The VLC Explorer

The VLC Explorer is similar to the Internet Explorer which it is based on and has the same basic operation but with customized menus and toolbars for linking to the VLC Website. All the VLC materials can be accessed, including  English Conversation Practice and Spoken English sections, the English Pronunciation Guide, Mind Your Grammar, the VLC Pictorial Idioms and the RA Jukebox collection of songs with lyrics. Each of these sections of the VLC has an independent menu and toolbar buttons for easy access. 

• Download the VLC Explorer WinZip file for accessing all VLC materials (2.7 megabytes)
• Zip files require the WinZip32 utility to extract the files. Choose "Save File to Disk".and "Install"

System requirements

You need the Windows Media Player version 9++ installed on your PC, and also the Real Audio Player.  

When you install the VLC Explorer it will:

• 1. Enable you to access all the VLC course and reference materials for pronunciation, grammar, idioms, conversation and music
• 2. Connect to the edict web server for Net Dictionary searches

The VLC Explorer also provides recording and playback functions for the student, as well as integrating the Net Dictionary lookup feature as in the TTS Browser and other VLC programs.

The VLC Explorer

VLC Multimedia 'Karaoke'

Some VLC multimedia materials use a 'karaoke' effect where text is displayed synchronised with sound. As you can see from the first illustration below, the conversation text is printed on the screen as it is spoken, like in a karaoke song.  You need to have the Windows Media player version 9++ installed to get this effect. All the English Conversations are displayed in this way, as are the songs in the RA Jukebox section.

The 'karaoke' display using the WM Player in a conversation

With the songs in the RA Jukebox collection, the best way to follow the lyrics is in sync with the music - select the "Karaoke" link in the header which appears beneath the concordance edit box:

The 'Karaoke' link in the header

  The Windows Media Player is used to display not only the music with lyrics, but the animated visualizations also, as shown in the illustration below:

  The 'karaoke' display using WM Player animation in a song