The Rosetta Stone. Wow !The Rosetta Stone Language Learning Systems http://launch.rosettastone.com/ is amazing. No wonder I've heard it mentioned so frequently. It offers 30 languages in a completely interactive system with photos and sound, and the use of native speakers. For the listening and reading exercises all you need is your computer screen and a pair of headphones and you're off to an enjoyable and productive learning experience. Choose a mini-demo from a few sample languages - English, Spanish (Lat Am), French, German and Italian http://www.rosettastone.com/en/individuals/demo or upload a much longer demo from any of the Rosetta's Stones' 30 offerings. It only takes a few minutes to upload the additional software needed to access the expanded demos. After 2 hours exploring the Rosetta Stone, I finally reached saturation and needed to get off the computer for a coffee. The sample demos and expanded lesson were somewhat repetitive but they were very effective in teaching the language. I sampled all of the mini-lessons and worked through the longer version of Arabic. It is one thing to speak Arabic, it is another to learn to read the cursive Arabic script which uses an alphabet completely different than English, similar to Pitman's shorthand, and which is read right to left versus English which is read left to write. However, the lessons were very effective in familiarizing the user with entire Arabic words and short phrases even without the alphabet having been taught separately in the speaking lesson.
The system is designed for new and more advanced learners at all levels, is totally interactive, and offers lessons in listening and reading, speaking and writing. It was easy to navigate, except that once inside the expanded lesson the user cannot use the back button. Rather if the user makes several mistakes the program takes one back to an earlier lesson until mastery is reached. This concern can be addressed by spending an additional 20 minutes in the program to become familiar with all of its features.
I look forward to exploring the advanced levels of the reading and listening units, and to also exploring the speaking and writing lessons.
The system is designed for new and more advanced learners at all levels, is totally interactive, and offers lessons in listening and reading, speaking and writing. It was easy to navigate, except that once inside the expanded lesson the user cannot use the back button. Rather if the user makes several mistakes the program takes one back to an earlier lesson until mastery is reached. This concern can be addressed by spending an additional 20 minutes in the program to become familiar with all of its features.
I look forward to exploring the advanced levels of the reading and listening units, and to also exploring the speaking and writing lessons.
Of course, when learning a subsequent language nothing can truly replace one on one personal interaction. Students generally want feedback from a human being, not a computer. To master a language one must have opportunities to use it for authentic purposeful communication within a classroom or in a language community, which the Rosetta Stone does not provide. The program would however make a valuable complement to a classroom learning environment for practice, remedial help and homework. For students teaching themselves a subsequent language without the availability of language instructors, the Rosetta Stone is definitely an excellent alternative !
I will certainly visit the Rosetta Stone again.
Suzan's rating: ***** stars
No comments:
Post a Comment