Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Language Programs...

AGAIN!

We've used Rosetta Stone for years. It was THE homeschool program when Bre and Krista were young and we needed to X the box for foreign language. We've done Chinese, German and Spanish.

I bet you think this post is about Japanese again? Don't you? NO.....

I'm perplexed. All of our 4 older children have used Rosetta Stone. ALL have taken two years to do level 1 and were awarded 2 credits. (We have version 1 and version 2). Jared is currently working on German. He asked me today if he should just take 1/4 credit for level 1 of German. I was SURE it was usually worth 2 credits and wondered why the strange question. He's about 1/2 way done with level 1. He's spent less than 20 hours on it. Twenty hours does NOT add up to 1 high school credit. He's done the workbooks. His scores are high 90's and 100's. I knew that RS had a new homeschool version out and I began to suspect that our German was the "new one" and must be worth 1 credit instead of 2 credits for level 1. I just got off the phone with RS. We have version 2. They INSIST that level 1 is worth either 1 COLLEGE credit or 2 HIGH SCHOOL credits. This has proven true by counting hours with the older kids...but good grief. Jared's done a credit worth of German in less than 20 hours. I suspect this man child has an aptitude for language. I'm going to call NARHS. I am certain Louise will tell me to award him the credit regardless of the hours....I am still perplexed. HOW has he done what the others pulled their hair out over in less than 20 hours?

Just to tie this in with Japan ::snort:: Jared has been talking about learning German and Japanese and I've been telling him, "NO, that's impossible"....I'm starting to think it may be possible for him.

Japanese - Lisa (homeschool Mom) and a "knowledgeable gentleman" (Linquist by trade) have both told me that Rosetta Stone is not a great program for Japanese. I purchased for $10 the first 10 lessons of Pimsleur and we're learning to understand and speak Japanese. Mr. "knowledgeable gentleman" recommends Pimsleur to learn how to speak and understand languages (any of them). I then discovered this program is FREE at the base library - I don't feel bad about purchasing the intro program. I can load it to an MP3 player, I can leave it with the older kids to learn before they visit etc. I think THIS is what we'll do until we get to Japan. It's true that Pimsleur doesn't teach writing or reading....but we plan to take lessons with Japanese teachers in Japan. This will get us going. Plan made...sort of. I'm still wrestling with buying either Tell Me More or Pimsleur NOW so that it can be shipped to me before we move. ::snort::

Really....I'm writing all this to avoid facing the fact that I HAVE TO SEE THE DENTIST TODAY....and I don't want a crown, a root canal or any such thing....thank you very much.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

8 comments:

Shauna said...

Hope you have a great day :)

Renee said...

We have version 2 of Rosetta Stone for Spanish. There are two tracks - Comprehensive or Accelerated. The latter does less review lessons and such... maybe you ds did that route?

Heather said...

We have RS for German, Spanish and Dutch. Thanks for info about the language programs.

Hope all goes well at the Dentist for you.

Lisa in Jax said...

That sounds like a good plan. One thing about waiting to buy something is that you can wait until it goes on sale. The Homeschool Buyers Co-op will have the Auralog program on sale again and then you can pay a lot less for it. We got it for 50% less that way. Much more affordable.

Blessings,

Lisa

Jennifer said...

I bought RS from Sonlight many years ago. Although at that time they said we could trade it in anytime for a new language.

My problem is that the program no longer works with XP. Any idea who to contact about getting a version that works? What version should I ask for? Our RS Spanish says it has Levels 1 & 2.

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

Renee - No, he's doing the comprehensive...and he obviously understands if he's making high 90's and 100's. LOL

Jen - I had this happen with one can called Rosetta Stone...they sent me a replacement for I think $10 or $20.....Which is why our spanish is VERSION 2 - we had 1. LOL

Cynthia said...

I have a tooth that has been bugging me and I'm afraid to go to the dentist because I'm fairly certain I'm going to need a root canal... I nearly passed out during the last one...

As for the credit.... I would give him the credit he has earned regardless of the # of hours just like you would if you had a child who went through a math book in a short amount of time but the book was worth a certain credit. I only count hours for things that don't have a set credit recommendations.

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

ACK Cindy - dentists...a necessary pain in our lives?