Rosetta Stone Version 3: Arabic Level 1 & 2 Set with Audio Companion

I am an ESL/ELL & Spanish teacher with two graduate degrees & I've been studying Chinese 4 almost a decade now. I have an older version of Chinese level 2 & Spanish level 3. I have some complaints about both of them, but I'd have 2 an exponent 2 my complaints about this Arabic version! I am still stuck in unit 1

A word about "dynamic immersion": ROSETTA STONE'S BRAND OF IMMERSION IS LIKE BEING DROPPED IN THE OCEAN WHILE TIED TO A CONCRETE SLAB! The brain of a two-year-old is VERY different from that of a 22-year-old! A toddler's brain expands faster than at any other stage of development. Plus a two-year-old is not "immersed" with out a life preserver & a two-year-old in a healthy environment has a myriad of stimuli that no computer could duplicate. This program provides no scaffolding/life-preserver. By the way, most toddlers are NOT very articulate, nor do they have the same communication needs as adults. One of the advantages of being an over-the-hill hardwired adult is that most, after a decent high school or college education, have acquired the academic skill sets 4 learning a foreign language. It is not realistic 2 expect an adult 2 develop the accent & colloquial fluidity of a native speaker, but it is very possible 2 become fluent in reading & listening. In other words, the "toddler" method isn't appropriate 4 adult

THERE ARE NO INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS PROGRAM! At times it was very difficult 2 figure out what the learner was supposed 2 do. Rosetta Stone should realize that toddlers need instructions.

There are bugs/glitches, or just poor planning, in the software. The speaking part is rigged. There were several times when I very badly mispronounced the answer & the program graded it as correct, & others where it beeped wrong before I even spoke or continued 2 beep incorrect when I got it correct. There is also a very predictable answer pattern 4 some of the exercises: ABAB & ABBA.

There are no translations or even transliterations. One complaint I have had about Chinese language learning programs is that they pander 2 the American easy path of instant gratification & treat the characters as an unnecessary burden transliterating everything. The Rosetta Stone Arabic goes 2 the opposite extreme by bombarding the nascent learner with random bunches of Arabic letters & no explanation of how they function. There also doesn't appear 2 be any rhyme or reason as 2 how they set it up. The Arabic alphabet has more letters than English, each letter has four forms, some of which connect & some don't, the vowels are very different, & there are a half-a-dozen sounds that do not exist in the English language. In other words, I'll say the likelihood of someone mastering the Arabic script with this program is slim, unless he/she is doing a ten-year+ prison sentence, alone in a cell with only Rosetta Stone company.

Gradual steps? There are places where this program takes leaps & bounds. There are places where, with no transliteration or prompts, the learner is expected 2 formulate complex questions based a few models. I can't explain what they are because I don't understand the Arabic & there are no translations. Remember, I'm still stuck in unit one, & expected 2 be able 2 spell out, on a microscopic keyboard, Arabic words from memory.

To my knowledge there is NO WAY TO CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE SPEAKER.

NO WAY TO ENLARGE TEXT: For women it starts in the late 30s, 4 men in the mid 40s, but eventually we all need bifocals. Reading just becomes more difficult. IN PLACES THE ROSETTA STONE ARABIC FONT IS ABSOLUTELY TREACHEROUS! I would have trouble reading it in English, but 2 the untrained eye Arabic looks like squiggly lines & dots. In one of the tables the print was actually gray instead of black! I FINALLY DECIDED IT WASN'T WORTH GETTING A SPLITTING HEADACHE TRYING TO READ IT!

THE CONTENT IS SO BUSY AS TO BE DISTRACTING: It's like a warped version of Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, all it needs 2 be complete is some obnoxious music. They try 2 accommodate every aspect of language learning, but with a paucity of content. It's like a multi-tasking overkill. There is also no discernible common denominator, hence no mnemonic device, as colors, animals, food, etc. are lumped together. The photos are not always clear as some of the people look androgynous & sometimes it's difficult 2 tell what they are doing.

NO REGIONAL NOTES OR CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS: There are several different types of Arabic & I've been told the Egyptian dialect is the most easily understood. I have no idea which region this dialect is from. Moreover, there doesn't appear 2 be any cultural sensitivity, i.e. Islam is very much engrained in the language, but this appear 2 have been secularized.

MY ADVICE TO ARABIC LEARNERS: Even 4 academic nerds language is social. Get involved in your local Arabic community. Offer 2 exchange English 4 Arabic lessons. Use this program as a complement, not a primary source. This program might actually have some merit with an Arabic speaker 2 walk the learner through it. This strategy worked well 4 me with Chinese. I use my Rosetta Stone Chinese as a drill.

SOME FEEDBACK FOR ROSETTA STONE: A) Have a modicum of consideration 4 learners over 40: MAKE THE TEXT BIG ENOUGH TO READ! B) Get organized! Add more content & mnemonic devices. C) Go back 2 the drilling method as a mainstay. Somewhere, amid the political correct & paradigm shift 2 extremes, rote learning & drilling got a bad rap. I have found the computer 2 be very effective in this respect due 2 speed & audio-visual stimuli. D) LOWER THE PRICE!

Rosetta Stone Personal Edition contains everything you need 2 start learning a language. It's built around our award-winning Rosetta Stone curriculum, which has been adopted by organizations around the world including the U.S. Army, NASA, major corporations such as Deutsche Telecom, IKEA, Royal Dutch Shell, & over 10,000 schools worldwide--and is available in 31 languages spoken by over 90% of the world's population.

The comprehensive language-learning solution that fits your life. Learn Naturally Learn your next language the same way you learned your first language. Dynamic Immersion empowers you 2 see, hear & comprehend without translating or memorizing. You already have this ability, Rosetta Stone simply unlocks it. Engage Interactively Get feedback 2 move forward. You learn best by doing, & you'll apply what you've learned 2 get 2 the next step. Rosetta Stone adapts 2 your individual needs & skills, because you drive the program with your progress. Speak Confidently Start speaking immediately. From the very first lesson, you'll speak. You'll begin with essential basics, which form the building blocks of the language. Soon you'll create new sentences on your own using words you've learned. Have Fun Best of all, Rosetta Stone is addictive. With every entertaining activity, you'll feel success. You'll want 2 use Rosetta Stone 2 have that next moment, that next breakthrough. So you'll keep using it, & you'll learn more!

2>The Fastest, Easiest Way 2 Learn a New Language2>

Proceed at Your Own Pace
Rosetta Stone is considerate of your time. Anytime, anywhere, you can learn a new language with Rosetta Stone. You learn comfortably without feeling pressured or overwhelmed. Rosetta Stone provides guidance 2 make your language learning effective, fast, & enjoyable with a process that is intuitive, interactive, & visually engaging. At the end of each lesson, you are given the opportunity 2 test your new skills. And, since Rosetta Stone automatically records your progress, you can easily pick up where you left off, when other priorities arise.

Make Language Learning Intuitive with Dynamic Immersion
Rosetta Stone uses rich visual imagery 2 help you learn. You will be presented with sets of images 2 match correctly with a spoken or written phrase in the new language. You will advance 2 the next set of prompts once you've successfully matched words & images & pronounced the words correctly. With Dynamic Immersion, you learn by directly associating your new language with images--nothing is lost in translation.

Fun, Easy, & Immediate Reinforcement
Interactive exercises create a learning environment that is engaging & game-like--it's fun!

2>How It Works2> As children, we gradually learned our first language through a process of associating mental images with words or phrases, accompanied by complete immersion in our environment. This approach was simple because it was natural & allowed the brain 2 adapt 2 increasing complexity.

Rosetta Stone recreated this natural way of learning by developing a method that uses a computer 2 mimic the environment in which we learned our first language. We call this Dynamic Immersion. A simple, intuitive interface & advanced technology confirms learning at every step of the process by prompting you 2 make connections between images you already understand & the new language. You receive immediate feedback, which helps you 2 reinforce learning. This systematic structure builds from simple nouns & verbs 2 more complex concepts & phrases very quickly, helping you achieve your language-learning goals faster than you ever thought possible.

2>Level 1 & 2--Build A Foundation & Navigate Your Surroundings2> Build a foundation & navigate your surroundings. Learn fundamental vocabulary & essential language structure, from greetings & introductions 2 simple questions & their answers. Gain the confidence 2 talk about your environment: giving & getting directions, telling time, dining out, shopping, enjoying basic social interactions & much more.

3>Features & Benefits3>

Faster & More Effective
Rosetta Stone will teach you as fast as you can learn! Leveraging your natural language-learning ability, Version 3 immerses you immediately in the new language, providing just the right context 2 prompt you 2 speak, pronounce, read & write in the very first lesson! Intuitive, sequential learning builds progressively & makes every lesson count. Our Dynamic Immersion method is so fast & so effective, it's used by the Fortune 500, the U.S. State Department, & over 10,000 schools.

Convenient
You pick the time, the place & the pace! We are ready when you are because there are no class schedules or missed lessons 2 make up. From your desk or your dining room, your valuable time can be turned into productive language learning that fits your lifestyle.

Enjoyable
When something is fun, it captures your attention...and holds it! The interactivity in Version 3 instantly engages you. Rich, vivid imagery, real-life context & voices of native speakers make Rosetta Stone different from any other product out there--never tedious or boring. Rosetta Stone provides a captivating, game-like experience.

Milestones
Learn & apply! Our MILESTONE feature lets you try out your new language knowledge in real-life situations.

Track Your Progress
New ADAPTIVE RECALL feature tracks your progress, reinforcing your strengths & revisiting your development areas.

New Speech Recognition Technology
State-of-the-art new speech recognition technology helps you learn 2 speak your new language even faster. And our new Speech Analysis Tool compares your voice 2 that of native speakers, helping you perfect your pronunciation.

Life-like Context
Our New CONTEXTUAL FORMATION feature uses real-life simulations & vivid imagery 2 give you exactly the context you need 2 produce new language--all on your own!

3>Level 1 & 2 Set Includes:3>

The Basics
Nouns, verbs, adjectives, numbers, questions, colors, clothing.

Friends & Family
Ages, family relations, household items, introductions, landmarks, states, descriptions.

Work & School
Times of day, greetings, calendar terms, body parts, speaking, personal hygiene.

Shopping
Buying, selling & shopping; entertainment & sports; merchandise, speed & weight, comparing & contrasting.

Travel
Destinations, transportation, directions, locations, telling time, distance, cost, weather.

Past & Future
Tenses, letter writing, school subjects, signs, workplace terms, polite requests.

Friends & Social Life
Months of the year, arrivals & departures, social interaction, celebrations, meal courses, quality terms, apologies.

Dining & Vacation
Future tense; terms 4 art, architecture & music; emotions, places of worship, travel & lodging.

Audio Companion allows you 2 take Rosetta Stone anywhere: in the car, the gym or on-the-go.

2>Audio Companion--Taking Rosetta Stone 2 the Next Level2> Introducing Audio Companion from Rosetta Stone, the newest enhancement 2 the world's #1 language-learning software! It's a great addition 2 the Rosetta Stone experience, allowing you 2 take Rosetta Stone anywhere: in the car, the gym or on-the-go!

What is Audio Companion?
Audio Companion CD-ROMs enhance language learning anytime, anyplace. You can learn new skills on the computer, & then reinforce them with Audio Companion. Play the CDs on a stereo, or download them 2 a MP3 Player & go!

Enhance the Rosetta Stone Learning Experience
Audio Companion activities correspond 2 Rosetta Stone CD-ROM software lessons. You can listen 2 Audio Companion & practice what you've been learning, turning travel time into productive language learning time.

Extend Study Time
Now, you don't have 2 stop learning when you leave your computer. Audio Companion lets you access lessons whenever & wherever you want. It empowers you, & works within your busy lifestyle!

Build Vocabulary & Pronounce Words & Phrases
Audio Companion features distinct words & shorter phrases 2 make them easier 2 hear & repeat. Build good enunciation habits by hearing native speakers pronounce them first.

Speak & Converse
The speaking portion of Audio Companion lets you listen 2 questions & answers, repeating them 2 use later. To help them build your conversation skills, first you'll listen 2 a conversation & then repeat phrases individually.