Starting a new language is exciting, but the first real hurdle is choosing a course that matches your goals, your schedule, and the device you plan to use. In language education study, the difference between a course you finish and one you abandon often comes down to a simple fit: Is the language relevant to you? Is the level right? Is the format one you can actually play? These four beginner disks from FSI offer very different study paths, so the choice comes down to which language and which course structure fit the way you learn.
Quick take
All four courses are listed as brand-new, disk-based programs by author FSI, and each one is priced at $10.95. The Portuguese and German courses are on DVD; the Japanese and Hebrew courses are on CD-ROM. Their listed level tags differ, so the table below is the place to compare them.
Listed price comparison
| Course | Format | Level | Price | Price bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Learn How To Speak Portuguese, Fast Foreign Language Training Course, DVD E12 | DVD | Beginner (A1) | USD 10.95 | |
| Learn How To Speak German, Fast & Easy Foreign Language Training Course, DVD D95 | DVD | Beginner (A1), Business | USD 10.95 | |
| Learn How To Speak Japanese, Fast Foreign Language Training Course, CD E03 | CD-ROM | Beginner (A1), Business | USD 10.95 | |
| Learn How To Speak Hebrew, Fast & Easy Foreign Language Training Course, CD D98 | CD-ROM | Beginner (A1), Business | USD 10.95 |
Decision matrix
If you want a language spoken across Brazil, Portugal, Africa, and beyond, the Portuguese course is the match. If you need German for work or travel in central Europe, the German course offers a beginner-friendly starting point. If you are planning to study Japanese and want a course that starts at the beginning, the Japanese course is your entry point. If Hebrew is your focus for cultural, religious, or family reasons, the Hebrew course is the one to put in your study pile.
Product notes
Learn How To Speak Portuguese, Fast Foreign Language Training Course, DVD E12
Portuguese gives you a direct path into a Romance language spoken across Brazil, Portugal, Mozambique, Angola, and beyond. The course is listed at Beginner (A1), making it a straightforward pick if you are starting from zero. Its limitation is the level tag: Portuguese is the only one of the four listed without the Business label, so if you were hoping to use the same disk for workplace vocabulary, the German, Japanese, or Hebrew options carry that extra marker. For a first course focused on everyday conversation, this is the disk to put in your study pile.
Learn How To Speak German, Fast & Easy Foreign Language Training Course, DVD D95
If your language education study leans toward work-related German, this DVD is a strong fit. It is listed as brand new and carries both Beginner (A1) and Business levels, so you get a starting point that can stretch toward professional contexts. The limitation is geographic reach: German is the majority language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Belgium and Luxembourg, so if your goal is a language spoken across more continents, the Portuguese course may have wider reach. For a learner who wants beginner content with a business angle, this disk is a logical choice.
Learn How To Speak Japanese, Fast Foreign Language Training Course, CD E03
Japanese is your target? This course gives you a Beginner (A1) starting point in a language family that is not closely related to European languages. The disk is part of the CD-ROM group in this lineup. The limitation is practical: if you have no prior exposure to Japonic grammar, the early lessons may feel more unfamiliar than the Romance or Germanic options. That is not a reason to avoid it if Japanese is your goal; it just means your study plan should leave room for the learning curve. For a beginner who wants to start Japanese, this disk is a straightforward choice.
Learn How To Speak Hebrew, Fast & Easy Foreign Language Training Course, CD D98
For Hebrew study, this disk gives you a Beginner (A1) level with a Business label, making it a useful option if you are learning for work, travel, or personal heritage. It is part of the CD-ROM group, matching the Japanese course. The limitation is the language's distance from European patterns: Hebrew is a West Semitic language, so if you are used to Romance or Germanic grammar, it will likely feel less familiar than Portuguese or German. That is not a downside if Hebrew itself is your goal; it is simply a heads-up about the learning curve. For a learner committed to Hebrew, this CD-ROM is the one to start with.
Final recommendation by use case
If you want a beginner course that reaches Portuguese speakers across Brazil, Portugal, Africa, and beyond, choose the Learn How To Speak Portuguese DVD. If your study goal centers on Germany or Japan for work or travel, decide between the Learn How To Speak German DVD and the Learn How To Speak Japanese CD-ROM. If Hebrew is the language you actually want to speak, the Learn How To Speak Hebrew CD-ROM is the right call. The real tiebreaker is format: DVD for Portuguese or German, CD-ROM for Japanese or Hebrew.
