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November 2005, Week 2

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From:
LLTI-Editor <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 8 Nov 2005 13:17:51 EST
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--- Forwarded Message from "Vance, Jason" <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Subject: RE: #8073.3 Self-study software recommendations? (!)
>Date: Mon, 7 Nov 2005 14:13:22 -0500
>Thread-Topic: #8073.3 Self-study software recommendations? (!)
>Thread-Index: AcXjyC0rFJGrWr+0S/mQ2WW5KuhPcQABv5og
>From: "Vance, Jason" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: "Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum"   
<[log in to unmask]>

Another is the Rosetta Stone. Northern Virginia Community College on the
Alexandria Campus is using it to a small degree.

Jason Vance, Supervisor
Language Learning Center
Thomas Nelson Community College
PO BOX 9407
Hampton, Virginia 23670
757-825-2819(Office)
757-825-3807(fax)
-----Original Message-----
From: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of LLTI-Editor
Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 1:22 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: #8073.3 Self-study software recommendations? (!)

--- Forwarded Message from Thomas Hunsaker
<[log in to unmask]> ---

>From: Thomas Hunsaker <[log in to unmask]>
>To: "'LLTI-Editor'" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: RE: #8073.1 Self-study software recommendations? (!)
>Date: Fri, 4 Nov 2005 06:46:17 -0700 

It would be a mistake to make a decision on self-paced language training
software without considering the TeLL me More program by Auralog.  Some
pretty intriguing institutions consider TeLL me More an important part
of
their language learning environment (University of Michigan, Rice
University, Clemson University, North Carolina State, Virginia
Commonwealth,
IBM, Exxon Mobil, Toyota, Sony, BMW, - just to name a few).  

-----Original Message-----
From: LLTI-Editor [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 1:43 PM
Subject: Re: #8073.1 Self-study software recommendations? (!)

--- Forwarded Message from "Herb Martin" <[log in to unmask]> ---

>From: "Herb Martin" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: "'Language Learning and Technology International Information
Forum'"   
<[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: RE: #8073 Self-study software recommendations?
>Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2005 19:54:29 -0600
>Organization: LearnQuick.Com
>In-Reply-To:  <[log in to unmask]>
>Thread-Index: AcXf8i4xUukfQz+YQL2BWb2cH9Wk1AAJR6WQ

> >Date: Tue, 01 Nov 2005 16:33:53 -0500
> >From: "David Flores" <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: Self-study software recommendations?
> 
> I'm interested in any recommendations people might have for self-study
> computer based language learning materials. What sorts of resources do
> you make available for students who would like to learn a foreign
> language that is now currently taught at your institutions? What
> software packages do you use/recommend? I am particularly 
> curious about
> copyright issues. Some time ago I purchased a software package for
> evaluation purposes and was very distraught to discover that it
> specifically prohibited libraries of educational institutions from
> lending/making the materials in question available to patrons.

For those who have found language learning
easy their entire life this may read like,
"So what? Big deal..." but after trying to
learn languages all of my life with reasonable
but limited (less than fluent) success, I have
over the last coupld of years developed what
is a 2-10 times better method using the computer
and Mp3 style players etc.

I cannot recommend "The Rosetta Stone" highly 
enough, except in one department:  It is somewhat
expensive (all 2 or 3 levels depending on the 
language).  It works but nothing is sufficient
alone.

Supplementing it with the (free) Pauker flashcard
program, and finding the 1000-5000 most commonly
used words of the target language and just ploughing
through them makes everything else you study easier,
and got me to the point in Spanish where I was 
reading entire adult novels within three months of
starting my first study.

Arabic was a bit slower, but faster than my previous
experience with German, French and several other 
languages.

By six months this method had me reading as a self-
stustaining exercise that was actually enjoyable;
all of the Harry Potter books and then such items
as "The Da Vinci Code".

For speaking and comprehension I prefer the 
use one of the (cheaper) CD sets as I find 
Pimsleur to be vastly overrated, especially
for the price.  The audio 'flashcards' in
Vocabulearn are available for several language
in a $65 kit with two other programs ("Learn
in Your Car" and another) for less then $65
mail order and are a much better value. 

Technically this is not software but I make
MP3s or WMA on my computer, listen there, or
download to my PDA/MP3 player and carry it
with me everywhere.

Having an online, or local application dictionary
is a great help -- and when away from my computer
I use one of the inexpensive (e.g., Ectaco)
PDA dictionaries in general preference to a paper
dictionary since it is "always available" as I
carry my PDA as a phone, and for listening to the
MP3s.

(Of course a quality paper dictionary is a great
thing to have also.)

--
Herb Martin

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Language Learning and Technology International 
> Information Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On 
> Behalf Of LLTI-Editor
> Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2005 12:17 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: #8073 Self-study software recommendations?
> 
> --- Forwarded Message from "David Flores" <[log in to unmask]> ---
> 
> >Date: Tue, 01 Nov 2005 16:33:53 -0500
> >From: "David Flores" <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: Self-study software recommendations?
> 
> I'm interested in any recommendations people might have for self-study
> computer based language learning materials. What sorts of resources do
> you make available for students who would like to learn a foreign
> language that is now currently taught at your institutions? What
> software packages do you use/recommend? I am particularly 
> curious about
> copyright issues. Some time ago I purchased a software package for
> evaluation purposes and was very distraught to discover that it
> specifically prohibited libraries of educational institutions from
> lending/making the materials in question available to patrons.
> 
> David Flores
> Director: Language Learning Center
> Loyola College in Maryland
> 4501 North Charles Street
> Baltimore, MD 21210
> Ph: (410) 617-5230
> Fax: (410) 617 2859
> 
> 
> ***********************************************
>  LLTI is a service of IALLT, the International Association for
> Language Learning, and The Consortium for Language Teaching and
> Learning (http://consortium.dartmouth.edu).
> Join IALLT at http://iallt.org.
> Otmar Foelsche, LLTI-Editor ([log in to unmask])
> ***********************************************
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