Learning German with Earworms MBT

1. I would like
2. To order
3. Have you got..?
4. To the airport
5. Numbers, days and times
6. Is there..?
7. Directions
8. Where & what time?
9. Problems, problems
10. Do you speak English?

• The first section, called Ich moechte - I would like,starts out with very soothing music, much in the style of tunes used in relaxation tapes. An invitation is issued by the speaker to relax, lean back and enjoy, whilst "burning" the foreign words into your memory.

• The English speaker is male and the German speaker is female. Both voices are very pleasant to listen to and the pronounciation is flawless. Listening to these speakers you really hear correct German, which is very important because pronounciation is always a difficulty when learning a new language.

• Short phrases are repeated approx. six times each, all with a very catching musical background. The text is not dry and boring repetition either, but interrupted with some humorous phrases like: A beer - ein Bier. Oh, that's the same word as in English, how great.

• The words and music are no doubt "earworms" and you feel the urge to sing and dance along with them. Listen to the CD often enough and you are sure to learn basic German not "in your sleep" but wide awake and without any noticeable effort. The English speaker is male and the German speaker is female. Both voices are very pleasant to listen to and the pronounciation is flawless. Listening to these speakers you really hear correct German, which is very important because pronounciation is always a difficulty when learning a new language.

• Short phrases are repeated approx. six times each, all with a very catching musical background. The text is not dry and boring repetition either, but interrupted with some humorous phrases like: A beer - ein Bier. Oh, that's the same word as in English, how great.

• The words and music are no doubt "earworms" and you feel the urge to sing and dance along with them. Listen to the CD often enough and you are sure to learn basic German not "in your sleep" but wide awake and without any noticeable effort.

• German
• French
• Spanish
• Portuguese
• Italian
• Greek
• Chinese ( Mandarin)
• Russian
• Arabic
• Dutch

The cost per course is $24.95. For further information about earworms visit their website.

• I used the CD with my computer and there were no problems at all. It's supposedly also compatible with iPods and other portable devices, but I haven't tried that out.

• Completing the first volume will give the pupil a very basic knowledge of German every day words and phrases. It should be enough for a holiday but it's not enough to read the paper or a book in German, but that isn't the purpose of the course either.

• A friend who listened to the CD with me, found the musical background "irritating" and much preferred the conventional approach. I on the other hand found it pleasing and the words and phrases did stick in my ear and brain, remembering the music. It's probably a question of personal taste and you will be well advised to try a demo first before buying the course.

• When clicking on the link, go to "language audio" and then select the language you are interested in. In my opinion it's good value for money (costs see next section) and I would rate the program 4 out of 5. The only drawback is, that the music can become somewhat predominant and prevail over the purpose of the course which, after all, is learning a new language.

• How much time to spend before the course is successfully completed? That's difficult to assess and depends on the learning abilities of each individual pupil and the difficulty of the language. If you combine a daily 15 minutes workout, walk or other exercise with the sections of the CD, three weeks is a reasonable time to complete the course.