Comments on: Internet Friends: http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/06/27/internet-friends/ In defense of the sanctimonious women's studies set. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:13:48 +0000 hourly 1 By: Mara Goldwyn http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/06/27/internet-friends/#comment-249258 Mara Goldwyn Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:24:24 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=14131#comment-249258 You should check out Babbel -- http://www.babbel.com for the French. So far there isn't a complete French course for English speakers but what you can learn for free is a lot -- and I think a full course a la Rosetta Stone is coming soon. There are interactive exercises and the chance to meet and exchange with native speakers. It's also really accessibly designed. Good luck! You should check out Babbel —

http://www.babbel.com

for the French. So far there isn’t a complete French course for English speakers but what you can learn for free is a lot — and I think a full course a la Rosetta Stone is coming soon. There are interactive exercises and the chance to meet and exchange with native speakers. It’s also really accessibly designed.

Good luck!

]]> By: Helen http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/06/27/internet-friends/#comment-248502 Helen Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:58:46 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=14131#comment-248502 Again, not a software, but this is an original approach http://www.publishingcupboard.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2 Again, not a software, but this is an original approach

http://www.publishingcupboard.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2

]]> By: Sunday News Round-Up, Monday Style « Women’s Health News http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/06/27/internet-friends/#comment-248436 Sunday News Round-Up, Monday Style « Women’s Health News Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:49:05 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=14131#comment-248436 [...] Whee! Thanks to @liltree for putting my question through. -I was pleased to see how many commenters in this thread at Shakesville suggested the original poster check the local library (for language learning resources). -Via [...] [...] Whee! Thanks to @liltree for putting my question through. -I was pleased to see how many commenters in this thread at Shakesville suggested the original poster check the local library (for language learning resources). -Via [...]

]]> By: narcissistic.claptrap http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/06/27/internet-friends/#comment-248273 narcissistic.claptrap Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:54:32 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=14131#comment-248273 I recommend that you try the Fluenz http://www.fluenz.com and Tell Me More http://www.tellmemore.com demos. I have found both to have a more comprehensive and practical approach to language learning than Rosetta, but your mileage may vary according to your own learning style. Both programs I mention have fun exercises that allow you to practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Both give you ample opportunity to test your skills, including your prononciation via the use of speech recognition software. Tell Me More has unparalleled depth, and Fluenz is a bit more user friendly (with some small but annoying exceptions). Good luck! I recommend that you try the Fluenz http://www.fluenz.com and Tell Me More http://www.tellmemore.com demos. I have found both to have a more comprehensive and practical approach to language learning than Rosetta, but your mileage may vary according to your own learning style.

Both programs I mention have fun exercises that allow you to practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Both give you ample opportunity to test your skills, including your prononciation via the use of speech recognition software. Tell Me More has unparalleled depth, and Fluenz is a bit more user friendly (with some small but annoying exceptions).

Good luck!

]]> By: Lindsey http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/06/27/internet-friends/#comment-248262 Lindsey Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:05:41 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=14131#comment-248262 I forgot about this website! I saw someone mention university of Texas and I remembered Aswaat Arabiyya. It has video clips from beginning to advanced level. Very useful http://www.laits.utexas.edu/aswaat/ I forgot about this website! I saw someone mention university of Texas and I remembered Aswaat Arabiyya. It has video clips from beginning to advanced level. Very useful
http://www.laits.utexas.edu/aswaat/

]]> By: Sara http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/06/27/internet-friends/#comment-248244 Sara Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:30:59 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=14131#comment-248244 I am currently attempting to learn French (my partner is French Canadian) and apart from being very lucky to have my very own tutor, I have a few comments. I *highly* recommend the Michel Thomas French series. It is eight CDs and it actually gets you into proper sentences that are useful. I have tried Rosetta Stone but I found it was memory based in the context of what you were or were not seeing - memory in the context of what was on the screen. I also didn't like how it taught you sentences and things you will barely need - the boy caught the red ball. Sure, they are important but I enjoy how Michel Thomas actually teaches you proper sentences, for example, after less than half an hour, I actually understand the parts and structure of the French in good ol' Lady Marmalade song! I am currently attempting to learn French (my partner is French Canadian) and apart from being very lucky to have my very own tutor, I have a few comments.

I *highly* recommend the Michel Thomas French series. It is eight CDs and it actually gets you into proper sentences that are useful.

I have tried Rosetta Stone but I found it was memory based in the context of what you were or were not seeing – memory in the context of what was on the screen. I also didn’t like how it taught you sentences and things you will barely need – the boy caught the red ball. Sure, they are important but I enjoy how Michel Thomas actually teaches you proper sentences, for example, after less than half an hour, I actually understand the parts and structure of the French in good ol’ Lady Marmalade song!

]]> By: k-for-cali http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/06/27/internet-friends/#comment-248234 k-for-cali Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:32:15 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=14131#comment-248234 Lots of awesome suggestions here, so just to add to the bunch (at least re: French, Arabic I know nothing) -- http://french.about.com/ has a TON of free resources and links, including lots of sound files for listening to pronunciation &c. It's a little illogical to navigate, but I've done well just wandering around. I used it to supplement French classes and found it at least as helpful than the in-person work, if not more so. Lots of awesome suggestions here, so just to add to the bunch (at least re: French, Arabic I know nothing) — http://french.about.com/ has a TON of free resources and links, including lots of sound files for listening to pronunciation &c. It’s a little illogical to navigate, but I’ve done well just wandering around. I used it to supplement French classes and found it at least as helpful than the in-person work, if not more so.

]]> By: Michael http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/06/27/internet-friends/#comment-248228 Michael Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:13:30 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=14131#comment-248228 Funnily enough the linguist Karen Stolznow from Skepchick did a review of Rosetta Stone just yesterday I think: http://skepchick.org/blog/?p=7924 (Sorry if someone else has suggested this already, I searched for Skepchick in the comments and didn't find anything). Funnily enough the linguist Karen Stolznow from Skepchick did a review of Rosetta Stone just yesterday I think:

http://skepchick.org/blog/?p=7924

(Sorry if someone else has suggested this already, I searched for Skepchick in the comments and didn’t find anything).

]]> By: Kirstente http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/06/27/internet-friends/#comment-248227 Kirstente Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:11:43 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=14131#comment-248227 I recommend the University if Texas website for French as a good free starting point - http://www.laits.utexas.edu/tex/ I recommend the University if Texas website for French as a good free starting point – http://www.laits.utexas.edu/tex/

]]> By: chava http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/06/27/internet-friends/#comment-248224 chava Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:10:01 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/?p=14131#comment-248224 Oh, one more thing--- You were saying you wanted to brush off your MSA for the "structure" to build on. Well, if you end up in N. Africa, the structure of the local language is not really that related. I mean, it's about a third Indo-European, a third Semitic, and a third Tamazight (Berber). So knowledge of classical Arabic won't HURT you, but it isn't totally necessary. /shutting up now Oh, one more thing—

You were saying you wanted to brush off your MSA for the “structure” to build on. Well, if you end up in N. Africa, the structure of the local language is not really that related. I mean, it’s about a third Indo-European, a third Semitic, and a third Tamazight (Berber). So knowledge of classical Arabic won’t HURT you, but it isn’t totally necessary.

/shutting up now

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