BYKI Toc De Mac!

[Seapaddler]

I've discovered a killer French learning program that is incredibly suited for a community such as this. It is called Before You Know It by a company called Transparent Language.

This program has built-in virtual flash cards with audio that train you to learn a language. Not only that but one can create custom flashcard lists of a language or any other subject and share them.

There is a free Lite version and a Deluxe version for $40 USD. The Lite version comes with 17 card lists and doesn't include the ability to create your own custom cards and lists nor does it include some expanded learning sections. The Deluxe version comes with 97 lists some lists have as little as 4 flash cards for the Seasons and other lists with 25+ cards on various subjects. The Lite version will play back audio if a particular flash card was created with accompanying audio.

Here are some screenshots of the Deluxe version which I already bought.

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Start the program and select a list to learn.


There are 5 Learning modes with the Lite Version. The "Activities" tab is not available in the Lite version.



Review it



Recognize it



Know it



Produce it



Own it


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When you have fully completed all the exercises on the cards, the words, speech and written, get committed to memory. At least that's the intent.

In the Deluxe version there are multiple choice exercises, a pronunciation exercise where you can record your own voice and compare it to the audio clip and also perform a dictation exercise from what you hear only.

Multiple choice, French/English



Multiple choice, English/French



Pronunciation



Dictation



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The View tab shows you all the cards in the list and your progress on each card.



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Here comes the best part. For those who get the Deluxe version, custom lists can be produced and shared with users of either version. I'll walk you through making an Alizé and an Alizée card.



Here is a test Custom list I made.




Open the list (I already made 4 cards in the list). Click the green + to add a new card.




This screen is where you create your entire card, including audio and an image if you want.




Fill in the French and the English. I'll leave out the audio and image.




Here is the new card in the list.




And as it appears.




Create another one.




Both in the list.




Her card.



They are automatically part of the multiple choice.




Back to edit the Alizée card, this is the screen to add an audio file. You can record your own or import a .wav or .ogg file.




I’ve added an image to her card.




The completed card.




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Voila! It's an amazing program and an excellent way to increase vocabulary and retention and also for helping out others. I’ve attached the Free Lite Windows and Mac downloaders. They will download the installers to your temp directory. You could get them from their website but you need to provide an email address prior to getting the file.

When you have created a custom list all you need to do is enter your user's folder and upload the .b4u file to share.

If you want more info their website is http://byki.com/

After you run the installer the last dialog box asks if you want to add an icon to your desktop once you finish that don't close the downloader box yet, click the LAUNCH button and it will import your language list otherwise it won't appear in the program.