Would you use Rosetta Stone?
The Board and I are exploring the possibility of purchasing a District license for Rosetta Stone. It would allow students to learn any language they wish using any computer. The ideal time commitment would be 3- 30 minute sessions per week. Of course a student could do less time but the results would not be as great. It would allow students who currently do not have access to world languages (Jackson and the Middle school) to avail themselves to learn it. The issue is finding the time during the day. We would need to capture time from recess or before or after school to mandate the use. Here are some questions:
- Is this a worthwhile product to pursue?
- Do you think children would be self-motivated to utilize this product? Not schedule it as a class and not ‘require’ students to do it.
- Do you think we would have to find time during the day and ‘require’ the course?
- Would a hybrid work? One class period per week and assign two sessions for homework( a teacher would monitor whether or not students do it)
Posted in Around the District 12 years, 6 months ago at 10:02 am. 14 comments
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Karen G,
You subscribe to a very American centric view of the world. The world is getting smaller everyday and our economy is going to rely more and more on foreign countries. I’m sorry if you don’t believe that, but it’s already happening. And unlike the arts and music, studies have shown that the earlier a child is exposed to languages, the quicker and easier it is for them to learn it. Though I guess the same could be said of music reading. Whether or not the district subscribes to Rosetta Stone or not, foreign language is a valuable resource to have and offer.
Interesting comments so far, but I am voting against the purchase of Rosetta Stone. Why all of the interest in foreign language lately? My son is entering eight grade and has not received foreign language at all.
Now, younger grades have immersion (costly) and others can access Rosetta Stone.??
My belief is that people are gifted at language just as in the arts, like music and visual arts. It is not for everyone.
Why is there so much focus on foreign language? The state doesn’t even require Regents testing anymore in World Language.
Save the resources and purchase air conditioners. : )
I am very torn about this issue, so I am probably too late with my comments, but here goes. Jill Hershberg is right–Rosetta Stone is a very effective program for teaching a language (I have used it myself to learn Italian) but only if the person is very disciplined and motivated. As a language teacher (Professor of Spanish, York College-CUNY) I have to say that students will get the idea that the subject is not at all important if it is for “free time” or their own use, or even just a club. We would never relegate any other subject to free time or teach it in a club. It is better to begin a program with the younger grades, phasing it in as they move up, and really focusing on the educational, metacognitive and interpersonal benefits of a language class, including the improvement of ELA skills via the study of another language. Language is what makes us human, and so it disturbs me to see language instruction relegated to a machine. As a stop-gap measure for the students who are not getting any other language instruction, Rosetta Stone would be a nice enrichment, but it is not a long-term solution. . .
Rosetta Stone is highly regarded by Hofstra’s Comparative Lit and Language faculty. Although no substitute for face-to-face instruction or immersion, it’s regarded as a solid resource, especially when face-to-face instruction in a particular language (or grade) is otherwise unavailable. So for curious kids from grades 3-7, why not? Learning a new language creates synapses in the brain the way learning a musical instrument does; it’s all good.
I agree with Ms.Heckelman, too, about our nation’s literacy crisis. In my humble opinion, that’s because our children are not asked to read enough, and then not enough of substance. (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/opinion/sunday/the-neuroscience-of-your-brain-on-fiction.html?pagewanted=all)
Personally, I do not see my child falling apart from the burden of too much homework. A Rosetta Stone program AND a serious Summer reading program would challenge our children in all the ways they deserve. “Optional” Summer reading programs are sending the wrong message.
Later, different disciplines demand different acquaintances with language: scientists do well to know Latin and German; literature majors need some background in Romantic languages. So while a child is learning Spanish in the classroom, they could be exploring another language at their own pace. Our older daughter (going into her junior year in college) was just advised to study Arabic, because, like Chinese, there is a real necessity for these skills in business, academic, and government work.
Another question: if the District purchased Rosetta Stone, could it me made available on the website for others in the District, much like our long-gone Continuing Education programs?
As Mr. Festa said, the world is changing fast. Yes, let’s catch up and keep up.
I feel I need to clarify that my frustration with the web site is not about individual teacher pages because I know my son’s teacher updates her page every week, but the edline stuff has no info. linked to it after a whole school year and it took me 15 minutes the other day to find an email address for the K registration office. Also if you don’t log-in to edline, the page has double writing on it and looks terrible. I’m sure the district spent a lot of money of the program and it is not user friendly at all.
I think technology is great Dr Nagler but purchasing ANOTHER program that teachers are not properly trained on and throwing it at them with all the new testing and AAPR standards for next year is a huge waste of money. This brings up an issue that has bothered me all year… have you ever tried to use the mineola web page? Teachers have little to no info. up there, there are no Email links to get in touch with people in the Hampton directory, nothing is updated and worst of all the format is a disaster. What would a potential homebuyer think if they went to our website to check out the schools and saw what I see when I go onto the site? I think you need to focus onall the new technology we already have and I think making the website useful should be a priority.
While a second language is extremely valuable I am not sure that students would recognize that and be self-motivated enough to stick with the learning process on their own. Rosetta Stone is a good program, but it can be purchased and used at home. School time should be focused on the learning process that can not be duplicated in the home. The personal and social aspect on a classroom setting is invaluable. Our children are already lossing that with today’s technology. I strongly believe a second language should be taught at all grades, but from a person rather than a computer.
I believe this is a worthwhile program to implement as there are students who may excel in languages but not have the program available to them.. The world is fast changing and giving some interested students an opportunity to learn an additional language is a positive step.
My son Chris (class 2003) and I took a trip to China and Japan a few years ago and we could not believe the amount of people who spoke english.
I encourage the Board to establish a Rosetta Stone Program for The Mineola School District.
How about an afterschool language class or club?
While enjoyability (if that’s even a word) is important, the program works! I was doing so well that I started joining the immersion studio to speak with a coach and other students online. I need to go back to it, now that my workload has slowed somewhat.
What a fabulous idea! I have Rosetta Stone Spanish at home. It is an excellent interactive program.
I have no doubt the children will love it! I don’t feel it should replace a good immersion program here at school that has actual teachers and peers. However, it is the next best thing. It can be used to practice and reinforce concepts, to review grammar, and to bolster confidence. It would also help with differentiation which I’m sure occurs but provides another facet to it. Imagine how cool it would be for the child who needs to learn more rapidly, independently, or slowly than other children!
The price is exorbitant so it would be wonderful to have a program that can also be accessed at home by teachers and students.
About the hybrid: South Huntington Public Library switched from Rosetta Stone because they got a better deal with Mango. Mango is HORRIBLE. Really those no replacement.If money will be spent, it would be best spent on the real deal. It’s reallly worth it.
I hope I got my opinion in fast enough. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me.
From a desk top calendar at work, I learned that today was “National Speaking-in-Complete-Sentences Day”. This saddens me that as a nation, we need to forster, emphasize, and reinforce the art of communication skills. Some children struggle with reading and writing the English language. Adding a second or third language, in some instances, might be an academic burden. I am not in favor of reducing recess time nor “squeezing in” a language just to say “we do it” in Mineola. I know learning a language helps children learn the meaning of words, root words, etc, but only if they have a firm grasp of our language first. Thanks
Interesting questions….the teachers have so much to cover already to require this would take away from something else…maybe optional during recess or after school, computer time in the lab for those interested….is it available for the IPad ? Students in fifth, sixth and seventh could then use it when they have free time during the week.
Recently my son downloaded an app to his ipod touch to learn Spanish. He was eager to give it a try so I think there would be interest among some students to do a little self-learning of a new language. However, I am not sure if students would be in it for the long haul without it being assigned. The idea of the hybrid of some self learning in addition to one period a week and some homework seems good (much like the use of Kahn Academy). But a concern would be whether or not there is any time available in the day. And will all teachers be able to accommodate it to the same extent. I would personally prefer that Rosetta not replace the current program being initiated in the District starting with the younger grades. I much rather children learn from a person rather than a program in terms of the language offered as part of the academic program.