I'm headed to Europe in a few months (in March 2009). I know virtually no foreign language (English speaking). I consider myself reasonably intelligent and would like to pick up (learn?) as much French and Spanish as I can with moderate effort before I arrive in Europe.

My questions, what is your preferred software for each language? Whether you've tried only one or more than one brand, I'd appreciate your pros and cons of each.

By the way, the last time I was in Europe (Spain and Italy), I only picked up the most basic phrases and made out OK. I just want to be learn a good bit more and maybe be able to have something close to a conversation.

Thanks ahead of time.

Check out the CD's from Michel Thomas' series in French and/or Spanish.

No books needed. No writing neither. You just have to listen.

They have several methods of starting the lessons but I bought the eight package for starting (in Spanish and Italian).

Okay, maybe it's not perfect but I haven't found any other versions. You could listen in a CD player while you're in the airplane.

Blackduff

I always found that a system that included reading the language was a big help for me. It's helpful to be able to read the signage you'll encounter along the way. My DH thought I was brilliant because I could read the directions on how to pay for our parking in an enclosed gated parking garage. The directions were in simple language and easy to understand if you had a basic vocabulary, but there were no instruction in English.

Also remember that each person has a different learning style, what works for one person may not be as successful for another. For me it's important to practice every day in some way.

If you have an MP3 player you may have free downloads of language instruction programs available from your local library's download system. I believe that the library carries the most popular systems, like Pimsleur, Berlitze and Michel Thomas. It's a great way to try out a program before investing in it. More money for your trip .

I used the library downloads to learn a little Dutch for our Amsterdam trip and people really respected that I could at least be polite in their language.

If you don't know either language then I would focus on only one of them for your trip as trying to learn two languages simultaneously will be confusing and you'll end up learning very little about both. If you have some knowledge of one Romance language you will be able to figure things out in the other language w/o learning it so choose one language and learn something about it.

Check your local libraries as many of them have language CDs. I agree with the other poster who said having a book to look at the language along with the audio is very helpful, particularly in French where many letters are not pronounced.

Along with the language learning you might consider a couple of books on culture as that is very important as well.

I agree with the previous poster that you should pick either Spanish or French and not try to learn both. Since you know a little Spanish, I'd stick with that. Spanish is phonetically consistent, so the letter sounds always follow the same rules--much, much easier than French to read and to pronounce correctly what you read. I worked on my French for 4-5 months before going to Paris, and liked the "Behind the Wheel" CDs much much better than Michel Thomas. "Behind the Wheel is available in Spanish. You can use the CDs in your car. I also put them on my iPod and listened/responded to them while I walked. Behind the Wheel also comes with a book/script. You should also get a grammar book to supplement.

I agree with the above ideas that you need to pick one language and work on that. The one you most want to learn or where you will spend the most time or something.

I haven't learned any language from software as a beginner, I only use it as an adjunct and to brush up. I personally don't believe one can learn a language well with only software and no classroom time or teacher. Maybe there are some extraordinary people who can or could do that, some people are linguistic savants, but those would probably be people who already knew some other foreign languages and have a talent for it. If you know English very well, it helps a lot, als, although many people don't know their own language very well academically (what I mean by that is understanding grammatical structures, adverbs versus adjectives, what relative pronouns are, etc.).

I've used Pimsleur for brushing up, and I guess I used it the closest to a beginner, but not really. I was just brushing up on Spanish after not using it many years, so I did start at the beginning. However, I can't really compare as I know French very well and the languages are similar in many ways, and I've studied other foreign languages a bit, also, so it wouldn't be the same as someone who knew no foreign language using them. I personally was not that impressed with Pimsleur for a variety of reasons, although think it was okay for some added activity to other types of learning. My objections were that it is entirely oral, and that some of the lessons focus on words and structures that are of little use, there is little explanation of what they are saying, and if you don't know the language at all, you might not even understand what they are saying (for example, I could tell what one word was they get repeating as I knew a little Spanish, but if you didn't, it was hard to tell what it was). They had a lot of focus on things not relevant to tourists, also, I think (like job interviews, one lesson went on and on about someone being an engineer, etc.).

Some of these are very expensive (like Rosetta and Pimsleur), and I never bought them I just got them from my library. I wouldn't invest that kind of money in one, I think attending a class would be better use of money -- especially if you don't know if you'll gain anything from them. I have a friend who used Transparent Language for Italian (Learn Italian Now) and that is a lot cheaper. He really liked it a lot and it sounded interesting -- it's an interactive course used with voice recognition and your computer or something like that. It's a lot cheaper than Pimsleur.

Learn a little, you will enjoy your stay more, but I think you have totally unrealistic ideas about how easy it is to learn a foreign language and how much you can learn on your own in just a few months from CDs. YOu will never be able to master a language in that time to a level that you will be having conversations with people, if you know no foreign language at this point. Even if you did, I don't think that would be possible except for a few linguistic geniuses. My brother was totally immersed in a foreign country and took intense lessons in the language for an entire month before going (in class, many hours a day), and he wasn't conversing with locals within a few months of being there. He was pretty fluent after a couple years of living and working there.

I agree with everything that Christina said. I mentioned that I worked on my French before going to Paris this year, but I did not add that I speak fluent Spanish and also took two years of French (long ago!) in college. So, for me, the "Behind the Wheel French" was really helpful. I also took a univeristy continuing education French class which was a real disappointment. My French ability in Paris turned out to be about halfway to what it had been in college. I was able to express my needs and wants and understand quite a bit, but definitely not able to carry on a high-level conversation.

I agree with Christina. I don't think you can learn a language with software. I would look into courses at a local community college or something similar. You need to actually USE the language, talk back and forth with someone, in order to gain any fluency.

I would focus on French because it's a much harder language than Spanish. Spanish has one of the smallest vocabularies of any language. Once you've got French under your belt, Spanish becomes a lot easier, not the other way around. It pays to learn a harder language first.

The BBC has language training on it's website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/

I would pick one language only to focus on. Six months is not that much time. Trying to learn both would just be confusing.

Secondly, I would find a class. I believe that is a WAY more effective to begin to learn a language. Than you can use the software as practice or backup to the class, see what your public library has on offer.

Thirdly ;-)

You will NOT be conversational in only six months.

If you're serious about learning a second language, pick one and get started now, that's great. But plan to continue taking classes and studying when you get back from your trip. It takes years to master a foreign language to fluency (for an english-only speaking adult).

Thanks everyone. I understand that expecting to have a true conversation would be "out there", given time constraints, etc. I had to re-read my initial post...thank goodness I said "something close to a conversation" (and my conversational standards would be relatively conservative).

I'll probably focus on Spanish (I was leaning that way anyway) and will look into classes. The software or CD route I prefer has more to do with doing something while driving and in the evenings on an extended (several month) business trip away from home.

Thanks again and any other advice is appreciated.

If you've already had some Spanish, defintely I'd stick with that. Plus I believe it's the easiest language to get to a basic level of communication with. buena suerte!

tampatiger, it would also be really helpful if you could watch/listen to tv in Spanish as much as possible. Univision and Telemundo news is good, especially if you've kept up with the day's news in English and have a frame of reference. Also, newscasters generally speak clearly and distinctly. Keep a notepad to jot down words that are used frequently and you don't know, and then look them up in a Spanish-English dictionary. Doing this has helped me improve and maintain my Spanish.

Agree with above. And Spanish probably the best fit for you.
Before buying, rent language tapes or cd's from your local library. If there is something you really like, then go ahead and buy a copy for yourself.
Pre-trips, I brush up by listening in the car or while doing exercises.

Sorry if I missed this but are you actually going to Spain? If not, why not get a tape for the country you will visit? Natives will appreciate it. Knowing signage is inspired!