TalkNow! Japanese is a Learn Japanese program that tries to be a complete Japanese learning experience but only manages to come across as a glorified flashcard program. TalkNow!, by Eurotalk, teaches vocabulary from various topics by showing images that correspond with audio clips. Once you feel like you’ve learned them well, you complete a set of quizzes to test your knowledge. TalkNow! uses point rewards as an incentive but it’s never really clear what the reward will be for getting points.

Because it is designed similar to a flashcard program, TalkNow! will never be able to teach grammar and conversation skills, which is essential to Japanese mastery. But through the use of the audio clips and images you’ll be able to practice vocabulary and listening comprehension. When you have completed some of the quizzes you can also choose to play the memory game that allows you to further test your knowledge; even though the memory games are ultimately the same as the flashcard-like lessons of the main program.

You’ll never be able to get fluent in Japanese with TalkNow!, but it would make a good practice tool if you are already studying Japanese. If you want a complete Japanese curriculum, look elsewhere.