Eiffel

So what would you suggest is a good starting application to learn basic constructs of a new language. I am going to learn Eiffel so much of what I have learned about OOP in C++ will apply, but I am short on ideas on the best path to learn this new language.

When learning new syntax I've found it helpful to translate a program I did before into the new language - you know whats going on already, and all you have to worry about is the syntax.

Thanks for the advice this seems like a great idea!

I don't think you'll run into this too badly with Eiffel, but the word of caution I have about Axon's suggestion is that by simply translating, you may be abusing the design of the language.

I don't think the C++ to Eiffel would run into this, but it could potentially. To better show what I mean, consider a) programs written in C++ by C programmers which use classes, etc as simply a sort of wrapper around some data without ever really touching at what OOP is about and b) programs written in LISP or Scheme by people who are used to something like C which come out clunky when elegant solutions exist and are natural (such as the use of trees and recursion).