Strange Tongues

Ditching the classroom in favor of private study, Max Fisher samples four language-learning programs to see which make the grade

At the end of a recent afternoon spent exploring Nanjing Road, an artery of Shanghai's celebrated shopping district, I ventured into a promising-looking restaurant only to reach into my pocket and discover that I was down to my last yuan. The hand motions that I had relied on for communication all day fell short when I attempted to ask directions to the nearest bank. Luckily, a tourist from New Hampshire noticed my embarrassing pantomime and stopped to translate my question. Then and there I pledged never again to travel without knowing some fundamentals of the language.

Several programs offer lessons on dozens of languages for travelers, businesspeople, and students alike. Their approaches, as well as their demands, vary widely, so which are best suited to travelers? I tested four popular programs, each for one week and each with a different language. Professors from Michigan State University's prestigious foreign language departments then tested and graded my accent and my ability to communicate basic phrases. Here's how I fared:

SIMON AND SCHUSTER'S PIMSLEUR PROGRAM
Format: Audio CD
Methodology: A speaker reads a word or a phrase, the student repeats it, and the speaker explains the meaning in English. The 30-minute lessons culminate in the student being called upon to understand and repeat both sides of a conversation. Programs are available in 35 languages and in six tiers ranging from Express for the basics to Comprehensive for proficiency (simonsays.com/pimsleur; $12-$345).
Language tested: Italian
Quality of experience: C
Pros: The repetitive nature of the program is brutally monotonous but makes it easy to memorize phrases. Needing only a CD player to study was very convenient.
Cons: When it came time to formulate my own sentences, the rigidity of the program left me with little ability to improvise.
Prof's grade: B

ROSETTA STONE
Format: CD-ROM or online
Methodology: Designed to mimic language-learning behaviors of young children, Rosetta Stone teaches language by building associations between words and images. Instruction in 28 languages comes in three levels, the first of which includes 92 lessons spanning 200 hours. Level Two contains 118 lessons over 250 hours; Level Three builds conversational skills. Each level includes a textbook (rosettastone.com; Level One, $195; Level Two, $225; Level Three, $259; all three, $499).
Language tested: Arabic
Quality of experience: B+
Pros: With its gamelike interface, Rosetta Stone was the most engaging program I tried. I recalled words so freely that it felt almost involuntary; once, as I idled at a stoplight, I found myself mumbling, "The man sits in the car" in Arabic.
Cons: This software is designed for fluency, not for the bare essentials most travelers require.
Prof's grade: A