| p>The news media constantly reports the | | | | patiently listens to my story. He calmly replies, |
| benefits of keeping our brains sharp through | | | | "Ridgely, we do not have a microphone on our |
| cognitive thinking. Now, researches urge people | | | | computer. Who knew? |
| to exercise their brain by getting out of their | | | | I could not believe I had been screaming |
| comfort zone. A person needs to engage in | | | | ESTUDIO into a deaf computer. Of course, then |
| something new to stretch his/her brain. Doing | | | | he asked me when I had decided to learn Spanish |
| crossword puzzles and sudoku do stimulate the | | | | and why. All I wanted to know was where I could |
| brain, yet they do not reach or cultivate new | | | | I get a microphone. He sent me to Staples. LT |
| pathways. One example of stretching the brain | | | | assured me this was an easy non-tech decision |
| is learning a foreign language. This is the reason I | | | | purchase. |
| decided to learn Spanish. | | | | Mom was visiting so the two of us went up to |
| Rosetta Stone's is the nation's leading language | | | | Staples. I love Staples. I love office supplies so I |
| learning program among those offered. I knew I | | | | tend to loiter around the post-its, pens and paper |
| could be bilingual in six months. The day the | | | | clips.. A very nice associate walked up and asked |
| software arrived, I immediately installed it on my | | | | if he could help me find anything. I reluctantly |
| computer. | | | | turned away and told him I needed a microphone |
| RS works through a voice recognition process to | | | | for my computer, preparing myself for the |
| emulate native speakers of Spanish. A student | | | | endless barrage of questions. None came. |
| learns interactively by speaking aloud the images | | | | With a zip in his step he walked across two aisles |
| on the screen. With voice recognition, the | | | | and pointed to an array of microphones. He |
| program gives the student ongoing feedback to | | | | selected one he thought would work for my |
| ensure pronunciation is correct. | | | | intended purpose. I looked at the microphone, |
| The first image that flashed on the screen was a | | | | looked at him, and said very loudly, Well, THAT |
| studio or office. In Spanish this translates: 'estudio'. | | | | WAS EASY. I kid you not- he was dumbfounded. |
| RS did not recognize my pronunciation of | | | | I then realized what I had said- all the customers |
| 'estudio'. I repeat this process many times, saying | | | | nearby started laughing. Mommy walked up, she |
| estudio aloud. | | | | started laughing. Nobody could believe I had |
| I then stop and check the speakers and verify | | | | actually said this. |
| the mute button was not enabled. I participate in | | | | After somewhat regaining my composure, I paid |
| this one sided conversation for ten minutes | | | | for the microphone and left. |
| screaming ESTUDIO into my computer- nothing. | | | | LT attached the microphone to the computer. |
| I am so discouraged. I call LT at work to tell him | | | | Then somehow life got in the way of my Spanish |
| something is wrong with our computer. He | | | | lessons. |