EasyWords

EasyWords is an intuitive application that will let you practice the written forms of a given foreign language.

This program is based on the idea of flash cards, that is, linking a question with the correct answer and obviously it inherits all the benefits and drawbacks of this method.

Probably the best advantage of EasyWords is how easy it is to customize. In this respect, you will be able to use any of the available dictionaries or create new ones. It is also possible to edit dictionaries by erasing existing entries and adding new ones. Sadly, it does not allow editing existing entries. However, creating or editing a dictionary could not really be any simpler because it is based on a two-column table, the first for the mother-tongue word and the second for its equivalent in the foreign language.

In regard to using this application, there are two difficulty levels. The first level (harder) is related to editing or creating dictionaries as well as setting other parameters, such as type of question (written or multiple-choice) and the interval between two questions. The second level is intended for the end user (learner), who will be asked the programmed questions. Sometimes, it can be the same person who programs the questions to learn later while some other times it may be a professor or a parent in the initial role, and a student or a child as the end user.

Once the question parameters have been set, the application is minimized to the system tray from where it will prompt you to answer the questions in the set interval. Instead of following a dictionary order, the program will pick up random questions. It will also keep track of your answers and provide you with feedback about your progress so far. In addition, this application offers to apply AI algorithms to ensure that the user comes across with those word pairs he has more difficulty to learn.

In general, EasyWords is a useful application but it still has a long way to go before becoming a complete language-learning tool. First, some of the entries in the available dictionaries are wrong. Second, it is incapable of managing polysemy or synonymy; so some right answers could be reported as wrong. Finally, it only focuses on the written form of words while the pronunciation is absolutely neglected.