The key to this unique method, as far as I could tell, was a "mental mapping" technique in which students learn to identify English sounds with a corresponding "onscreen keyboard."

Forty-three sounds from the English language are mapped to keys on this virtual onscreen keyboard that can be clicked via the mouse.

The theory behind "mental mapping" is that by adding the sense of touch via keyboard and mouse to the learning process, both the right and left hemispheres of the brain are active during the learning process.

I was very anxious to review software that promised a new method resulting in learning English five times faster, but unfortunately the excitement did not last long after participants began using the software.

One participant reflected, "I had to learn the keyboard before learning pronunciation, and the keyboard didn't help me learn correct pronunciation." Another participant said, "Trying to figure out which key to press shouldn't be the hard part of pronunciation program. This mind mapping is really confusing." I noted that the "onscreen keyboard" did not correspond to a traditional English keyboard and the key positions were difficult for participants to recall.

Although participants only spent 90 minutes on the program, in that time it seemed to me that pronunciation was not properly reinforced. For example, while one participant was hitting the three keys required to pronounce "set," she was saying aloud "se-to."

The program did provide audio examples of correct pronunciation along with clipart-type images of how to pronounce.

But she forgot all of that while trying to remember which three keys to press.

Another low point was the quality of graphics because these participants were accustomed to sophisticated educational software graphics. One participant said, "What this does with graphics and audio is very primitive and boring comparing to other similar software." There was also some question as to whether this was appropriate for intermediate English students because the content seemed easy for them.

The dictionary feature "had a lot of basic information" according to one participant.

On a positive note a participant said, "This seems like a pretty unique approach to pronunciation."

In my opinion, if the theory of "mental mapping" is at all feasible, then many hours of training on this program might be required before seeing results. Unfortunately, many hours of training time were not available for this review.

English Pro
# Survey Statement Mean Response
1 Directions and instructions are clear 3.8
2 Text suits your reading ability 4.6
3 Type and place of requested response is clear 3.6
4 Feedback after response is fast and helpful 3.0
5 Evaluation of your performance is given 3.0
6 Software is easy to operate (user friendly) 2.6
7 Options, menus, and choices are easily found 3.8
8 You can review instructions and prior screens 4.0
9 Instruction can be skipped when appropriate 3.0
10 You can enter program at different points 4.6
11 There is a feature to start again where you end 3.6
12 Moving within program is easy 2.0
13 Easy exit is available at all times 5.0
14 Goals and objectives are clear 4.0
15 Presentation of each topic is logical 3.6
16 Lessons build on knowledge from last lesson 3.6
17 There are choices for different student levels 2.0
18 Subjects are explained with appropriate details 3.0
19 Demonstrations are available and clear 3.6
20 Program re-teaches subjects after errors 3.0
21 Visual descriptions explain major concepts 3.2
22 Graphics and audio motivate you 3.0
23 You can easily find audio and visual aids 4.0
24 Graphics and audio don't distract from content 4.0
25 Program is interesting 3.2