Rocket Languages (software)

Infobox Software

developer = Rocket Languages Ltd.
latest release = October 20th, 2007 (Rocket Japanese)
operating system = Windows, Mac OS
genre = Educational (foreign language instruction)
website = http://www.rocketlanguages.com

caption = Screen shot from the MegaSpanish software-based learning game.

Rocket Languages software-based educational games are a component of the downloadable foreign language learning courses produced by Rocket Languages, Ltd. The Rocket Languages courses also include audio lessons that allow users to participate in dialogues with native foreign language speakers.

Pedagogically, the design of Rocket Languages educational software and media places heavy emphasis on learning the target language through conversational practice and in its contemporary cultural context.

The Rocket Languages educational software consists of three separate software-based learning games:

* MegaVocab (for learning vocabulary, phrases, and expressions)
* MegaAudio (for recognizing words and phrases, and practicing pronunciation)
* MegaVerbs (for learning basic grammar and verb constructions)

Use

Rocket Languages MegaVocab

Users select a topic from a predefined set of 20 topics, such as "Directions," "Food and Drink," or "Travel." Users are then shown a picture with a corresponding English word, a multiple choice selection of four words in the target language

The MegaVocab database contains approximately 1000 words. There is a MegaVocab Creator function that allows users to add their own words and images to the database.

Rocket Languages MegaAudio

Similar to the MegaVocab learning game, users start by selecting a topic from a predefined set of topics. In the MegaAudio game, users are shown a set of six different images, and then play an audio clip of a word or phrase in the target language. They must match the word with the correct image. The English word or phrase can be displayed optionally.

The MegaAudio database contains approximately 1000 words.

Rocket Languages MegaVerbs

Users select one or more of the three common tenses that they wish to be tested on. The game displays one of 50 most commonly used verbs in the target language, and asks the user to change it to a different tense. Responses are typed and submitted into a designated field.

Variations in Software Packages

* The Rocket Japanese course contains a MegaHiragana game instead of a MegaVerbs game. Hiragana is one vital component of the Japanese writing system, which is made up of three types of characters: hiragana, katakana and kanji. MegaHiragana allows users to recognize the characters that make up the basic sounds of the Japanese language and begin to build words from them.

* Rocket Sign Language, the American Sign Language course, includes video files in its software learning games: MegaSpelling, MegaSign, and the Signing Dictionary. MegaSpelling teaches users how to fingerspell the alphabet, 200 common names, and 100 common words. MegaSign teaches users to recognize signed words and phrases by playing a video clip and providing four text options to choose from. The Signing Dictionary is a searchable database that includes 1,232 video files of the most common signs.

Language Range

Rocket Languages currently offers courses in these languages:

* Spanish
* French
* German
* Japanese
* American Sign Language
* Italian

Criticism

At present, Rocket Languages only offers courses for adults, and the software and media materials they provide do not cater directly to children.

In addition, though the language learning courses are available in the form of shipped CDs, the downloadable version involves system requirements that may make the download process difficult for customers whose hardware does not meet them.

External links

* [http://www.rocketlanguages.com/ Official Homepage]
* [http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4218571a6430.html News article on Rocket Languages Ltd.]