Windows 3.1, Windows 95, or Windows NT 4.0
Computer with a 20 MHz 386 processor or better
8 MB hard drive space
No printer required
Distributed on three 1.44 MB 3.5" diskettes
These 80 exercises provide a very thorough grounding in the Russian verb system, usually covered at the intermediate and advanced levels. They are adapted from Intermediate Russian: The Twelve Chairs (Slavica Publishers, 1985), but can also be used by a learner studying alone or by anyone who needs a thorough review of Russian verbs.
When a user opens an exercise, the program displays a short dialogue with blanks for one or two words. The user types the Russian word(s), and the program evaluates the response. If part of the answer is incorrect, the program gives the user up to four chances to correct it. The user never retypes the correct part of the answer.
While working on the questions, the user may request to see the correct answer at any time. He or she can also change various options, such as the number of tries allowed for each question before the computer "gives up," the order of the questions (random or sequential), the size of the screen font, the Russian keyboard layout, etc. Three keyboard layouts are included: AATSEEL Standard, AATSEEL Student, and Soviet. A keyboard layout may be displayed on the screen as the user works on the exercise.
The program allows instructors to keep an optional log of students' work. This log is a database that can be sorted, edited, and printed using many Microsoft Windows database programs. The records in the database contain students' names, the name of each exercise that was done, the time and date when the work was started, how long it took, and the average score. Students may also elect to "practice" anonymously. This information can help an instructor understand students' learning strategies, and discover where additional help is needed.
The program is very easy to use: there are no keyboard commands to memorize, and the screen layout is functional and attractive.