Kurso de Esperanto is a free language course software with 12 units for the constructed language

Constructed language

A planned or constructed language—known colloquially as a conlang—is a language whose phonology, grammar, and/or vocabulary has been consciously devised by an individual or group, instead of having evolved naturally...

 Esperanto

Esperanto

is the most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Its name derives from Doktoro Esperanto , the pseudonym under which L. L. Zamenhof published the first book detailing Esperanto, the Unua Libro, in 1887...

. The course is especially dedicated to beginners who will know the basics of Esperanto within two weeks, due to optimized learning exercises.

The software uses listening tests of all used words to train pronunciation and listening comprehension. The user can record their attempts at speaking Esperanto

Esperanto

is the most widely spoken constructed international auxiliary language. Its name derives from Doktoro Esperanto , the pseudonym under which L. L. Zamenhof published the first book detailing Esperanto, the Unua Libro, in 1887...

 with a microphone

Microphone

A microphone is an acoustic-to-electric transducer or sensor that converts sound into an electrical signal. In 1877, Emile Berliner invented the first microphone used as a telephone voice transmitter...

 and compare them with the examples. Sound samples include songs available for singing along with, by the Brazilian pop music band Merlin among others.

At the end of each unit, and for certification of the whole Esperanto course the user can pass an examination and utilize a special feature of this course: the tests can be given to course leaders to be corrected free of charge. This correction service is provided by volunteers of the Esperanto movement including the German Esperanto youth organization.

Kurso de Esperanto is based on a 10 hour course developed by the Quebec Esperanto Society

Quebec Esperanto Society

The Quebec Esperanto Society is the main association of speakers of the planned language Esperanto in the Canadian province of Quebec...

 and some other courses.

The language course works with both Windows

Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...

 systems and the numerous Linux

Linux

Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...

 distributions

Linux distribution

A Linux distribution is a member of the family of Unix-like operating systems built on top of the Linux kernel. Such distributions are operating systems including a large collection of software applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, media players, and database applications...

. At the moment (February 2006) there is version 3.0 for Linux and version 3.2 for Windows.

Kurso de Esperanto is already in more than 23 languages. There are many volunteers working to increase this number. The translation process of the Esperanto course is simplified by a program called tradukilo that is also available for free download.

External links

• Kurso de Esperanto website
• Quebec Esperanto Society (French)
• Plena Manlibro de Esperanta Gramatiko - another source for Kurso de Esperanto