As one might expect, any non-western language often proves more difficult for English speaking students to learn. The fact that Amharic is also written in Ge’ez script complicates the process. In addition, with the exception of Arabic perhaps, most African languages are often underrepresented in the language learning world.

This makes those programs available somewhat more valuable as long you can find the  right one to suit your needs. That program, for most people is the Talk Now Amharic Basic Course. The course focuses on 450 basic words and phrases.

While obviously not comprehensive, 450 words and phrases is nothing to underestimate. The latest version also includes an nifty IPOD feature for portability, though to get the most out of the program, a person really needs to spend time on the computer.

For a more detailed review, see our post on Learning Amharic: A Review of Talk Now Amharic