Read English Today

An outstanding tutorial, Dr. Mary "Marisol" Samaras's Read English Today not only offers a comprehensive guide to the basics of learning to read the English language, it is also a highly effective use of the video medium. The tape is divided into 15 segments, covering the alphabet, consonants, long and short vowels, blending sounds into words, the silent "e", non-phonic words, abbreviations, syllabication, common prefixes and suffixes, plurals, contractions, reading signs, and useful tips (such as make use of your local library!). Over 700 words are highlighted during this innovative program which uses onscreen titling, attractive background graphics, and clever short dramatic scenes to illustrate sentences (as well as excellent inset pictures for many of the words). But Read English Today even goes beyond that: in the section on blending sounds for example, the video animation actually compresses the drawn-out word onscreen as it's being pronounced. An excellent program which--more than any similar program we've seen--recognizes and intelligently uses the video medium to its best advantages, Read English Today is a superb literacy aid which also encourages viewers to discover the many treasures which await them in their libraries. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (Available from: NUVO Ltd., Div. R, 157 Theresa Way, P.O. Box 1729, Chula Vista, CA 91912; (619) 426-8440; also available from Instructional Video, Inc. and Quality Books.)