As more languages have become available in Version 3, we now have only Swahili and an assortment of workbooks and texts available for Version 2. If you currently have a Version 2 program for one of these languages, the workbooks may be useful to you, but they do not correlate with Version 3. Rosetta Stone Version 2 has excellent exercises in listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Each skill area has a preview, exercises, and tests, except speaking, which only has the preview and exercise options. A speech recognition feature allows the student to improve his/her pronunciation by recording his/her voice and comparing it to the voiceprint of a native speaker. Each attempt is evaluated on a colored meter. Grammar is not explicitly taught in lessons, but modeled by example throughout the course. If you are interested in a detailed explanation of grammar and syntax, you would need to find a supplemental reference.

The Level I package includes 92 lessons on CD-ROM (up to 400 hours of learning), the User’s Guide, the Level I Curriculum Text, an application CD-ROM, a Student Management System CD-ROM, the Student Management System Manual, and the Handbook for Teachers.

Curriculum Texts contain all the phrases and sentences introduced in that level. It is written exclusively in the target language The Student Management System is designed for the classroom setting, but can be used to monitor a single student. With the Student Management System, the teacher can customize lesson plans through tutorials, or an assigned sequence of a preview, exercise, and test. All Version 2 levels include a microphone/headset. Please note that all Version 2 materials we offer are the Homeschool versions.

If you are unsatisfied with the program, the publisher has a 6 month return policy. Just send the product back to Rainbow. Defective or damaged discs will be replaced by the publisher.

System requirements: Windows XP/2000/2003; Pentium 500 MHz processor; 256 MB RAM, 200 MB free hard drive space; 16X CD-ROM drive; 32-bit color display; 16-bit Windows compatible sound card; USB or analog headset microphone for speech recognition. Macintosh requirements: Mac OS X 10.2 or later; PowerPC G3 400 MHz processor; 256 MB RAM; 200 MB free hard drive space; 16X CD-ROM drive; 32-bit color display. ~ Anh