<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1126" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#c8e0d8>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>Hi, Ilse, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>I downloaded the Shockwave, and then
the special software for Fairfield. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>The pictures are nice. I liked that
they are culturally-specific (Kiswahilli & Latin). </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>I liked the relational learning (puer
et canis, puella et femina, vir et femina, vir et puer; "puer" and "puella" are
the 2 knowns at this point). </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>I liked that people had choices of
the interface language, although the learning languages were not interface
options (should be :-), how Else will people learn the words for technology?
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>The navigation wasn't intuitive for
me. It seemed to be sequentially controlled, and wasn't easy for me to get back
to the lexical learning area. I did find the "Preview/exercise toggle", finally.
Also, the sounds only repeated once, in sequence. For speaking, I would have
wanted them to repeat over and over. That would allow me the learner to control
hearing what was difficult for me more than what was easy for me. For example,
in Apache we have a voiceless l that is very difficult for people, and they have
to hear it and say it over and over. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>Also, for some of the items, for
example in Hebrew, I couldn't tell what I was learning. Was I learning to say
that "The girl was studying"? "The girl was reading"? "The girl was comparing
her notes to a good source"? "The girl was looking at notes in the
library/office/room"? Was the boy riding the horse? Breaking the horse? Riding
in a rodeo? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>It was funny to see a soccer ball in
Latin, although I know that Latin is a full second language in Rome, so there
has to have been some extension. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>Overall, this is pretty good. I think
it merits 83-87. It could score higher by being more user-responsive. Don't get
discouraged. Most language learning materials don't rate above a 45-50. Many,
especially the text one, where a teacher is absolutely required, as is a good
memory, and the students don't really have a chance, don't get above a 20.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>Suggested improvements: </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2> *** Improve the
Nav</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2> *** Target
language interface </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2> *** Greater
technological support for improved distinctions (motion for verbs, etc).
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2> *** Word
discrimination (I couldn't tell where the word breaks were in Hebrew) I
did find the repeat sound option, though. [The relationships weren't as good in
the Hebrew as in Latin. They appear to start with a cat, add the woman to the
girl, add a man to the woman, and then add A Different Man to the boy. In Latin,
the similarity in the pictures provides a scaffolding. In Hebrew, the visual
scaffolding goes awry.) </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>Sometimes, people who are native
speakers of a language make loose and wide assumptions about what it immediately
apprehensible or intuitively others. I generally find that speaking to them in
Technologicalese brings the problem home. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>Thanks, this was fun and informative.
I hope others try it out. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>Best, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>Mia</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=iackerman@ROSETTASTONE.COM
href="mailto:iackerman@ROSETTASTONE.COM">Ilse Ackerman</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=ILAT@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
href="mailto:ILAT@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU">ILAT@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, September 27, 2004 8:25
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: John Bransford?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><BR>Hi Mia,<BR><BR>Good question -- the indigenous language
software isn't offered under the same terms as our other languages. We don't
produce indigenous language software to sell directly to consumers. We're
contracted by indigenous language groups to produce the software, and they own
the final software and can replicate it and distribute it however they wish,
whether at cost to their community, or free to their schools, or hosted online
for a wider audience. So it requires an initial investment of labor and money,
and then the product can be used as widely as desired.<BR><BR>The software
works by immersion because it uses images to convey meaning. Then it uses
those language elements as building blocks to introduce further language step
by step. There is actually an online demo accessible at the following url.
Although there's a form to fill out, it only requires your name and email (not
shared with third
parties).<BR><BR>http://www.rosettastone.com/ind/free_demo<BR><BR>Let me know
if you have any questions. I'd be interested in your feedback,
too!<BR><BR>ilse<BR><BR>On Sep 27, 2004, at 9:38 AM, MiaKalish - LFP
wrote:<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE><?smaller>Hi,
Ilse,<?/smaller><BR><?smaller><?/smaller> <BR><?smaller>I looked up
your company. You make quite a number of language learning products. They
seem to me a bit expensive, though, especially for the Indigenous learner.
How will the new products be
priced?<?/smaller><BR><?smaller><?/smaller> <BR><?smaller>Also, I
didn't see any "try before you buy" downloads. How do they
work?<?/smaller><BR><?smaller><?/smaller> <BR><?smaller>Thanks, and
thanks for your kind words. Sometimes the list is so quiet, I'm not sure
anyone is there, but I am very glad to see there is.<?/smaller><BR><?smaller><?/smaller> <BR><?smaller>Mia<?/smaller><BR> <BR> <BR> <BR><?fontfamily><?param Arial><?x-tad-bigger>-----
Original Message -----<?/x-tad-bigger><?/fontfamily><BR><?fontfamily><?param Arial><?x-tad-bigger><?/x-tad-bigger><B><?x-tad-bigger>From:<?/x-tad-bigger></B><?x-tad-bigger>
<?/x-tad-bigger><?color><?param 0000,0000,EEEE><?x-tad-bigger>Ilse Ackerman<?/x-tad-bigger><?/color><?x-tad-bigger> <?/x-tad-bigger><?/fontfamily><BR><B><?fontfamily><?param Arial><?x-tad-bigger>To:<?/x-tad-bigger><?/fontfamily></B><?fontfamily><?param Arial><?x-tad-bigger>
<?/x-tad-bigger><?color><?param 0000,0000,EEEE><?x-tad-bigger>ILAT@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU<?/x-tad-bigger><?/color><?x-tad-bigger>
<?/x-tad-bigger><?/fontfamily><BR><B><?fontfamily><?param Arial><?x-tad-bigger>Sent:<?/x-tad-bigger><?/fontfamily></B><?fontfamily><?param Arial><?x-tad-bigger>
Monday, September 27, 2004 6:41 AM<?/x-tad-bigger><?/fontfamily><BR><B><?fontfamily><?param Arial><?x-tad-bigger>Subject:<?/x-tad-bigger><?/fontfamily></B><?fontfamily><?param Arial><?x-tad-bigger>
Re: John Bransford?<?/x-tad-bigger><?/fontfamily><BR><BR><BR>On Sep 25,
2004, at 8:49 AM, MiaKalish - LFP wrote:<BR><BR><BR>One more question: Does
anyone know the work of John Bransford? I just noticed that he has quite a
collection of books on computer supported learning, the psychology of
learning, etc, and I wondered if people have combined any of this with
L&C Revitalization, or multi-lingual educational
materials.<BR> <BR>Maybe just one more question: Does anyone out there
work on multi-lingual educational materials? Computer-based?<BR><BR>Dear
Mia,<BR><BR>I've enjoyed reading your posts. I work on computer-based
immersion software for language revitalization. Two indigenous language
projects are underway, about six months from completion. The software has
been successful for teaching mainstream languages, and I'm eager to see the
results in the Mohawk and Iñupiaq communities.<BR><BR>Best wishes on your
move and studies....<BR><BR>ilse<BR>____________________________<BR>Ilse
Ackerman<BR>Program Manager<BR>Endangered Language Program<BR>Fairfield
Language Technologies<BR>Harrisonburg, VA 22802 USA<BR><BR>Tel
1.800.788.0822 Ext. 3318<BR>Tel 1.540.432.6166 Ext. 3318<BR>Fax
1.540.432.0953<BR><BR>www.rosettastone.com/languagerescue<BR>_______________________________<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>