Great introduction to a language I used Fluenz for their Spanish program. I bought all levels 1-5. The video instruction is very interested and engaging. Sonia is a good teacher and keeps your interest. The exercises can get repetitive though. Sometimes you are working with the same sentences over and over again, so some more variety would be nice. The program teaches "thrifty" vocabulary that be used in a variety of contexts. This program is a great introduction for someone to self study. For best results, pair this program with real-life practice with a native speaker. I also started watching a Spanish soap opera to increase my immersion into Spanish. Overall, great product and is worth the premium price tag!

Great experience compared to Rosetta Stone I have tried both programs and I found Fluenz to be the best by far to teach myself Italian. I used Rosetta Stone to see how their program worked, I found myself lost after just a few chapters. I would highly recommend Fluenz to anyone wanting to learn a new language. Fluenz is a well thought out program that eases you into the new language.

Should I choose Fluenz? I've read the reviews (and thank everyone for the many contributions) but not many seem to factor in the intelligence of the user. Okay, what do I mean? Well, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer - by a long chalk. I'm in my twilight years (recently described as a 'coffin dodger') and never achieved more that a few CSE's at school. So, how is Fluenz for me? The answer is great. BUT... It's how you use it. Okay, if you've been blessed with the intelligence of Stephen Hawking or Albert Einstein you'll probably witter on about the software or how the lessons are not as good as Rosetta Stone etc and maybe throw in how expensive it is (which I will mention later), but that doesn't help a thicko like me. So how am I getting on with it? Am I learning Italian? (The language I have chosen). Yes. It teaches you what you are likely to need and although you won't pass the Advanced Learning exams to become an English teacher in Milan you will learn enough to a) enjoy it! Because it's not the traditional tried and tested way that's boring, and boring means difficult because you quickly lose interest and b) You will be able to use it on your next trip abroad (or in the local Italian restaurant) - this itself will give you confidence & and you will come home buzzing and wanting to fire up the program as soon as you can. Fluenz teaches you what to say in the real world. My advice to get the best from it is simple. As we all have varying levels of intelligence simply partake in each lesson (in order) until it's sunk in. If you are clever then you'll work through them one after the other, if, like me, you're not then do them time and time again. Some I do 3 or 4 times. So what? I'm learning!! The worst thing you can do is move on to the next lesson without learning the first. It doesn't work. As to cost....yes, it's not the cheapest out there to be sure. But once you have it then it's forever as is the support. I purchased Fluenz in the days of the CD's (now I understand long gone and all on line) but have contacted Fluenz for support and got it. (It's because I couldn't get the CD's to work - that's when I found out I didn't need them lol). I appreciate this is a long review but if it helps just one person it will be worth it. I'm no Benny Lewis but I am grasping the Italian language. Whether you chose Fluenz or not I wish you good luck & if you really want to learn another language don't give up. You will want to at times I'm sure but keep at it. You'll get there!

Knowledge in bite sized pieces I am on Spanish level 5 and have learned the imperfect verb tense from this program. They give the conditions under which the imperfect is used in bite sized pieces with one condition per lesson. I am pleased with how my knowledge has grown. Due to the extensive reviews and interactivity I find that I am retaining what I learn better than I have with other methods of learning such as reading textbooks. I only wish there were more levels.

Did not work well in China online I tried to use Learn Mandarin in China, specifically Qindao and had both performance problems and an inability to set it up to learn Chinese characters. Now that I'm back in the US, I'll try again, but it was sure a let down not to be able to use the learning while I was in China for 2 months.