The Rosetta Stone Language Library, by Fairfield Language Technologies
Reviewed by Shirley M.R. Minster

A few years ago I reviewed foreign language studies from The Rosetta Stone programs. I was impressed then with their products and I am pleased that they are still being produced with the same high quality. Their programs for Russian and English are also used in space as the Mir Station astronauts communicate with each other and ground crews. This educational company continues to look to the future and how they can best work with the homeschool community.

Most of the following languages have two levels (two years) of instruction now available: English (U.S.), German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Latin, Russian, Hebrew, Chinese (Mandarin), Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Indonesian. In the near future, English (U.K.), Polish, Welsh, Hindi, Swahili, and Esperanto will be completed. Each unit has a review and tests. This is also a voice recording option in which the student’s pronunciation can be compared with the native speaker’s voice.

Level I contains a CD-ROM with eight units (92 chapters), a user’s guide that explains what how the computer program works, a language book with curriculum text, and workbooks (for the English, German, Spanish, French only at this point) and study guides (for English, Spanish, and French). There is also a teacher’s handbook that might be good to have - this was not reviewed. There is also a Student Management System available if you teach more than one - an ideal component if you work with a homeschool support group.

Level II contains two CD-ROMS with eleven units (118 chapters), the user’s guide, language book with curriculum text, workbook (for English and Spanish courses only right now). The teacher’s handbook and Student Management System are also available.

I decided that the best way to review this program was by choosing an unknown language so I chose Thai. My first lesson included looking at pictures and listening to the name of each. Then I saw the work printed in Thai. I learned how to pronounce the words for little girl, little boy, cat, and other animals in a relatively short time and felt successful in my ability to speak Thai. I have no doubt that children would also feel proud of their success after just one lesson. It would have been nice to know what the individual letters were for each sound, but there is not a study guide ready in this language yet.

I then looked at the French program, a language I studied for five years, so that I could judge its ease of pronunciation. The instructor pronounced the words well and at a good speed. I then traveled to Spain and perused the study guides, workbooks, and teacher’s keys for levels I and II. I appreciated the helps given to the teacher, including how to grade each set of exercises. Fairfield Language Technologies recognizes that sometimes there is more than one correct answer and they encourage the teacher to be aware of that possibility. The student workbooks have crossword puzzles, word finds, fill-in-the-blanks, and other activities.

It will be good when more study guides and teacher keys are published for the other languages so that teachers and students will have printed materials. Of course, books and newspapers written in the foreign language can be borrowed from the library or purchased at any major bookstore to help with that aspect.
Rosetta Stone offers a free CD-rom so that you can try out their program without obligation.
If you are looking for a strong computer program that incorporates auditory, visual, and some kinesthetic approaches to a foreign language, try The Rosetta Stone.

For ordering information or free trial CD-rom, see the Rosetta Stone online: http://www.rosettastone.com/181

Design-A-Study Series
Reviewed by Jane R. Boswell

I have often thought that if I ever put together a package of materials for the new homeschool parent it would include some or all of Kathryn Stout’s wonderful ?Teaching Guides? from her Design-A-Study series: Maximun Math: A Teaching Guide for Grades K - 8; Guides to History Plus (Unit Study and Research Guide for grades K - 12); Natural Speller (designing a complete spelling program for grades 1 - 8 and use as a reference in high school); Comprehensive Compostion (a complete guide grades 1- 12); Science Scope: A Guide for Teaching Science in Grades K - 12; and Critical Conditioning (critical thinking, reasoning).

One of the first questions I’m asked by new homeschooling parents is: “How do I know how to teach _____ or when to teach ____?”

You can fill in the blank with any topic from any subject. I’m sure you’ve asked yourself the same question at one time or another.

The Design-A-Study guides are parent and student-friendly andtake the guesswork out of the above questions. Each is down-to-earth, practical, full of tips and strategies, and best of all, instantly useable. The Design-A-Study books are goldmines of information.

Each guide is written with the idea that parents and older students can design their own unit or thematic study without ?missing anything?. Essential skills, objectives and learning goals are carefully outlined by grade or age-level. For instance in Maximum Math, grade levels are grouped by two (K - 2, 3 - 4, 5 - 6, etc.) and Kathryn lists the skill/learning objective for each level. If you’re not sure where your child is or what he/she would be typically learning or even how to teach a particular skill or evaluate whether it’s been learned, it is listed in the appropriate chapter, clearly defined, and explained with teaching tips and examples.

NEW from DESIGN-A-STUDY
I’m very excited about Design-A-Study’s newest book -Movies as Literature - a wonderful (and complete) unit study designed for older students (Jr. High - High School) who enjoy studying great literature through the large or small screen. As the authors state, ?Because movies are so popular, they are an appealing vehicle to use in teaching about sotries, or what is formally called literary analysis?. This program can be used as a complete one year course for High School English or parts can supplement a 7 - 12th grade English program.

The movies were selected on the basis of their literary elements (most were based on plays or novels and the particular movie version is excellent film-making. A Student Sample Schedule looks like this: Day 1: Watch the movie in silence and without interruption (the reasons for this are clearly explained); Day 2 - 3: Look over the questions (in the chapter pertaining to that movie) and watch the movie again as you prepare for discussion questions and compositions; Day 4 - 5 Discussion questions. Days 6 - 10: work on a composition using the writing process (explained in detail).

There is a chapter for each movie which includes in-depth discussion, literary analysis, questions for discussion, and composition assighments. There are seventeen movies which include Shane, The Maltese Falcon, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Emma, To Kill a Mockingbird, Henry V, Chariots of Fire, The Music Man, Arsenic and Old Lace, Friendly Persuasion and even Raiders of the Lost Ark. (A correct version should be viewed.)
The Stouts have thoughtfully included ?Extended Activity? sections for the advanced student as well.

What an enjoyable way to earn high school level English credit! What fun for the whole family! Hats off to Kathryn and Richard for this endeavor and may we see many more like it!
Visit Design-A-Study's web site for more information: http://www.designastudy.com

Saxon Math
Reviewed by: Shirley M.R. Minster

John Saxon turned the math teachers upside down when he began publishing his math books. His books were born out of his experiences teaching college students algebra and geometry. The students could not understand basic key concepts so he began sending them to the blackboard day after day and giving them examples to work out together. As they gained confidence by doing a few examples each day so that they would never have the opportunity to forget, they became more confident.

I highly recommend his books for the student who has determined that he or she will never be able to understand math. Even the word problems become less threatening because there are just a few in every problem set.

His books are now available for kindergarten through calculus studies. These books are ideal for the parent who had less than wonderful experiences in high school math classes because the books are designed to be almost self-teaching. (That means that you can learn right along with your student!)
Vive la math!

For more information and to order from Saxon visit their web site: http://www.saxonpub.com