An independent language course review by Andrea Lainé

The Earworms Rapid French Volume 2 downloadable version, is the follow-on audio language course after Earworms Rapid French Volume 1.

Having already tried out Volume 1, I found that Volume 2 was at a faster pace and  learning  much longer phrases. Again, we meet native French presenters as in Volume 1 and with the same method of learning the French language via rhythmic music for 70 minutes. We hear techno, reggae, chilled out music and even echo effects that are quite catchy! It’s this catchy and melodic music that helps you to pick up the language quickly and also helps you to remember particular words and phrases. This is what Earworms calls the ‘accelerated learning technique’.

We are told to begin by sitting back and relaxing. We are on a plane with our presenters. The music kicks in and we start learning phrases for ‘are you going to?’, ‘for pleasure’ and ‘for business’. It sets the scene for using your French on the plane on your way to a French-speaking country. We learn how to ask for things; ‘can you bring me a cognac/beer?’.   It is here that we are exposed to our first piece of grammar; that of gender: une bierre (f) or feminine and un cognac (m) or masculine.

An English-speaking presenter reinforces our memory for learning certain phrases by associating them to English words. For example, for un instant he says ‘ah, like an instant’. Later he quips that he is going to remember souhaite (wish) by thinking of a sweatshirt with ‘WISH’ written across the front in big letters. These word associations tie in with the ‘memory hooks’ that Earworms also use. The memory hooks help you to associate the French to a visual memory and familiar words in English.

We move onto learning how to talk about today, tomorrow and maintenant (‘now’). We also learn more grammar through the informal and formal forms of ‘you’ (tu/vous). The conversation runs into talking about having a reservation at a hotel, asking for things, saying that you are going to have a shower/bath and looking at numbers, from 60 to a million!

The chapters then go into learning the months of the year, talking about food in a restaurant and finally talking about family, brothers, sisters and the time. The course has a good overview of more expansive vocabulary and is enough to get you through basic conversations in French.

As with Volume 1, what I enjoyed most about the Earworms Rapid French volume 2 was that I didn’t find learning the language too challenging. It is a fun way  to learn  a language. The one disadvantage to learning this way is that you have to like the music. I can imagine that if you don’t like the music, then you might find this method of learning a little irritating!

This course comes with a useful phrase book. It gives more information into what the accelerated learning technique is about. It also lists all the phrases and words found in the course. This is useful for those (like me) that like to see the written language and associate it with hearing the language at the same time. Otherwise, this course is audio only.

This way of learning is unique but is accessible for most learners. The course can be listened to on the beach, on a train, plane or anywhere where you can listen to the music in a relaxed way.

The Earworms Rapid language courses can be uploaded to iPod, iPhone, iPad or other MP3 players.

Learn a language on your iPod ® with Earworms Rapid French Volume 2>>

Read a review of the Earworms Rapid French Volume 1>>

find out more about the full range of Earworms language courses>>

Get the French language advantage with Earworms Rapid French. Claim your competitive advantage!

Now this is a new learning experience for me: learning a language through the use of music. This is an interesting concept and something that Earworms calls an  ‘accelerated learning technique’. The idea behind it is to listen to words and phrases in a rhythmic way set to melodic music . You feel at ease as you listen and somehow the phrases become catchy and easy to recall.

I tried Volume 1 of the Earworms Rapid French language course which is the downloadable version (it is also available on CD). It is audio only (although a phrase book is included – more on this later). It is just over an hour long (70 minutes) and covers subjects that you might encounter whilst you are abroad such as ordering things, asking for things, asking directions, telling the time, numbers, days of the week, greetings and other useful expressions. You also cover verbs such as to eat, to order, to buy, to rent as well as asking questions such as ‘do you like?’, ‘what’s this?’ and ‘how much is it?’.

The first track deals with ‘je voudrais’ or, ‘I would like’. Before you know it you are ordering drinks, as well as saying other expressions such as ‘parfait’, ‘de rien’ and ‘merci’ – all good conversation fillers and useful pleasantries!

Each sentence is repeated at least three to four times, but each time it is said at a slightly different pace and with a slightly different intonation. The sentence is then broken down into parts. So, for example, ‘I would like to eat something’ is broken down into its components and then the word order is compared to English:   ‘I would like’, then ‘to eat’, then ‘something’ then ‘to eat’ again and then ‘something’ again and then the whole sentence is said in full once more. This idea of breaking up an expression and reconstructing it reminds me vaguely of the Michel Thomas Method language courses>>. But the Earworms method uses music and rhythmic repetition to great language learning effect!

The music varies from techno to funky jazz, guitar and what I would call ’lift’ music (musak)! Each type of music denotes a different chapter so learning doesn’t become monotonous and allows you to associate certain language with certain music. At the end of each chapter track, a challenge is set for us, although the male English language speaker answers the questions. The female native French speaker asks us ‘how do you say…..?’ with something that we have just covered in the chapter. It’s a good exercise and nothing too challenging.

In fact, this is what I enjoyed most about the Earworms Rapid French; I found the whole experience not too challenging or exhausting and yet I remembered quite a bit of the French after each sessino so, it was really quite effective. The course comes with a useful phrase book. It gives more information into what the accelerated learning technique is about. It also lists all the phrases and words found in the course. This is useful for those (like me) that like to see the written language and associate it with hearing the language at the same time. You even get a list of the English, the French (along with the audio of the sound) and its ‘memory hook’ – something which helps you associate the French to a visual memory and familiar words in English.

Overall, I thought that this course was fun, entertaining and I was under no pressure to memorise words. I later found myself humming one of the tunes and remembering the repetition of the French words! This method really does seem to work! C’est parfait!

The Earworms Rapid language courses can be uploaded to iPod, iPhone, iPad or other MP3 players.

Learn a language on your iPod ® with Earworms Rapid French Volume 1>>

Read a review of the Earworms Rapid French Volume 2>>

find out more about the full range of Earworms Rapid language courses>>

Get the French language advantage with Earworms Rapid French. Claim your competitive advantage!

Enjoy learning languages in a completely unique and fun way with Earworms Rapid language courses. Listen to the rhythmic repetition of songs and melodies to help you learn the language by using your long-term memory or what they call the ‘accelerated learning technique’. You will be speaking real language without even realising it! The Earworms Rapid language course range is available in Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Cantonese, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Learn to speak a language in 70 minutes and on the go with Earworms Rapid Languages!

01 Earworms Rapid Arabic

levels: beginner (Volume 1) - intermediate (Volume 2)
language: Arabic
method: audio cd, MP3 download (phrasebook is included)

Learn essential words at the heart of the Arabic language and how to put them together to make yourself understood. Volume 1 deals with the essentials you need for a trip abroad, whilst Volume 2 deals with more general conversational terms including the past, present and future tenses. This  is a fun way to learn a language rapidly and will have you speaking real Arabic straight away! This product is available as a download as well as on audio CD.

for more information and to buy the Earworms Rapid Arabic language course on earwormslearning.com>>

02 Earworms Rapid Brazilian Portuguese

level: beginner (Volume 1) – intermediate (Volume 2)
language: Brazilian Portuguese
method: MP3 download only (phrasebook is included)

Learn essential words at the heart of the Brazilian Portuguese language and how to put them together to make yourself understood. Volume 1 deals with the essentials you need for a trip abroad, whilst Volume 2 deals with more general conversational terms including the past, present and future tenses. This  is a fun way to learn a language rapidly and will have you speaking real Brazilian Portuguese straight away!

for more information and to buy the Earworms Rapid Brazilian Portuguese language course on earwormslearning.com>>

03 Earworms Rapid Cantonese

level: beginner (Volume 1 only)
language: Cantonese
method: audio cd, MP3 download (phrasebook is included)

Learn essential words at the heart of the Cantonese language and how to put them together to make yourself understood. Volume 1 deals with the essentials you need for a trip abroad. This  is a fun way to learn a language rapidly and will have you speaking real Cantonese straight away! This product is available as a download as well as on audio CD.

for more information and to buy the Earworms Rapid Cantonese language course on earwormslearning.com>>

04 Earworms Rapid Dutch

level: beginner (Volume 1 only)
language: Dutch
method: audio cd, MP3 download (phrasebook is included)

Learn essential words at the heart of the Dutch language and how to put them together to make yourself understood. Volume 1 deals with the essentials you need for a trip abroad. This  is a fun way to learn a language rapidly and will have you speaking real Dutch straight away! This product is available as a download as well as on audio CD.

for more information and to buy the Earworms Rapid Dutch language course on earwormslearning.com>>

05 Earworms Rapid French

level: beginner (Volume 1) – intermediate (Volume 2)
language: French
method: audio cd, MP3 download (phrasebook is included)

Learn essential words at the heart of the French language and how to put them together to make yourself understood. Volume 1 deals with the essentials you need for a trip abroad, whilst Volume 2 deals with more general conversational terms including the past, present and future tenses. This  is a fun way to learn a language rapidly and will have you speaking real French straight away! This product is available as a download as well as on audio CD.

for more information and to buy the Earworms Rapid French language course on earwormslearning.com>>

REVIEW! read our review of the Earworms Rapid French Volume 1>> and the Earworms Rapid French Volume 2>>

06 Earworms Rapid German

level: beginner (Volume 1) – intermediate (Volume 2)
language: German
method: audio cd, MP3 download (phrasebook is included)

Learn essential words at the heart of the German language and how to put them together to make yourself understood. Volume 1 deals with the essentials you need for a trip abroad, whilst Volume 2 deals with more general conversational terms including the past, present and future tenses. This  is a fun way to learn a language rapidly and will have you speaking real German straight away! This product is available as a download as well as on audio CD.

for more information and to buy the Earworms Rapid German language course on earwormslearning.com>>

07 Earworms Rapid Greek

level: beginner (Volume 1) – intermediate (Volume 2)
language: Greek
method: audio cd, MP3 download (phrasebook is included)

Learn essential words at the heart of the Greek language and how to put them together to make yourself understood. Volume 1 deals with the essentials you need for a trip abroad, whilst Volume 2 deals with more general conversational terms including the past, present and future tenses. This  is a fun way to learn a language rapidly and will have you speaking real Greek straight away! This product is available as a download as well as on audio CD.

for more information and to buy the Earworms Rapid Greek language course on earwormslearning.com>>

08 Earworms Rapid Italian

level: beginner (Volume 1) – intermediate (Volume 2)
language: Italian
method: audio cd, MP3 download (phrasebook is included)

Learn essential words at the heart of the Italian language and how to put them together to make yourself understood. Volume 1 deals with the essentials you need for a trip abroad, whilst Volume 2 deals with more general conversational terms including the past, present and future tenses. This  is a fun way to learn a language rapidly and will have you speaking real Italian straight away! This product is available as a download as well as on audio CD.

for more information and to buy the Earworms Rapid Italian language course on earwormslearning.com>>

09 Earworms Rapid Japanese

level: beginner (Volume 1) – intermediate (Volume 2)
language: Japanese
method: audio cd, MP3 download (phrasebook is included)

Learn essential words at the heart of the Japanese language and how to put them together to make yourself understood. Volume 1 deals with the essentials you need for a trip abroad, whilst Volume 2 deals with more general conversational terms including the past, present and future tenses. This  is a fun way to learn a language rapidly and will have you speaking real Japanese straight away! This product is available as a download as well as on audio CD.

for more information and to buy the Earworms Rapid Japanese language course on earwormslearning.com>>

10 Earworms Rapid Mandarin Chinese

level: beginner (Volume 1) – intermediate (Volume 2)
language: Mandarin Chinese
method: audio cd, MP3 download (phrasebook is included)

Learn essential words at the heart of the Mandarin Chinese language and how to put them together to make yourself understood. Volume 1 deals with the essentials you need for a trip abroad, whilst Volume 2 deals with more general conversational terms including the past, present and future tenses. This  is a fun way to learn a language rapidly and will have you speaking real Mandarin Chinese straight away! This product is available as a download as well as on audio CD.

for more information and to buy the Earworms Rapid Mandarin Chinese language course on earwormslearning.com>>

11 Earworms Rapid Polish

level: beginner (Volume 1 only)
language: Polish
method: audio cd, MP3 download (phrasebook is included)

Learn essential words at the heart of the Polish language and how to put them together to make yourself understood. Volume 1 deals with the essentials you need for a trip abroad. This  is a fun way to learn a language rapidly and will have you speaking real Polish straight away! This product is available as a download as well as on audio CD.

for more information and to buy the Earworms Rapid Polish language course on earwormslearning.com>>

12 Earworms Rapid Portuguese

level: beginner (Volume 1) – intermediate (Volume 2)
language: Portuguese
method: audio cd, MP3 download (phrasebook is included)

Learn essential words at the heart of the Portuguese language and how to put them together to make yourself understood. Volume 1 deals with the essentials you need for a trip abroad, whilst Volume 2 deals with more general conversational terms including the past, present and future tenses. This  is a fun way to learn a language rapidly and will have you speaking real Portuguese straight away! This product is available as a download as well as on audio CD.

for more information and to buy the Earworms Rapid Portuguese language course on earwormslearning.com>>

13 Earworms Rapid Russian

level: beginner (Volume 1) – intermediate (Volume 2)
language: Russian
method: audio cd, MP3 download (phrasebook is included)

Learn essential words at the heart of the Russian language and how to put them together to make yourself understood. Volume 1 deals with the essentials you need for a trip abroad, whilst Volume 2 deals with more general conversational terms including the past, present and future tenses. This  is a fun way to learn a language rapidly and will have you speaking real Russian straight away! This product is available as a download as well as on audio CD.

for more information and to buy the Earworms Rapid Russian language course on earwormslearning.com>>

14 Earworms Rapid Spanish

level: beginner (Volume 1) – intermediate (Volume 2)
language: Spanish
method: audio cd, MP3 download (phrasebook is included)

Learn essential words at the heart of the Spanish language and how to put them together to make yourself understood. Volume 1 deals with the essentials you need for a trip abroad, whilst Volume 2 deals with more general conversational terms including the past, present and future tenses. This  is a fun way to learn a language rapidly and will have you speaking real Spanish straight away! This product is available as a download as well as on audio CD.

for more information and to buy the Earworms Rapid Spanish language course on earwormslearning.com>>

15 Earworms Rapid Turkish

level: beginner (Volume 1)
language: Turkish
method: MP3 download (phrasebook is included)

Learn essential words at the heart of the Turkish language and how to put them together to make yourself understood. Volume 1 deals with the essentials you need for a trip abroad. This  is a fun way to learn a language rapidly and will have you speaking real Spanish straight away! This product is currently only available as a download.

for more information and to buy the Earworms Rapid Turkish language course on earwormslearning.com>>

browse more Earworms language courses on earwormslearning.com>>

There are over 40,000 Carnival volunteers and participants in the parades – with a myriad of floats, masquerade bands in costume, steel pan bands, calypso music and sound systems, plus an assortment of street food and craft stalls dotted around the neighbouring streets. It is a huge celebration and illustrates London’s multicultural population at its best. Over the years, the costumes have become more vibrant and creative and rival those seen at the world’s largest Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during Mardi Gras.

The roots of the Notting Hill Carnival began in Trinidad where the first carnival was held in 1833 to mark an end to slavery in the Caribbean. It is said that the Notting Hill Carnival began life in 1964 as an offshoot of the Trinidad Carnival  to showcase the many steel band musicians who played in London every weekend. During those days, West London was home to a large Caribbean population who had emigrated to London during the 1950s and these bands would walk and play along the streets of Notting Hill drawing the residents, both black and white,  out of their houses.  The parade of steel bands soon progressed to people dressing up in colourful costumes alongside the bands. By 1976, the Notting Hill Carnival was already attracting around 150,000 people.

Be amazed by the colours, sights, sounds and smells of the Notting Hill Carnival! Will you be joining the crowds at the Notting Hill Carnival this year? Send us your photos of the Best of the Notting Hill Carnival!

Learn more about the Caribbean Culture>>

Get in the mood and buy some Caribbean Music>>

Find out more about the Notting Hill Carnival in London>>

Get the Caribbean language advantage.   Get your competitive advantage.

In association with don Quijote Spanish language schools, we can now offer you great Spanish language courses in some of the best locations, offering world class service. Going to Spain or Latin America will always be the best way to study Spanish and learn about the Spanish or Latin American culture.

You can choose from a range of courses from intensive Spanish courses to business Spanish courses, professional Spanish courses and even Spanish with paid work experience. If you want to be adventurous, you could try Spanish and Scuba Diving in Tenerife or Spanish and Flamenco in Granada or Madrid - or go further afield and try Spanish and Tango in Buenos Aires or Spanish and Music in Havana, Cuba.

Find out more about Spanish language courses in Spain with don Quijote>>

Find out more about Spanish language courses in Latin America with don Quijote>>

Get the Spanish language advantage with don Quijote language schools. Claim your competitive advantage!

Read more about listening to French pop music in the UK>>

Find out how to learn to speak French and get the French language advantage>>

It is an interesting concept and something that Earworms calls an ‘accelerated learning technique’. The idea behind it is to listen to words and phrases in a rhythmic way set to melodic music,  from techno to funky jazz. You feel at ease as you listen and somehow the phrases become catchy and easy to recall. Each volume is just over an hour long and cover essential subjects that you might encounter whilst in France.

Read Andrea’s review of iPod & mp3 Earworms Rapid French Volume 1>>
Read Andrea’s review of iPod & mp3 Earworms Rapid French Volume 2>>

Earworms courses are available in many languages. Find out more about Earworms Rapid French and other ipod & mp3 language courses.

Get the French language advantage with Earworms Rapid French. Claim your competitive advantage!

Language gifts
Give a language gift and give a present that will last forever!
for more information and to buy a language gift browse our Language Advantage Gift Shop on amazon.co.uk>>
for more information and to buy a language gift browse our Language Advantage Gift Store on amazon.com>>

World films
Buy a DVD in another language and watch it with or without English subtitles. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll be understanding the film. It would make a great gift too!
for more information and to buy a world film browse our Language Advantage Shop on amazon.co.uk>>
for more information and to buy a world movie browse our Language Advantage Store on amazon.com>>

World music
Buy a CD in another language and listen to music in the background. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll be repeating the words and singing in another language. It would make a great gift too!
for more information and to buy world music browse our Language Advantage Shop on amazon.co.uk>>
for more information and to buy world music browse our Language Advantage Store on amazon.com>>

World travel books
There are many novels and travel journals giving amazing insights into life in other countries. These books are a great way to learn about the culture of another country.
for more information and to buy a world travel book browse our Language Advantage Shop on amazon.co.uk>>
for more information and to buy a world travel book browse our Language Advantage Store on amazon.com>>

Language books
We bring you our favourite selection of books about language learning, cross-cultural awareness or religion to read on the way to work or college, or just to unwind for half an hour. A book would also be a great language gift for that language lover!
for more information and to buy a language book browse our Language Advantage Shop on amazon.co.uk>>
for more information and to buy a language book browse our Language Advantage Store on amazon.com>>

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