Just to begin with, it is prudent to note that there are different companies across the globe which deals with the production and publishing of books, CDs and videos for learning new language. This paper examines three companies which deal with what has been mentioned above. Some of the companies which this paper shall examine include Berlits, Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur among others. Some of the questions which this paper sorts to provide answers to include: how the companies selected teach language, their systems, how their system work and how their lessons are set up.
Berlits Publishing Company.
Berlits is a company with global leadership training as well as education. The company specialises in teaching languages through either traditional method or virtual method. This implies that language training is done through traditional classrooms or virtual classrooms. Traditional classroom involves face-to-face learning languages. In traditional classroom programs, Language is learnt through language coaching, presentations and negotiations and also through meetings and socialization.
On the other hand, the virtual classroom employs a more scientific method compared to the traditional classroom language training programs. Here, lessons are delivered to the learners via the internet. The teacher and the student do not have face-to-face discussion but instead share through the internet by the use of the screen. The teacher communicates to his students by the use of headphones attached to the computer. The method is of great advantage since leaning can take place any time anywhere provided the teacher and the student is available. Furthermore, one teacher can attend to many students at the same time. The only disadvantage with this leaning method is that it can easily be interrupted in case there is network breakdown or even power breakout.
What is their system and how do they system works
The company makes use of the IBM software services for lotus to create a global platform in which individual collaborate while at the same time sharing knowledge based on IBM WebSphere Portal. The SPACE system (Smart Place to Accelerate Community of Excellence) is an excellent system which the company use to provide a secure environment for leveraging and pooling expertise as well as intellectual capital across the globe.
Pimsleur
This is an American language learning company. The company develops as well as publishes courses which are mainly based on Pimsleur Method. This company mainly major in introducing different individual to language training. The company also specialises in training different individual on the Japanese culture. In this company, language training is done primarily through the use of eyes and secondarily by using ears. This implies that the company employs the use of ears and eyes as the major systems for learning language. But why does the company rely on ears and eyes to teach language? This is because they strongly believe that approximately 95% of an individual’s life is utilized in talking and listening while the other 5% or even less than that is used is spent on writing and reading.
Their system
The company employs the use of Pimsleur method which is also known as the Pimsleur Language Learning System. This is an audio-based system in which language is learnt through the use of the Pimsleur Language Learning System which was developed by Paul Pimsleur. This system emphasizes on learning through active participation as opposed to rote memorization. While the lesson is own, the learners are expected to construct different new phrases from the ones given by their speaker. According to the proponent of this learning method, the ability of the student learning new language to develop new phrases which are right though different from the direct ones given by the speaker enables the learner to recall older phrases. This is what now is called learning through active participation in class. Some of the languages which the company helps individuals to learn include Greek, French, Spanish, Twi and German among others.
How the system work.
The Pimsleur Language Learning System is governed by the following four fundamental principles:
Anticipation
Since Pimsleur believes that effective learning of language is through active participation of students, he found it prudent to develop a system which employs the use of “challenge –response” to learn language. The method is crucial because it enables the student to aggressively translate phrases into the required language. This technique requires that the students be critical thinkers because the students are required to think before responding.
Graduated-interval recall
This is a method in which a learned vocabulary is reviewed at a longer interval. For instance, if the learner has been taught about the meaning of the French word deux, then retention of such a word is tested every minute, then hours, then days and weeks in that order. This enables the learner or student to permanently store the acquired vocabulary into the long-term memory.
Core vocabulary
The system emphasises on teaching the commonly used vocabulary first before the core vocabulary. This is because common vocabularies enable the learner to build up core vocabularies. The system teaches language by presenting it as a common phrase and patern which is repeated at a given interval through the entire course.
Organic learning
This system is strictly auditory in nature. The proponent of the system referred to it as organic learning because it entails the study of grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary simultaneously through listening.
Rosetta Stone
This is a U.S based software company that develops Rosetta Stone. Rosetta Stone is a computer-assisted language learning program. This program teaches more than thirty languages. The software has been structured in a way which makes learning of new language simpler and flexible. The Rosetta Stone makes use of two principles which they consider fundamental for learning new language. The first principle is the immersion in that language and the second principle is interactive technology which is important in the learning process.
How the system works
The Rosetta stone uses natural method to teach language. For instance, the system matches the spoken words with photographic images obtained from real life experiences. The software employs the use of speech recognition method to help the learner find out whether he/she has pronounced the words correctly. Just before an individual begin to learn new language, the system request the learner to activate the new language which he/she is intending to learn. The learner then activate each language which she/he intends to learn using his/her ID which the learner received using the software. Once the learner has activated the language, he/she can then go ahead and create a user either female or male. Each course has to be done in four lessons. Each lesson has a series of activities to be done.
In conclusion, I would like to state that after examining the four system used to learn new language, I would like to point out that Rosetta Stone software system is the best system that ought to be used to learn new language. This is because Rosetta stone uses natural method to teach language. For instance, the system matches the spoken words with photographic images obtained from real life experiences to teach new language. Since different researches shows that people learn faster when subjected to real life experiences, I am therefore, for the opinion that Rosetta Stone software system is the best method to learn new language.
