Arabic-language edition of Rosetta Stone |
|
| Original author(s) | Allen Stoltzfus John Fairfield Eugene Stoltzfus |
| Developer(s) | Rosetta Stone Inc. |
| Initial release | 1992 |
| Stable release | Version 4 (4.0) / September 14, 2010 |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X |
| Platform | Mac OS X v10.4 or later Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 |
| Available in | English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Japanese, Irish, Arabic, Danish, Dutch, Greek, Hebrew, Indonesian, Latin, Pashto, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Swahili, Russian, Swedish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese, Welsh |
| Type | Educational (foreign language instruction) |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | www.rosettastone.com |
Rosetta Stone is proprietary computer-assisted language learning (CALL) software developed by Rosetta Stone Inc. Both its title and logo refer to the Rosetta Stone, an artifact inscribed in multiple languages that helped Jean-François Champollion to decipher Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. The company is headquartered in Arlington County, Virginia.[1]
The Rosetta Stone software uses a combination of images, text, and sound, with difficulty levels increasing as the student progresses, in order to teach various vocabulary terms and grammatical functions intuitively, without drills or translation. They call this the "Dynamic Immersion method." According to the company, the software is designed to teach languages the way first languages are learned.
Contents |
According to the company, Allen Stoltzfus had learned German through immersion while living in Germany, and found it relatively easy. In the 1980s, Stoltzfus began learning Russian in a classroom setting, but discovered it to be much more difficult. He wanted to simulate the German experience, and he decided to use computing technology to create a similar learning experience. He enlisted the aid of his brother-in-law, Dr. John Fairfield, who held a PhD in computer science.
By 1992, CD-ROM technology made the project possible and they formed a company known as Fairfield Language Technologies in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Allen and John brought on Eugene Stoltzfus, Allen's brother, as company President and CEO, and released their software product under the name The Rosetta Stone. In 2003, the company came under new leadership with the announcement of Tom Adams as President and CEO, a businessman with international experience. The company changed names in 2006 to Rosetta Stone, Ltd., and with it came a change from an S Corp to a C Corp and the sale to investment firms ABS Capital Partners and Northwest Equity Partners. On September 23, 2008, Rosetta Stone Inc. filed an Initial Public Offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The latest version is version 4 TOTALe. Not all of the languages offered are available in version 4; some are still in version 2 and 3. The version appears on the exterior of retail packages.
Instruction takes the form of a unit of lessons consisting of ten groups (more in some of the later units of Level I) of four images each, with an associated word or sentence both written and spoken aloud by a native speaker of the language, except for those languages that are no longer spoken natively, such as Latin. Lesson topics range from grammatical concepts such as verb tense or mood to specific topics such as colors, hot and cold and associated words or the use of money.
Within each lesson there are sets of exercises testing listening, reading, and speaking (for which the computer must have a microphone). For languages using the Latin alphabet, there are also writing exercises. The writing exercises for non-Latin scripts use a substitute, on-screen keyboard. All sets except reading and speaking offer four exercises each; there are two reading exercises and one speaking exercise. They are identified by the software as A, B, C, D, and E.
The user is offered either text, sound or image (and later, video), to match against four possibilities. With a mark and/or sound chosen by the reader from the preferences menu, the program indicates whether the right or wrong choice was selected. A score from 0 to 100 is kept; it is visible during the exercise in practice mode but not in test mode. The first choice in a group of images nets four points for a correct answer, the second three, the third two and the last one.
In all units, the last lesson is a review of the previous lessons, with each predecessor represented by one group of images. There are no formal grammar guides or instructions included with the software. The only documentation is a manual with written versions of the phrases and a word index.
The version 2 application cannot read the language discs for version 3.
Version 2 is currently discontinued.
Instruction takes the form of four units per language level. Each unit is then subdivided into four core lessons. Each core lesson is approximately 30 minutes followed by sublessons. Sublessons take the form of Pronunciation, Writing, Vocabulary, Grammar, Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Reviews. At the end of each unit is a Milestone, which reviews the material covered in that unit in an interactive activity.
Version 3 applications cannot read the language disks of older Rosetta Stone installations (Version 1 and 2). Those who have multiple versions of Rosetta Stone need to have both applications installed in order to use the language packs of both versions.
The homeschool edition introduces additional features that keep track of time spent per lesson, scores achieved on lessons, lesson plans, and instructional objectives. This edition also includes a supplemental CD which has workbooks, quizzes, transcription of lessons, and exams. As opposed to the personal edition, where reviews of previous lessons are suggested, the homeschool edition does not recommend review lessons. Aside from the minor differences, the homeschool edition is essentially the same as the personal edition - except for the supplemental CD with written exercises and lesson plans. The language discs in both editions are identical and are interchangeable. Some may have 3 discs and some may have 5. Much of the information on the supplemental CD is available online from Rosetta Stone.[2]
Version 4 TOTALe was released on September 14, 2010. Rosetta Stone Version 4 TOTALe comes with the standard Rosetta Course found in previous versions. The new features exclusive to Rosetta Stone Version 4 TOTALe are Rosetta Studio, Rosetta World, and TOTALe Mobile Companion. Rosetta Studio uses native speakers to tutor users in a live online setting. Rosetta World is a new social gaming community. At the same time TOTALe Mobile Companion is available for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.
This version also features new copyright protection to reduce piracy. The software is able to determine whether it is running from a disc or mounted image, although it cannot tell the difference between a user-burned and original disk.
In April 2011, James Madison University was the first university to partner with Rosetta Stone to offer the Rosetta Stone Version 4 TOTALe as an accredited Conversational Spanish I language learning course. The program teaches Spanish through a series of images that, when clicked on, show the vocabulary word. The student will speak into a microphone and speech recognition software will correct mispronounced words, according to Reilly Brennan, Rosetta Stone's Director of Public Relations. The course is available to adults who want to complete a degree for teaching and non-degree seeking students are eligible to take the class. The Rosetta Stone TOTALe accredited offering is a 16-week, intensive language-learning program. The program is accessed completely online and follows a syllabus approved by Rosetta Stone and James Madison University. [3]
Several different packages of lessons are available. The full course in each language is separated into three levels. All retail software packages except the homeschool version contain two CDs, one with the application software and another with the instruction. The homeschool version also consists of disks for a server program and a student management program.
All languages, except Latin, use the same set of words and sentences in the same order, with the same images. Some of the material is reused from lesson to lesson to invoke long-term retention. Version 4 includes three to five levels of instruction for each language. Each level can be purchased separately as or bundled at a discount.
In Version 2, most languages were offered with only two levels, though a few were offered in a third:
In Version 3, languages have from three to five levels, though what they cover for each language is different; there is more of a focus on conversation and less on complex grammatical topics.
The four units in Level 1 are:
The four units in Level 2 are
The four units in Level 3 are:
The following 31 languages are available as of January 2011[update]:
| Language | Version | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | Audio Companion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic (Modern Standard) | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Danish | v2 | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Dutch | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| English (American) | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| English (British) | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| French (Parisian) | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| German | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Greek | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Hebrew | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Hindi | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Indonesian | v2 | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Irish | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Italian | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Japanese | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Korean | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Latin | v3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Pashto | v2 | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Persian (Iran) | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Polish | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Portuguese (Brazilian) | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Russian | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Spanish (Latin America) | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Spanish (Spain) | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Swahili | v2 | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Swedish | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Tagalog | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Thai | v2 | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Turkish | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Vietnamese | v4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Welsh | v2 | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
The Endangered Language Program was created in 2004 for use by endangered language communities engaged in language revitalization.[5]
Organizations that contract the Endangered Language Program to develop custom software own the sales and distribution rights over their final product, allowing communities control over this language resource and respecting indigenous intellectual property rights.[6] These versions are thus not marketed via the usual outlets such as bookstores or commercial websites.
Based in Harrisonburg, Virginia, the Endangered Language Program began offering a corporate grant program in 2007 to underwrite development costs for awarded communities.[7] Rosetta Stone Ltd. offered the first awards of the grant program to the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana[8] and the Navajo Language Renaissance coalition.[9]
The Endangered Language Program also offers paid internships to graduate and undergraduate students interested in contributing to the work of the program.[10]
| Language | Organization | Version | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | Audio Companion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chitimacha | Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana | v3 | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Inuktitut | Torngasok Cultural Centre | v3 | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Inupiat | NANA Corporation | v3 | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Navajo | Navajo Language Renaissance | v3 | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Mohawk | Kanien’kehá:ka Onkwawén:na Raotitióhkwa | v3 | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
In December 2007, the United States Army offered a special military version of Arabic to help troops deploying to the Middle East learn the language for conversations and phrases important in a military situation.[11] It was available to all US Army personnel, US Military Academy cadets, contracted US Army ROTC Cadets and other special guests with a sponsor.
The United States Army "E-Learning", a SkillPort product, offered the full Version 3 Online, with the exception of only a few languages. The Army E-Learning web site was accessible by most Army members with a valid AKO (Army Knowledge Online) e-mail address or CAC (Common Access Card).[12] The contract ended in September 2011.
Other branches of the U.S military also offered Rosetta Stone software. The United States Air Force also offers a similar version to company-grade officers.[13] The United States Marine Corps also offers an online version of all the languages that Rosetta Stone offers through their MarineNet Distance Learning portal.[14]
The U.S. Department of State uses Rosetta Stone (version 3 as of 2009) as a companion to their in-class and distance learning language programs provided through the Foreign Service Institute. It is free for civil and foreign service employees.
Rosetta Stone has won a number of awards from software magazines and associations concerned with language learning such as textbook publishers and homeschooling magazines, among them the Gold Awards for Best CD-ROMs Used in School and Best CD-ROM for Language Learning i-Magic Awards in 1996 and the Best Software in Second Language Foreign Language Learning Program annual awards by ComputED magazine in 1994 and 1996.
Frequent criticism of the program arises in its lack of sensitivity to the differences between the various languages it comes in and their respective cultures.[15] Early versions of the software presented the same concepts in the same order, using the same images taken mostly in the Washington, D.C. area near the company's headquarters at the time in Harrisonburg, Virginia. In the most recent version, there have been some modifications to the picture set for certain languages or regions.
Furthermore, while the program was well-received for teaching various nouns by matching pictures with words, it is considered harder to learn from a grammar and syntax perspective.
Another frequent issue was the use of more formal vocabulary than that regularly used by native speakers. MacWorld reviewer Cyrus Farivar noted that the Persian CD he had been using used khodrow for "car", although most native speakers use a French loanword, ma:sheen. The same course did not teach words that would be important to someone learning Persian, such as "bread" and "tea," however it very curiously included the word "elephant" in a basic vocabulary lesson. Perplexed by the question of why the word "elephant" would be taught in a language where it might never be used (there are not many elephants in Iran), Farivar called the Rosetta Stone, Ltd. He was told that the company makes four different picture sets: one for Western languages, another for Asian languages, and two sets unique to each Swahili and Latin. The Persian language CD was using the Western picture set, which explains why the images were not culturally-relevant. [16]
In a review of the Russian Version 2 in 1997, Mark Kaiser, director of the Language Media Center at the University of California, Berkeley, called the program "woefully inadequate for a number of reasons".[17] Not only did he cite the lack of cultural context, stating that the images contained in the program were not only clearly not Russian, but that they contained such objects as paper towels, which Kaiser attested to never having seen on any visit to Russia at that point, and its lack of any way to test conversational skills. He also noted the tendency of some words and phrases to be too English-based.
"The entire package lacks any pedagogical foundation," he concluded. "Rather, it utilizes the glitz of the multimedia capabilities of the computer, a dearth of quality foreign language software, and clever marketing to create an economically successful product."[17]
A few months earlier, Donald McRae of Brock University had been far kinder to the German Version 2, calling it "very good, but with some reservations."[18] In contrast to Kaiser, he called it "good pedagogy and extremely effective. The authors of the program never lose sight of solid teaching methodology."[18]
Rosetta Stone software's End-User License Agreement is non-transferable, as quoted below, and also actively enforced.
TRANSFER: You may not sell, rent, lease, loan, sublicense, assign or transfer your rights in the Rosetta Stone Software.[19]
In 2007, Rosetta Stone representatives informed public libraries across the United States they were discontinuing library online access. Rosetta Stone's licensing agreement states their CD-ROMs are "for individual use only and can not be lent out for multiple use".
Rosetta Stone was among a group of companies signed to a letter supporting Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA), a bill which opponents argue amounts to censorship.[20]