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When used right, computers and the Internet can be very effective tools for learning and spreading knowledge. Here I present some of my favourite learning utilities for the computer. Most of them are vocabulary trainers, which with a little imagination also can be used for learning general trivia. All are freeware.
For the programs that require external questions-and-answers files, a few such are provided on this page.
Vokabel is a superb vocabulary trainer programmed by Per-Erik Kristensson. The new version doesn't have the obstacle I wrote about here before, which was that it automatically output questions of the form "What is [word in Language 1] called in [name of Language 2]?" (Now the output templates can be altered under File > Document properties [Advanced tab]), but I still think it's more suitable for straight word drilling.
Vokabel's interface is available in Swedish, English, Interlingua, and Spanish. The program has eight quiz modes.
Vokabel's homepage
PEK's Productions (Swedish, check out all of Per-Erik's small but powerful programs!)
Q&A files:
Sveriges landskapsdjur (25 questions in Swedish, 1.03 kB)
Verbal Advantage, Level 01 of 10, Keywords 01 to 10 of 50 (884 B)
Verbal Advantage, Level 01 of 10, Keywords 11 to 20 of 50 (950 B)
Verbal Advantage, Level 01 of 10, Keywords 21 to 30 of 50 (919 B)
Verbal Advantage, Level 01 of 10, Keywords 31 to 40 of 50 (888 B)
Verbal Advantage, Level 01 of 10, Keywords 41 to 50 of 50 (1.04 kB)
More Q&A files for Vokabel are available on Vokabel's homepage.
Wade Brainerd's CueCard is simpler but more versatile. It lets you type in the questions and answers yourself, like "What year was the Swedish author August Strindberg born?" ("1849.") and "Which is better — chocolate or strawberry?" ("It depends."). There are three study modes. The interface is available in Dutch, English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish.
CueCard's homepage
Q&A files:
Harry Potter och de vises sten, kapitel 01 (25 questions in Swedish, 1.54 kB)
Harry Potter och de vises sten, kapitel 02 (9 questions in Swedish, 643 B)
Romerska kejsare från Augustus till Alexander Severus (relativ kronologi) (22 questions in Swedish, 1.42 kB)
Sveriges landskapsdjur (25 questions in Swedish, 1.16 kB)
Sveriges regenter från Gustav Vasa till Carl XVI Gustav (relativ kronologi) (24 questions in Swedish, 1.64 kB)
USAs presidenter från George Washington till George W. Bush (relativ kronologi) (43 questions in Swedish, 3.52 kB)
For strict vocabulary training I recommend Vokabel. Unlike CueCard, it has quiz modes where you have to type in the answers letter by letter so there's no chance of getting the spelling wrong. On the other hand, for trivia training CueCard is superior in its simplicity.
The advanced Foreign Language Game Collection, created by Johannes Unnewehr, includes six games and a quiz program to help you learn your words. I haven't tried this program in a long time, but according to the website available interface languages are Catalan, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish. (Phew!)
Foreign Language's homepage
Q&A files are available here.
Music Theory Basics used to be called Music Reading — I haven't tried it since the name change, which apparently was part of a major update. It teaches you to read and write notes and helps you develop your musical ear. Wim Wijnen has done a great job with this program, which is intended "for the absolute beginner".
Music Theory Basics' homepage
Another program that teaches you to read notes (only) is NoteCard, by Nick Sullivan. Nick has also written the nice African Geography Tutor, European Geography Tutor, and United States Geography Tutor.
NoteCard's homepage
African Geography Tutor's homepage
European Geography Tutor's homepage
United States Geography Tutor's homepage
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