school vocabulary and situations, as well as work on letters and numbers. Lessons are sequenced and incorporate review. The management module lets teachers assign placement and track student progress. Pricing options include per-student-use cost. Windows 95/98/NT/XP; not verified on Vista. Mac OS 9; not verified on OS X.
Gerry's Vocabulary Teacher
Machine: Win
Publisher: cpr4esl.com
Approximate single-unit price: 50
Purchase options: $75 on CD-ROM
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced, teacher For: All but K-8
Description: A database of over 75,000 sentences in context with over 2200 keywords. Users can search and edit sentences, add sentences, and create language exercises. Keywords include academic language from the Birmingham Corpus and the Academic Word List from Victoria University in New Zealand. Each keyword includes a minimum of 10 contexts, and entries include different parts of speech, proverbs from different cultures, quotations, facts about countries, and trivia. The user can search and edit these sentences, and add more keywords or sentences of their own. And with a couple of mouse-clicks, users can choose a sequence of sentences, and build them into a complete language exercise. The program was created by Gerry Luton and Martin Holmes of the University of Victoria in British Columbia. Formerly sold through Creative Technologies. An evaluation version is available at http://www.cpr4esl.com/gvtpriceorderlicence.htm.
IdioMagic
Machine: Win
Publisher: IdioMagic
Approximate single-unit price: 30
Purchase options: volume, student, download discounts
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: All
Description: Teaches American idioms and slang through lessons with examples and multiple-choice quizzes. A demo is available at the website. A discount is available when the program is downloaded rather than purchased on a CD-ROM. Windows 95/98/ME/2000/NT/XP.
Interactive Picture Dictionary, The
Machine: Win
Publisher: Protea Textware
See also Wida
Approximate single-unit price: 120
Purchase options: home version (cheaper); lab, site
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: All
Description: This CD-ROM-based program teaches and tests spelling and vocabulary comprehension. The teacher can customise by adding own key words, context sentences and number of syllables per word. Windows 95/98, NT, 2000, ME, XP, Vista
Language Solution English Learning
Machine: Win
Publisher: The Language Solution
See also Wida, Learning Services, World of Reading
Approximate single-unit price: 150
Purchase options: lab, site
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: All
Description: CD-ROM version of a text by the same name. Uses graphics, animation, and voice recording and playback to improve vocabulary. Includes student tracking software. Two levels, each sold separately. Level I is for beginners; Level II, for intermediate students.
My Canada Software
Machine: Win
Publisher: NAS Educational Software
Purchase options: Contact publisher
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: 9-12, Adult
Description: Designed for new immigrants to Canada, this uses photos, video and animation clips, narration and a variety of activities to build language skills while teaching about Canada.Topics include Canadian history, government, science and culture.
New Oxford Picture Dictionary
Machine: Win/Mac
Publisher: Oxford Univ. Press UK
See also Wida, Amazon.com, Encomium
Approximate single-unit price: 50
Purchase options: £35
Level: Literacy, beginning For: All
Special use: Bilingual (Sp, Chinese versions), literacy
Description: CD-ROM version of the classic dictionary for beginners. Also available: English-Spanish and English-Chinese versions.
North American Idioms
Machine: Win
Publisher: Encomium Publications
Approximate single-unit price: 80
Level: Intermediate For: All but K-6
Description: CD-ROM to help learners with colloquial North American English; includes information about North American customs and culture.
Pajersoft's Dynamic Spelling Bee
Machine: Win
Publisher: Pajersoft
Approximate single-unit price: 20
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: All
Description: Pull down the File menu to select an appropriate Bee file, then click Bee to start spelling. It's easy to add your own word list, but not easy to get the program to use it. British spelling predominates.
Personal Best Spelling
Machine: Win
Publisher: Spelling Zone
Approximate single-unit price: 20
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: All
Description: Freeware and shareware. Three different tools: look and spell; spell tester; and problem words. The free version uses two default lists. This program is only useful if you register to get more lists and to be able to create word lists. Download at http://www.spellingzone.com/.
Picture Cue Dictionary
Machine: Mac/Win
Publisher: Attainment Company
Approximate single-unit price: 80
Level: Literacy, beginning For: All
Special use: elementary, literacy
Description: Vocabulary presentation program organized around four thematic units: shopping, meals, appearances, and home. Display mode presents the target words together with a corresponding picture and digitized pronunciation one by one. In Matching mode the students match the word to the picture--testing what they've learned. Teachers can modify the order and content of lessons for each student. Has IntelliKeys overlays for students with limited manual dexterity (sold separately). CD-ROM. Windows 98, ME 2000, XP; Macintosh OS-8.6-9.2, OS X Classic and OS X Native.
Pronunciation Power Idioms
Machine: Win/Mac
Publisher: English Computerized Learning
See also Encomium Publications
Approximate single-unit price: 30
Purchase options: discount if downloaded
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: All but K-3
Description: 104 Idiom lessons with a picture, a description of the idiom and a recorded sample sentence. Exercises and quizzes are also included. CD-ROM.
Puzzle Power
Machine: Mac, Win
Publisher: Centron Software Technologies
Approximate single-unit price: 40
Purchase options: lab pack, site/network license
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced, teacher For: All
Description: This CD-ROM includes Crossword Creator, Wordsearch Creator, KrissKross (like Scrabble), Quote Falls, Cryptograms, and Cryptoquizzes. What sets this apart from many others is that graphics, sound, and video clips can be included in the clues. Hundreds of predesigned puzzles, including New York Times puzzles, are on the CD-ROM (though these are not specifically for ESL). Puzzles can be played on screen, printed out, or exported to a word-processor (sound and video may not transfer, and certainly won't print out). Contains both the Crossword Creator AND Wordsearch Creator.
Q Business CDs
Machine: Win
Publisher: Q Group
Purchase options: contact publisher
Level: Intermediate For: Adult, HE
Special use: business
Description: A CD-ROM course that introduces English for professional, social and travel situations with an emphasis on speaking and listening skills. It is divided into eight everyday situations: hotels, travel, appointments, directions, greetings, socializing, eating out and work. Each situation includes: listening exercises, target vocabulary, pronunciation activities, role-play exercises, and video clips. This is also available online as a whole course.
Race the Clock
Machine: Mac
Publisher: Mindplay
Approximate single-unit price: 50
Level: Beginning, intermediate, teacher For: All but HE
Special use: bilingual
Description: Students race against a clock to complete a Concentration type game. Matches can be pictures of activities with corresponding words, picture to picture, or word to word. The program comes with a library of 60 animated pictures of actions to be used in the game. Teachers can also create new matches of word to word such as irregular and present tense verb forms, etc. Now part of One-Pick Pack (English only) or Language Pack (Spanish or French), which includes Ace Detective, Ace Explorer, Ace Inquirer, Ace Reporter, Easy Street, Race the Clock Language Arts, Word Hound, and some math titles. Pay a separate fee to install each the One-Pick Pack titles.
Reader Rabbit Learn to Read Phonics
Machine: Mac/Win
Publisher: Learning Company, The
See also online/mail order
Approximate single-unit price: 20
Purchase options: lab, site
Level: Literacy, beginning For: K-2
Special use: Elementary, literacy
Description: This program is designed to make learning to recognize letters and words fun for younger children. It uses brightly-colored graphics with smiling animals to motivate sound-symbol practice. Several different types of exercises are included, mostly phonics-related. Students can choose which type of activity to do; a record-keeping function is included so that the teacher can see what the learner worked on and how s/he did. CD-ROM. Mac OS X and Windows 98/XP; not verified for Vista. Check the product specifications carefully to be sure you are getting the right one for your computer. Knowledge Adventure titles are now sold only through third-party vendors.
Reader Rabbit's Interactive Reading Journey 2
Machine: Mac/Win
Publisher: Learning Company, The
See also online/mail order
Approximate single-unit price: 20
Level: Beginning, intermediate, teacher For: K-2
Special use: Elementary
Description: Thirty stories; games that promote phonics, word recognition and comprehension. On CD-ROM. Mac OS X and Windows 95/98; not verified on Vista. Check the product specifications carefully to be sure you are getting the right one for your computer. Knowledge Adventure titles are now sold only through third-party vendors.
Reading Rodeo
Machine: Mac
Publisher: Heartsoft
Approximate single-unit price: 60
Purchase options: lab, site, network
Level: Literacy, beginning For: pre-K-1
Special use: bilingual, literacy, elementary
Description: Literacy skills are the focus, with audio prompts. Icons show how to make letters, and graphics are used for letter associations. The rodeo motif comes in with the Cactus Kid, who lassos 104 cartoon graphics which begin with corresponding letters. The English and ESL version includes 2 sets of disks, 1 in English and 1 in Spanish. This title is included in Heartsoft Bestsellers. Mac OS 7-9; Windows 95/98/2000/XP.
Spanish English Education Resources (SEER)
Machine: Win
Publisher: SEER Education Corporation
Approximate single-unit price: 300
Purchase options: annual subscription, lab, site
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: All but K-6
Special use: bilingual
Description: Digital English Spanish dictionary including synonyms, verb conjugations and idiomatic expressions, and an interactive computer-aided translator (ICAT). SEER helps students develop and improve full English Spanish bilingualism. Download a trial copy at the website, http://www.seeredu.com/self.html.
Spell It!
Machine: Win
Publisher: MN-Software
Approximate single-unit price: 20
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: All
Description: This Tetris-like game starts by showing a word, then drops letters from the top while the player moves them into the right spacing at the bottom. The word is written off to the side for reference. At higher levels, the reference word is no longer available. The higher levels also feature letters that you don't need and letters that are backwards, upside down, etc. Only a few levels are available in the free version; register to be able to add words and change the settings. Download from http://mn-software.freepage.de/Spell_It.htm
Spell Mell
Machine: Win
Publisher: FamilyGames.com
Approximate single-unit price: 20
Purchase options: free to use; pay to author
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: All
Description: Over 15 games modules are supplied ; check the website for more. Includes trivia quizzes and word puzzles for a range of ability levels. Free to use; register and pay the fee for authoring capability. Download from http://www.familygames.com/share/spel.html
Spelling Blaster: Ages 6-9
Machine: Mac/Win
Publisher: Knowledge Adventure
See also Amazon.com, other mail order
Approximate single-unit price: 20
Purchase options: lab, site, T version
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: 3-6
Special use: elementary
Description: Multimedia drill with game elements for spelling practice. Teacher editions include 2 copies of the software plus teacher materials. Mac OS 9 and below, Mac OS X, Windows 98/2000/XP/Vista,
Spelling Fusion
Machine: Win
Publisher: Clarity Language Consultants
Approximate single-unit price: 150
Purchase options: network
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: All but K-3
Description: Words are arranged in topics and displayed in sentences. Sounds, animation, photographs, and drawings help clarify the meaning. Problem-solving exercises, games, and tests are also included, along with pronunciation work on each word.
Spelling Made Simple
Machine: Win
Publisher: Spelling Made Simple
Approximate single-unit price: 30
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: Adult
Description: This program is adult- rather than child-oriented, so it's not game-like. Lists can be entered or downloaded from the website. The user can see, and hear the word (based on the user settings) and then type the answer. If the answer is wrong it will go back into the queue and be retried later. Statistics are kept to see improvement. Download from http://www.spellingmadesimple.com/
Super Solvers Spellbound
Machine: Win, Mac
Publisher: Learning Company, The
Approximate single-unit price: 25
Purchase options: lab, site license
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced, teacher For: All
Description: Includes various activities (including word searches, crosswords, flash card and jumbled words) to practice present lists (arranged by topic) as well as up to 100 lists entered by the teacher. Teachers can also edit all preset lists. After each set of words has been practiced, there is a spelling bee. Words to be spelled are either spoken or flashed on the screen. Windows 95/98; not verified on XP or Vista. Mac OS 7-9. Check the product specifications carefully to be sure they match your compute. Knowledge Adventure titles are now sold only via third party vendors.
SuperMemo
Machine: Win
Publisher: SuperMemo USA
Approximate single-unit price: 45
Purchase options: early version is free
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced, teacher For: All but K-3
Description: This program helps users memorize vocabulary (or other memorizable items, such as spelling lists and irregular verb forms). It spaces repetitions of items in such a way as to maximize learning. ESL version available. Teachers can add their own databases of items for their students to learn. A version that runs un Windows 95/98/NT is free and can be downloaded at http://www.freewarefiles.com/SuperMemo_program_13849.html. The version for XP is commercial, but a demo can be downloaded at http://www.supermemo.com/english/down.htm. Not verified for Vista.
Talk Now
Machine: Win/Mac
Publisher: EuroTalk
See also World of Reading, Clarity Language Consultants
Approximate single-unit price: 50
Purchase options: lab, network, site
Level: Beginning For: All
Description: Vocabulary building program with a record option that compares the learner and native speaker pronunciations. Nine topics: first words, food, colous, phrases, parts of the body, numbers, time, shopping and countries. Includes interactive games. Help is available in more than 100 languages. Audio can be downloaded to an iPod. Windows 2000/ME/XP/Vista; Mac OS X.
Taste for English, A
Machine: Win
Publisher: Educational Software Products
Approximate single-unit price: 64
Purchase options: £40; lab
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced, teacher For: K-8
Description: Learners help Fred the frog find nice tasty flies for him to eat, in the form of words that fit into a set, while avoiding words that don't fit. Authorable. British English in the words included. Can be purchased with Error Terror and Word Invaders as a bundle.
Total Deletion
Machine: Mac, Win
Publisher: PerLingua Software
Approximate single-unit price: 10
Purchase options: shareware (negotiable)
Level: Teacher For: Teacher
Description: Students reconstruct a text. They are guided by lines where the letters used to be. They type a word and if it is in the answer, it will appear in the proper place. Authorable. $10 shareware (negotiable - email to ask). Windows XP; Mac OS 9, X.
Vocaboly - Vocabulary Builder
Machine: Win
Publisher: Vocaboly Software
Approximate single-unit price: 40
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: All
Description: Vocabulary practice with five elements: SAT, TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, and VOA Special English. Each has 12,000 words, with definition, phonetic spelling, and pronunciation. Users can create their own "books" of words. Each book contains eight flash cards for focusing on specified words. Each word can be assigned to a difficulty level of 0 to 5. Each user has his or her own study record and software setting, which is saved automatically when you quit the program. Study methods include a word ticker, recall, spelling, listening, multiple choice, memory game, and a Star Wars game. A demo can be downloaded from the website. See a CNET review at http://www.download.com/Vocaboly/3000-2279-10304079.html?tag=lst-0-9#cnetReview. Windows 98, 2K, XP and Vista.
Vocabster
Machine: Win
Publisher: Edulang
Approximate single-unit price: 460
Purchase options: indiv levels; lab, site
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: All but K-3
Description: More than 90 topics in 5 levels (beginning to advanced) based on the language, actions, people, and events of everyday life. For each topic, the meaning of the words is explained, then initial exercises help the student recognize the words and their meaning. Subsequent exercises put the words in a context. Tests are provided at the end of each level. Over 3000 words are included. Levels are also sold separately.
VocProf
Machine: Win
Publisher: BastiUK
Approximate single-unit price: 30
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced, teacher For: All, T
Description: Vocabulary practice program that offers study and test modes, including grammar exercises and completion tests. Students can set up a learning agenda, with target dates for learning specific words. The program also allows learners to collect words while they are using other applications, then import them into the program. Vocabulary files are available both with the program and in an online archive. Words can be saved as linked primary or secondary (derivatives) lists. Lists can be imported from Excel and exported as HTML. The program allows multiple uses on the same computer, each with his/her own files and record-keeping system. A shareware version can be downloaded from the website at http://www.bastiuk.de/english/vocprof/downloads.htm.
VTrain (Vocabulary Trainer)
Machine: Win
Publisher: VTrain.net
Approximate single-unit price: 20
Purchase options: shareware
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced For: All, teacher
Description: Multimedia flashcard creator; ready-made translating flashcards are available between English and over 40 other languages. Powerful editor: voice recording, image edition, smart keyboard switch between 2 languages. $20 shareware. Download from the website at http://www.vtrain.net. Also on the website is a free tool for collecting words and phrases called WordGet and vocabulary flashcard files for some 40 languages. Windows 95/98 and XP/Vista versions.
Word Hound
Machine: Mac, Win
Publisher: Mindplay
See also online/mail order
Approximate single-unit price: 50
Level: Beginning, intermediate For: K-6
Special use: Elementary, bilingual
Description: Students direct a mouse making its way through a maze, avoiding the cat and trying to reach the dog house, where they are asked questions about vocabulary. At the beginning level, learners are asked to match a picture/word combination with one of two below. Learners progress to more difficult matching questions as they work their way through the game. All instructions are spoken. Learners get more points with each correct answer. Learners can listen to instructions in English or Spanish. Available on CD-ROM or disks. A separate Spanish version is also available. Now part of One-Pick Pack (English only) or Language Pack (Spanish or French), which includes Ace Detective, Ace Explorer, Ace Inquirer, Ace Reporter, Easy Street, Race the Clock Language Arts, Word Hound, and some math titles. Pay a separate fee to install each the One-Pick Pack titles.
Word Smart
Machine: Mac, Win
Publisher: Wordsmart Corporation
Approximate single-unit price: 180
Purchase options: sets, network, site
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: All but K-3
Description: 'Discussions' describe each word's synonyms, antonyms and derivations. Audio available in word lists and discussions. Five types of exercises: flashcards, column matching, laser review, and multiple choice involve synonym matching, while sentence completion requires typing in the best word from the set being studied. The ESL set includes 3 CD-ROMs and a DVD explaining how to use the system. Windows XP/Vista; Mac OS X.
WordCommand
Machine: Win
Publisher: Lexio
Approximate single-unit price: 50
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: Allbut K-8
Description: Vocabulary drills, but with a variety of formats. Includes vocabulary via the screen saver; pop-up windows throughout the day; pop quizzes; sound cues; flash cards; information cards with examples, definitions, synonyms, and antonyms; and quick reference printouts. Authorable lists. Download a free trial from the website at http://www.wordcommand.com/product.htm.
WordGet
Machine: Win
Publisher: VTrain.net
Purchase options: charityware
Level: Beginning, intermediate, advanced, teacher For: Any, Teacher
Description: This free tool automates word collection in several ways (assuming you want selected words to add to VTrain or another program). Words can be collected by loading a text file into WordGet and clicking on selected words, by logging text stored in the clipboard and prompting for comments, and by collecting all the words from a text file. It can also create sentences according to user-defined patterns. Charityware: the author asks that you make a donation to charity if you download this for free. Windows 95/NT/98/XP; not verified on Vista.
Wordsearch Creator
Machine: Mac, Win
Publisher: Centron Software Technologies
Approximate single-unit price: 10
Purchase options: lab pack $60, site/network license $250
Level: Beginning, intermediate, teacher For: All
Description: Creates three types of word search puzzles: standard wordsearch (target words are hidden in a grid of letters), clues puzzles where students see clues to the hidden words, and fill-in-the-blank puzzles where students see a paragraph with the missing words found in the puzzle. Can be solved on screen, printed out, or exported to a word-processor. Download from the website: www.centronsoftware.com
Wordsmith Tools
Machine: Win
Publisher: Lexical Software Analysis
Approximate single-unit price: 85
Purchase options: £50; earlier versions free
Level: Intermediate, advanced For: All
Description: Integrated suite of programs for looking at how words behave in texts. WordList shows a list of all the words in a text, set out in alphabetical or frequency order. Concordancer shows any word or phrase in context, and KeyWords finds the key words in a text. Various smaller tools and extensive on-line help also included. Download from http://www.lexically.net/wordsmith/. The demo version with a restricted output is free. Earlier versions can also be downloaded for free from the same website.
WordWise
Machine: Mac/Win
Publisher: Attainment Company
Approximate single-unit price: 100
Level: Beginning For: Adult
Description: Everyday vocabulary. Uses graphics, voice recording, human quality speech, and quiz, presentation and print-out options. Create a word list for each student, save it and add new words anytime. Six programs: People, community, house, outdoor, actions, adjectives with 80 words apiece. Has IntelliKeys overlays for students with limited manual dexterity (sold separately). English and Spanish options. Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP; Macintosh OS 8.6-9.2, OS X Classic and OS X Native.
World of Words
Machine: Win
Publisher: Discovery Educational Software
Approximate single-unit price: 40
Purchase options: site
Level: Literacy, beginning For: K-8
Special use: literacy, bilingual (Sp., Fr., Ger.)
Description: English vocabulary through pictures program. Point to the image to see the word, click to hear it. Listen to sentences about the pictures. Self-tests in comprehension and reproduction of vocabulary, with progress reports available. Part 1 "Home and Family": house, garden, rooms, furniture and household objects, family relationships, occupations and pets. Part 2 "Education and Leisure": classroom objects, school subjects, numbers, shape and colour, seasons, months, days and dates, time, weather, geography, parts of the body, music, free time and sports. Part 3 "Out and About": town, shops, clothes, food and drink, transport, railway station, on the road, directions, the farm and the zoo. Help is available in English, French, Spanish, or German. Each CD-ROM sold separately or all three as a set. Can be used with an interactive whiteboard. Windows 98; not verified for XP, Vista.
WriteExpress: Rhymer & Phonetic Finder
Machine: Win/Mac
Publisher: WriteExpress
Approximate single-unit price: 25
Level: Intermediate For: All
Description: Playing with words. Designed for native speakers. CD-ROM. An online demo is available at http://www.WriteExpress.com/rhymer.html. Works directly with Microsoft Word 2007 and the Tools Menu of Word 2003, 2002, 2000, 97, and Word 7.0. Click a button to insert rhyming words directly into your document. If you have a Macintosh or a different Windows word processor, you can still run the program by itself and copy and paste words into your document.
https://eltexpert.com/softlist/callvocabulary.html
Last updated 25 May 2009 by Deborah Healey, dhealey at uoregon dot edu
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