Traveling Palm for Languages (Palm as a Language Learning Tool)

In order to listen to language CD lessons on a PDA, you will need a few things to get started:

1. Palm e2 or Palm TX
2. Personal computer or Mac
3. Language learning CD
4. A PDF file containing the language lessons (if it comes with the Audio CD)

Read your language book on your PDA while listening to the language CD audio component. Many of us believe that the PDA interface is a single-tasking environment, which basically means that unlike a personal computer, any PDA can only run one task at a time. This is mostly true, with the exception that it is possible to listen to audio files while reading documents. Palm PDA’s can read and support MS Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat Reader. Audio files are played on the Real Player application. To listen to a language audio file and read the course book at the same time, simply start with the Real Player application on your Palm PDA. Play the track or set up an album of multiple tracks (particularly useful in language audio files that have section or chapters of lessons, where the album will run a sequence of audio files from chapter one until the last very last chapter). Click the home button on your Palm PDA, then click on documents (for Word or Excel) or Adobe Reader (for PDF files). Select the file on your Palm PDA, and start reading. The soundtrack with your audio language lessons will continue to play while you read your language lessons.

If you’re new to ripping CD’s to Real Player or Windows Media Player, and you haven’t upgraded your PDA software, don’t worry. There’s an easy and cheaper way to transfer audio files without upgrading any features on Palm. The standard Windows Media Player will work just fine. You can rip audio files from the CD in your CD drive, then move the files to your Palm Desktop via the Quick Install feature.

First, insert the CD in your computer. Open Windows Media Player. Click on the View menu. Then point the mouse pointer to Go to. Select Rip. Select the tracks you want to move from the CD with your mouse pointer. Click on the icon in the top right that reads Rip Music. That’s all there is to the ripping process. You now have audio files on your computer, and you won’t need to insert your CD ever again.

Open Palm Desktop. Double-click the icon on the desktop to access the Palm desktop interface from your computer. Click on the Quick Install icon in the scroll menu on the left side of the screen. Click on the File menu, and select Add file. Browse the audio files you want to install to your Palm PDA. After the file is loaded on to the screen, click on the audio file and hold down the left mouse button. Drag the file into the box labeled “Expansion Card”. When you’re done adding the files you want to transfer, click on the red X button to close the current window. You’ll be prompted to click on OK after reading a message from the program. The message tells you that the files will be transferred to your Palm PDA the next time you synchronize the PDA with your computer. The focus of the program is brought back to the Palm Desktop Calendar by default. Close the program. Connect your PDA to the synchronizing cable. Plug the other end of the synchronizing cable into your computer. Press the button on the synchronizing cable to start transferring files. This process works best if one doesn’t open up any other programs while synchronizing the PDA with the computer.

Removing audio files from the expansion card may not work with the version of Real Player on your PDA. Don’t worry about upgrading. Most computer printers have a slot for digital camera cards. The expansion card in your PDA can be read by the printer. Simply access the expansion card via your printer, and remove audio files to free up space on the expansion card.

You can purchase software to enable your Palm PDA to act like a translator. Listen to translations or pronunciations of words in your target language using a unique software like Speaking Language Translator.