|
||
|
|
|
|
 
Brand: Fairfield Language Technologies EAN: 0794678000294 Item Dimensions: Label: Fairfield Language Technologies Manufacturer: Fairfield Language Technologies Model: 100-29 Platform: Windows NT, Macintosh, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows 95 Publisher: Fairfield Language Technologies Release Date: September 28, 2000 Studio: Fairfield Language Technologies Browse for similar items by category: Click to Display Editorial Review: Amazon.com Review: It is a credit to Fairfield Language Technologies that its Spanish Explorer is one of the best examples of language-learning software--period. If you are used to the old-fashioned but lamentably persistent grammar-translation method of learning languages, Spanish Explorer may surprise you because it involves no overt instruction in grammar or lists of vocabulary with English translations. Instead, it relies on very clever contextualization of Spanish words and structures with photographs so that you never realize you're learning grammar. We literally found ourselves speaking and understanding quite a bit of basic Spanish in about an hour. Each graduated lesson works like this: First, you learn a new word by seeing a picture of, say, a dog. You then read the Spanish word for "dog" and hear it spoken: perro. After learning a whole set of words this way, you move into self-quizzing mode, where you see just a picture of a boy and have to choose the right word, either from spoken or written cues. This emphasis on listening comprehension is fantastic and is one of the components that sets the software apart, but there are also reading and writing exercises. So how do they cover grammar? Eventually, for instance, you'll see perro under a picture of one dog and perros under a picture of two dogs. If you are a grammar guru, you might be able to figure out that certain singular nouns end in o; plural nouns end in os. However, the beauty is you don't have to be a grammar guru at all because the software doesn't expect you to state rules like that; it expects you only to associate a picture of more than one dog with perros instead of perro. Eventually, you get into longer phrases that cover verbs, adjectives, and prepositional phrases. It's amazingly effortless, especially so for children as young as 6. Caveats: The CD-ROM includes both Mac OS and Windows versions. Your installation will include the first-level lessons of a couple dozen other languages for free, too, so you have to know that the Spanish word for "Spanish" is Español in order to select it from the list. Also, remember that software is no replacement for Spanish-speaking people, so take what you learn and use it in the world! --Erik Macki Amazon.com Product Description: Unlike language learning programs that rely on text translation, The Rosetta Stone uses carefully selected pictures to clearly convey the meaning of each new spoken phrase. By invoking the mind's inherent ability to connect sound and meaning, learning occurs naturally and easily, the way you learned your first language as a child. With each new concept, your comprehension is verified with instantaneous feedback, confirming your progress. The program systematically integrates new vocabulary with new grammar in a natural, intuitive process as it builds on what you have mastered in the previous chapters. There is no other program that teaches and gives the feeling of success like The Rosetta Stone. (Ages 6 and older) Average Rating:
 Rating:  - Useless!The Rosetta stone teaches you "baby sentences" like how to point at a blue car or see the ball near the child. It does not teaches you the language. There is no attempt at teaching you verbs and tense. It has nice pictures and you GUESS what the things are. Big, expensive disappointment. I suggest you try something else. I am. Rating: - Where's The Grammar? This software is lots of fun. It uses a unique method of learning where you associate pictures with words. I guess that's how we learned to speak English or our native tongue. Mom or dad would point to a tree and say that's a "tree" or point to a car and say "that's a car." And by associating the word with the image, we learned English - or at least we learned English vocabulary. But there's more to the English language than vocabulary. In fact, there's more to any language than just vocabulary. ... Read More Rating:  - Rosetta Stone Spanish ExplorerThe Rosetta Stone Explorers are intuitive and fantastic! They give 22 lessons of the 92 lessons in Level 1. Explorers are just that: EXPLORERS. This program allows you a trial run of the full program, only the printed script from the full program is missing. The Explorer materials take you to the level of about 3 months of High School language classes. The Level 1 is approximately equal to 2 years of High School or 1 year of University, and level 2 adds 2 more years or High School or 1 more year of ... Read More Rating: - Useful Introduction to the Full CourseI've used The Rosetta Stone for a few years, now, quite successfully. From my experiences as a Language Acquisition Tutor, and 11+ year Language Learner, I've found that students who have struggled immensely in the past, whether in classes or on their own, find much success with The Rosetta Stone. As far as grammar goes, it's true, The Rosetta Stone doesn't teach much. But that's the point! Grammar is one of the hardest aspects of a language for most people, and when you think about it, ... Read More Rating: - OverratedThis seems like a good program but it is just lacking some very crucial things which I think are necessary for language learning. The lack of verb tenses is extremely frustrating. Tying in with this is the complete lack of teaching grammar. See my problem with this is what's the point of learning the language if you don't learn the rules of it. Good product but fails in some important aspects to teach Spanish. For a good language learning software that also has grammar turtorials check out Spanish NOW ... Read More 
|
