|
The
BBC 'Steps' language course is a free beginner language course available
on the BBC website in the
language section, where you can choose from four languages; French,
German, Spanish or Italian.
The website is easy to navigate around (even for someone like me
who is not exactly up on all the new whiz technology) and has a
simple layout. The content of the course is 24 parts, divided into
six small sections. I know this sounds like a lot of time sat at
a computer, but it's really not as the sections are short and easy
to do. The syllabus of the course follows the Common European Framework
Level One which seems more or less like the equivalent of the UK
GCSE examination content.
The site offers many extras on top of the course, such as learning
logs where you can record your marks from the various end of session
tests, grammar tips (very basic grammar tips) and a pronunciation
section. The pronunciation practice was better than I thought it
would be, as I wasn't really looking forward to hearing a robotic
voice attempt to speak the language. However, on this site they
actually use native speakers, so it sounds exactly like what you
would hear people using if you were in the country.
The site also offers the chance for people who have already studied
the language to do a fast track session, which is essentially a
test where you complete the questions on-line. If you get everything
right, you get a pat on the back and if you are wrong, you get offered
a revision session.
This BBC Steps courses also has a fact file section. In order to
check that this was useful and accurate, I went into French Steps
and checked it out as I'd spent quite a bit of time in Paris and
know what there is, how to get around and so on. Most of the information
here was correct, although some of it was slightly off i.e. it said
that you could easily walk around Paris. This comment made me question
whether the writer had even been to Paris and if so, had actually
tried to walk around! But then it made me question whether it was
just me and I was lazy when i went there!?
I found everything on this site so straightforward and self-explanatory
that I think even my mum could do it (she nearly sheds a tear when
she has to use a computer!).
|
I
could pick and choose what I wanted to learn. This was fab
as it was as though I was choosing what I wanted to learn
and not what someone wanted to teach me.
|
The layout of
the course was great, as I could pick and choose what I wanted to
learn. This was fab as it was as though I was choosing what I wanted
to learn and not what someone wanted to teach me.
I would recommend
these BBC Steps on-line language courses for people who want to
literally 'step' into a language (hence the name of the course!).
It is a fab beginner guide and the sections take hardly anytime
at all to do. Depending on whether you want to do a quick refresher
course or to really learn simple vocabulary, you can do the sections
as and when you please and from anywhere that you can get onto the
internet. I found this worked really well for me, as I could come
home from work and do one section a night and woohoo in 24 'steps'
I can speak (well beginner-speak) a new language.
Click
here for more information on FREE BBC
on-line language courses.
The BBC Steps on-line language courses are available in French,
German, Italian and Spanish. Other BBC on-line courses are available
in Greek, Portuguese and Japanese.
Click
here for more information about all BBC
Languages courses.
Click here for more information about other
language courses.
If
you require any further information,
please contact us!
|
