Hawaiian Language Immersion

With all the attention on Hawaiian issues on the news lately, it makes me think about the preservation of the Hawaiian language. Growing up in Hawaii, Hawaiian words and phrases are a part of my regular vocabulary. I’m no Hawaiian language scholar nor do I claim to hold conversations in Hawaiian, but after spending a couple months on the mainland, I’ve definitely taken for granted the Hawaiian words I use in my every day life.

For those who are learning or want to learn the Hawaiian language, Topics Entertainment has a program called Instant Immersion Hawaiian. It’s no substitute for taking actual Hawaiian classes and learning the language the “traditional way,” but it can be used to enhance your learning experience or if you just want to get the gist of the language.

The program comes with eight audio CDs that helps build fundamental language learning, ranging from beginners to the intermediate level. It does not come with textbooks, but the audio CDs are meant to immerse you into the language so you will absorb its verbal teachings. You can conveniently listen to the audio lessons in your car, on the computer, or turn it into audio files to listen to on your mp3 player anytime. This goes for the other languages available in the Instant Immersion series, which are Japanese, Chinese, French, Spanish, Italian, English and more. In addition, the CDs come with cultural notes that includes a glimpse of customs, etc., in the Hawaiian series’ case, it goes island by island. Being a local, it’s nothing new, but may be useful for a visitor visiting our islands.

The Instant Hawaiian Immersion product received the Judges Award: Language Learning from the 2005 10th Annual Audie Awards by Audio File Magazine. It is available for about $20 at your nearest CompUSA, Borders Books & Music or Barnes & Noble.

Topics Entertainment also makes an array of other educational software that includes SAT preparation, Phonics Success (a software tool designed specially for elementary students), various business training tools, videos and more. Log onto www.topics-ent.com for more product information.