DESCRIPTION: Sound Sentences is a voice interactive introduction to written and spoken English.  This program utilizes colorful graphics and voice to acquaint students with everyday conversations they will hear in real life situations.  The unit titles include: The Car and the Police Officer, Supermarket, The Office, Department Store, Emergency!, Occupations Around Town, Where I live (City, Suburb, Rural), Going to the Doctor, A Trip to the Beach, and Classroom Activities. At the beginning of each module, students listen to a complete sentence, that is accompanied on screen by an appropriate graphic.  Each screen has three modes:  Questions (students are asked related questions), Practice (sentence completion), and Words (a picture glossary).  A "speak" feature encourages students to use the microphone to make a recording of their pronunciation of the sentences, questions, answers, and vocabulary.  Then the student listens to their recording and compares their pronunciation to the "model" voice.  The recommended lesson sequence is listen, see, speak, read, write, learn, and compare.  Students can listen and practice as many times as they wish, and work towards improving their voice quality, pronunciation, and expression.  The accompanying teacher's manual provides suggested follow-up teaching strategies and includes reproducible worksheets correlated to each unit.

EVALUATION SUMMARY:  Our students who used Sound Sentences increased their vocabulary, knowledge,  and use of the English language while mastering basic computer skills.  Sound Sentences correlates to the CASAS (Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System).  Students can successfully use this program without any prerequisite reading, keyboarding, or computer experience.  The only keystrokes the students use are the arrow keys, space bar, and the return/enter key.  Teachers verified the effectiveness of this program when students used and applied their vocabulary knowledge while interacting in conversations with other students, tutors, and their friends and families.  ESL students found the vocabulary and situations relevant to their daily life experiences.  Many teachers commented that they would like to see additional titles added to this excellent program.