A new Tamil language tutor CD ROM in the market makes the experience a combination of learning and fun.

After working on Hindi and Malayalam, the Ernakulam-based Allenpark Infotech has brought out its Cemmozhi Tamil Tutor CD ROM.

"The CD is getting very good response, especially from the US and Britain, where the population of non-resident Tamils is pretty high," Thejus P.R., director of Allenpark Infotech company, told IANS.

"Also, Tamil is a major spoken language and a medium of instruction in schools in Singapore and Malaysia. The CD is in demand in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand as well," he said.

The CD starts with the alphabets, offers a writing skill section, lessons for vocabulary practice, speech practice, stories, songs, proverbs and select verses from Tamil classics with notes in Tamil and English.

The writing skill section allows users to prepare a work book by taking printouts of the alphabets. To sharpen one's pronunciation, it offers a record-and-compare facility.

To learn Tamil using the CD, the learner need not have prior experience in the language.

Thejus said options for expatriate Tamils to learn their mother tongue were shrinking due to a "lack of efficient learning aids".

Gujarati and Bengali titles are to be released later this year by Allenpark. "Another title for kids who take the first step to learning is also in the production," said Thejus.