The Rosetta Stone Language Library programs provide a comprehensive language learning system for learners from the third grade through adults. Instruction in the following languages is available: Spanish, English, French, German, Russian, Portuguese, Chinese, Italian, Dutch, Hebrew, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese. Each language has a Level I and a Level II CD, each bought separately. Level I instruction programs contain 92 chapters of instruction and are designed to take users from beginning to intermediate levels. Level II instruction programs contain 118 chapters of instruction and take intermediate students to an advanced level. In addition, there is a Rosetta Stone PowerPac that provides language instruction in seven languages (Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, and English), giving the first 22 chapters from the Level I instruction programs (cost: $59.95).
There is also a Rosetta Stone Demo CD which gives 8 to 16 chapters in all of the above languages with an illustrated user’s guide (cost: $9.95). This product was named “BestSoftware in Second Language” in ComputED’s 1996 awards; PC Magazine has placed it among the “Top 100 CD‐ROMs” (June, 1995); MultiMedia Schools gave it a Five Star Rating (May/June, 1995); and it received the Gold Medal in the category of “Best CD‐ROMs Used in Schools” as well as “Best CD‐ROM for Language Learning” at the 1996 i‐MAGIC Awards Festival.
Each language instruction program contains over 8,000 real life color images, thousands of words and phrases spoken by native speakers, voice recording capability, and over 3,000 words. Level I programs come with a CD‐ROM disc with eight units of instructional material, 92 chapters including a review chapter for each unit, an illustrated user’s guide, a language book with curriculum text and exercises, a workbook, and a student management system.
Level II programs come with two CD‐ROM discs with 11 units of instructional material, 118 chapters including review chapters, an illustrated user’s guide, a language book with curriculum text, and a student management system. Exercises are provided for each of the four areas of language learning: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, speaking, and writing. Students choose from several kinds of exercises for each skill. Each exercise presents a different combination of voice, text, and pictures. These multiple approaches to a lesson seems to allow the students to select exercises to fit their own learning style and to achieve mastery of the material. A listen‐record‐playback option lets students record their own voices for comparison with the native speaker. A set of dictation exercises prompts students to type words, phrases and sentences, which are then corrected by the program. Test scores can be displayed or disabled, as the user chooses. The product can be used in both Macintosh and PC environments, in either stand‐alone or networked versions.
I was able to view the Rosetta Stone Demo CD and the Japanese Level I program. I found the user’s manual extremely helpful and found the product’s awards by numerous agencies to be justified and well‐deserved. There is even an unlimited money‐back guarantee if you are unhappy with the product. The Level I CD works well either in the school environment with multiple users or for individuals wishing to learn a new language or improve language skills. The Level II CDs should only be used with intermediate to advanced learners. This is a very well‐developed and well‐supported product for second language learners.
