Mazlo's Animated Spelling Adventure Volume 2

PC version requires:
486 DX2 66, Windows 3.1+, DOS 5.0, 8 MB RAM, SVGA (640x480, 256 colors) sound card, 2x CD-ROM, QuickTime

Mac version requires:
LC 030 Macintosh, System 7.1, 8 MB RAM, QuickTime (included), 2x CD-ROM

Description:

Mazlo's Animated Spelling Adventure by Simitar Interactive is a wonderful learning tool for children that helps motivate them to be the best spellers and enjoy it. An adorable character named Mazlo leads children through many different adventures from camping, fitness or travel, to going to the beach. There are four different categories of difficulty to play. Category one features Mazlo spelling the whole word for the user to see. The second category features the user choosing the correct beginning letter while the rest is already spelled out. Category three features a random letter missing which the user chooses and the fourth level allows the user to spell the word entirely themselves.

If the player makes an error, the word is erased and they are encouraged to try again. After a few continuous errors on the same word, Mazlo will help and spell it for them. After each word is finished correctly by the user, the word is read out loud in a sentence. If the word is spelled correctly, the children get to watch Mazlo do a silly animated skit in the featured category i.e. if you just spelled push-up, Mazlo will ride a body builder while the body-builder does the push-up. It's very hard not to laugh at Mazlo.

Also, on each page small bees come onto the screen to show the user what other words can be spelled besides the featured ones. Words can vary from bugs to aerobics in this program. There are also two screens where the user can just play a game such as X's and O's or even choose a new screen saver for their computer.

A final highlight is the use of this program to learn English as a second language. It features a tutorial in six different languages. This would make it easy for other cultures to learn English.

Features:

• Encouragement and praise given to spellers
• Words are organized by themes
• Animation helps understanding and enforces the word
• Four challenging levels
• Helps build and develop vocabulary, spelling and reading skills
• Tutorial comes in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese
• Use English as a second language

Technical Aspects:

Report and Conclusions:

This program is great for those who want to learn English as a second language, as it deals with hundreds of words and connects the spelling of the word with their meanings by using animation. It also allows the user to become familiar with the reading process as each word is used in a sentence. The user can read along and recognize the new word they just spelled.

I was very impressed by this program as we have an eight-year-old speller in our home who has trouble with spelling, yet with this program, there was no reluctance in playing. It was easy enough to use even for my four-year-old. She also had fun playing along with the character and watching as the letters were spoken and spelled out to form a word that she clicked on. Mazlo's Animated Spelling Adventure: Volume 2 is a wonderful program and would be used over and over in any home or school.