MFL 195 - Integrating Technology
into Foreign Language Education

Below is a list of software (for PCs) that will help make your "techie life" a bit easier. Keep in mind that there are three types of software:

• Freeware is software that can be downloaded from the Web and used free of charge.
• Shareware programs allow you to download the software and try them out before actually purchasing them. If you decide to keep them and use them, you must then pay a nominal registration fee to the developer.
• Commercial software must be purchased. As a rule, once you break the seal on the packaging, the software is yours whether you like it or not.

Utilities

• WinZip is a utility program for "unzipping" compressed files (files whose extension is .zip). The WinZip wizard makes unzipping files a breeze.
• WinFTP (FTP = File Transfer Protocol) is a utility that allows you to transfer files from one computer to another. This freeware version is available for Windows 3.1 and Windows 95.

Image Viewers/Converters

• LViewPro is an image viewer that allows you to display and manipulate images. It is easy to convert from one image format to another, resize an image, touch up an image (change color mix, contrast, etc.). One nice feature of the most recent version of LViewPro is an image preview window that lets you see a thumbnail version of an image before you actually open the file.
• PaintShop Pro is a full-featured image viewer and graphics converter with numerous drawing and painting tools. For an interesting set of tutorials, see PaintShop Pro Tutorials.

HTML Editors

• HTML Assistant Pro is a free-standing html editor that will allow you to create html documents without the hassle of learning all the tags for hypertext markup language.
• Internet Assistant is an add-on to Microsoft Word. It allows you to create html documents from within MSWord and facilitates moving back and forth between the editor and the browser.
• Netscape Navigator Gold 3.02 is a version of Netscape that includes an html editor. One nice feature is the automatic background color selector.

Netscape Plug-ins

• RealAudio is a plug-in that will allow you to receive "streamed" audio broadcasts on your computer. For an extensive list of French broadcast sites that utilize RealAudio, see French Radio and TV Sources by Tennessee Bob.
• VDOPlay is a plug-in that will allow you to view videos. In French, for example, check out the nightly newscast videos (both national and regional) from FR3 en ligne. In Spanish, you can view news videos from Argentina.
• The Quicktime viewer plays digitized movies on the Internet. Many sites utilize this software.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader is a plug-in for viewing PDF (Portable Document Format) documents. Many foreign language newspapers require Acrobat Reader. In French, for example, you will need Acrobat Reader to view the front page of Le Monde.
• If you get to the point where you wish to develop your own coursesare using authoring software such as Authorware or Director, you will need the Shockwave plug-in in order to view your pieces from within Netscape.

Other Software Goodies for Language Teachers

• CUSeeMe, originally developed at Cornell University in a freeware version, is now marketed commercially by White Pine Software. With CUSeeMe, video conferencing over the internet is now available without expensive satellite technology.
• WebWhacker or Web Buddy will enable you to download web pages for future reference. Great insurance against the infamous disappearing web sites!
• WebForms is a nifty little program that automates the task of creating forms for the Web. Although you will probably have to go back and do a little clean-up when you're finished, this program can be invaluable in the preparation of interactive forms-based activities.
• For commercial software, you will certainly want to take a look at the home page for World of Reading, a software distributor specializing in foreign language software.