[Publib] Rosetta Stone software

[Robert Balliot]

I have used the product for Mandarin.  In addition to the subscription, it
also required a headset
and a computer.   I think it is a great product for what it is.  But, I do
not feel that it actually
teaches a language.  Language is person to person.

When the costs were low enough, you could look at its *potential* use and
see the benefits.
But, would it have ever really replaced having someone come in and teach a
few group ESL
classes?

Perhaps with costs rising, the smartest thing to do would be to look at what
it was intended
to replace.  Get someone  to come in to teach four weeks of ESL - for
$1000.  The money
goes back into the local economy.  If 20 people participated - the unit cost
would be $50.
And, you would have 20 people with a vested interest in the Library who are
able to be
more productive with better language skills.

For twenty people  to individually participate in ESL via computer - up
front costs would be
$20K for computers, network access, headsets and subscription - almost none
of which
would be returned to the local economy.

R. Balliot
http://oceanstatelibrarian.com



On Wed, Jun 10, 2009 at 11:59 AM, Rick Speer <rspeer at ci.lewiston.me.us>wrote:

>  We're still struggling with finding a good replacement for Rosetta Stone
> online for language learning, especially for English for our
> refugee/immigrant community.  It is my understanding that Rosetta Stone is
> still available, but at a much higher fee scale than was offered a couple
> years ago.  Has anyone found a way to continue offering access to RS
> online?  If so, I would be curious as to how you were able to accomplish
> that (sugar momma, creative fee structure, whatever!).
>
>
>
> Rick Speer, Director
> Lewiston Public Library
> 200 Lisbon Street, Lewiston ME 04240
> Office: (207) 513-3119; TTY: (207) 513-3007; Fax: (207) 784-3011
> LPL web: http://lplonline.org
> Email: rspeer at ci.lewiston.me.us
> The City of Lewiston is an EOE.  For more information, please visit the
> City's website @ www.ci.lewiston.me.us and click on the Non-Discrimination
> Policy.
>
> ü Please consider the environment before printing this email.
>
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