A recorded technique for teaching a target language to a student having a home language in which each expression in the home language is presented and, under control of the student, time is provided for the student's oral translation thereof. Subsequent to the student's oral translation, a first example student translation of the expressions to the target language is provided and subsequently a second example student's translation of the target language is provided. One ID of the example students is preferably male and the other is preferably female. Then a teacher's translation of the expression into the target language is provided. The sequence is repeated for a series of expressions. To facilitate student comfort and reduce anxiety, the student can provide pauses wherever convenient and in particular the system gives the student time to translate the expression provided from the student's home language into the target language.