Rosetta Stone... Experiences, feedback?

[MikeMike]

Looking at Rosetta Stone for Spanish... Brother is having some issues at college, so my parents are looking into it, but they want to make sure with use, it will actually work...

so, what have you guys heard?

Thanks!

 

[slayer202]

I have it, I want to learn french. I've never used it

 

[IronWing]

Sharon's cuter, younger sister? Pics?

 

[kranky]

Used it for a couple months. I think their system works well if you want to learn the language on a low-end level. It does not try to teach you any rules of grammar, or conjugations of verbs. In fact, it never communicates with you in your native language at all.

Through the use of pictures, repetition, displaying words, making you repeat words/phrases/sentences accurately, making you type words/sentences and matching words to pictures, you pick up the language without having any instruction in your native language. For example, I was using Italian. The very first screen showed a picture of a person facing the camera and waving. Overlaid on the photo was the Italian words for "Good morning". Then you heard someone saying it. You got the idea right away.

As you advance through the lessons, it periodically makes you do a little quiz on things from previous lessons which reinforces the learning.

Like anything, it takes a serious investment of time to really benefit but I think it was effective. But I don't think I would use it as a teaching aid for someone taking a real class. Chances are what you need to learn for the in-person class won't be the exact topics covered in the software. Let's say the in-person class is all about vocabulary and conjugating certain verbs. It's not likely that RS will be presenting the same words and verbs.

 

[Saint Nick]

It works. However, to get the full benefit from it, expect to do the entire set of discs for the language provided by RS. Lots and lots of repetition. Sometimes stuff from the very first chapter will show up a lot later on. Gets somewhat mundane, but that is the whole point. Memorization through repetition and familiarization.

I have only completed the first disc of the German set. Getting started on the second disc soon.

 

[anxi80]

It'll give you a grasp of the language you're trying to learn but my experience is a lot like what the posters above say, a lot of repetition trying to hammer the information in without a lot of emphasis on the rules of grammar. It works though, but I'd recommend after doing it for a little while supplementing it with a tutor. You wouldn't be paying them to teach you the basics but more for fine-tuning.

 

[Martin]

Used it for a couple months. I think their system works well if you want to learn the language on a low-end level. It does not try to teach you any rules of grammar, or conjugations of verbs. In fact, it never communicates with you in your native language at all.

Through the use of pictures, repetition, displaying words, making you repeat words/phrases/sentences accurately, making you type words/sentences and matching words to pictures, you pick up the language without having any instruction in your native language. For example, I was using Italian. The very first screen showed a picture of a person facing the camera and waving. Overlaid on the photo was the Italian words for "Good morning". Then you heard someone saying it. You got the idea right away.

As you advance through the lessons, it periodically makes you do a little quiz on things from previous lessons which reinforces the learning.

Like anything, it takes a serious investment of time to really benefit but I think it was effective. But I don't think I would use it as a teaching aid for someone taking a real class. Chances are what you need to learn for the in-person class won't be the exact topics covered in the software. Let's say the in-person class is all about vocabulary and conjugating certain verbs. It's not likely that RS will be presenting the same words and verbs.

Yeah, I think it works well for informal conversational-style learning. I used the Spanish version for a few months (but I also checked out a spanish grammar book from the library), and found I could read and say basic things.

Of course, even learning the basics is still a big commitment - probably an hour/day for half a year.

 

[Six]

Used it for a couple months. I think their system works well if you want to learn the language on a low-end level. It does not try to teach you any rules of grammar, or conjugations of verbs. In fact, it never communicates with you in your native language at all.

Through the use of pictures, repetition, displaying words, making you repeat words/phrases/sentences accurately, making you type words/sentences and matching words to pictures, you pick up the language without having any instruction in your native language. For example, I was using Italian. The very first screen showed a picture of a person facing the camera and waving. Overlaid on the photo was the Italian words for "Good morning". Then you heard someone saying it. You got the idea right away.

As you advance through the lessons, it periodically makes you do a little quiz on things from previous lessons which reinforces the learning.

Like anything, it takes a serious investment of time to really benefit but I think it was effective. But I don't think I would use it as a teaching aid for someone taking a real class. Chances are what you need to learn for the in-person class won't be the exact topics covered in the software. Let's say the in-person class is all about vocabulary and conjugating certain verbs. It's not likely that RS will be presenting the same words and verbs.

This! It won't help with the college courses.

 

[coloumb]

Someone once said - if you want to learn another language you find a beautiful woman [or man depending upon your preference] who will take the time to teach it to you [and a few other things as well].

 

[Imp]

Used it for a couple months. I think their system works well if you want to learn the language on a low-end level. It does not try to teach you any rules of grammar, or conjugations of verbs. In fact, it never communicates with you in your native language at all.

Through the use of pictures, repetition, displaying words, making you repeat words/phrases/sentences accurately, making you type words/sentences and matching words to pictures, you pick up the language without having any instruction in your native language. For example, I was using Italian. The very first screen showed a picture of a person facing the camera and waving. Overlaid on the photo was the Italian words for "Good morning". Then you heard someone saying it. You got the idea right away.

As you advance through the lessons, it periodically makes you do a little quiz on things from previous lessons which reinforces the learning.

Like anything, it takes a serious investment of time to really benefit but I think it was effective. But I don't think I would use it as a teaching aid for someone taking a real class. Chances are what you need to learn for the in-person class won't be the exact topics covered in the software. Let's say the in-person class is all about vocabulary and conjugating certain verbs. It's not likely that RS will be presenting the same words and verbs.

Wow. I should give this a shot. Been trying to learn French the past few years. I've got 6 years of French classes and somewhat a grasp of the grammar already. Have absolutely no ear for it though.

 

[thepd7]

Used it for a couple months. I think their system works well if you want to learn the language on a low-end level. It does not try to teach you any rules of grammar, or conjugations of verbs. In fact, it never communicates with you in your native language at all.

Through the use of pictures, repetition, displaying words, making you repeat words/phrases/sentences accurately, making you type words/sentences and matching words to pictures, you pick up the language without having any instruction in your native language. For example, I was using Italian. The very first screen showed a picture of a person facing the camera and waving. Overlaid on the photo was the Italian words for "Good morning". Then you heard someone saying it. You got the idea right away.

As you advance through the lessons, it periodically makes you do a little quiz on things from previous lessons which reinforces the learning.

Like anything, it takes a serious investment of time to really benefit but I think it was effective. But I don't think I would use it as a teaching aid for someone taking a real class. Chances are what you need to learn for the in-person class won't be the exact topics covered in the software. Let's say the in-person class is all about vocabulary and conjugating certain verbs. It's not likely that RS will be presenting the same words and verbs.

thanks for posting, I have been looking into it too so that's a great review.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

I REALLY like Radio Lingua Network's "Coffee Break" series.

The audio lessons are free, and you can purchase additional content (texts, vocab mp3s, etc.).

The lessons are short, 5-10 minutes, and meant to be listened to when you have time.

I really like the presentation. It's a student learning at the same time. So you hear the person mispronounce and make mistakes, rather than just one person saying a phrase. It's like an interaction and conversation between the two that I think works really well. Plus it's significantly cheaper than Rosetta Stone.

 

[MarkXIX]

Join the Army, even part time, you get it free in any language you want.

http://usarmy.rosettastone.com/

 

[keird]

Join the Army, even part time, you get it free in any language you want.

http://usarmy.rosettastone.com/

Yeah. I'm learning Dari, but I'd rather give Russian another try. I told my wife to get an AKO account so that she can learn German with Rosetta Stone at no cost.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Send him to Mexico for a month, he'll be back eating tacos and drinking tequila before you know it.

 

[Dumac]

Waste of money.

There are much cheaper options that are more effective...

Most of the Rosetta Stones buyers I know haven't or have barely used it. They just feel like they are accomplishing something by having the far off goal of learning a foreign language.

 

[alkemyst]

Someone once said - if you want to learn another language you find a beautiful woman [or man depending upon your preference] who will take the time to teach it to you [and a few other things as well].

spoken by someone that just wants to settle down .

I met my wife really by helping her with english. I have picked up a bit of Japanese along the way.

Any of the CD/DVD language sets depend on how the student is geared to learn. I do great with self-study, some need to be tutored. Some can read and learn, some have to see to learn.

They are all set up for conversational communication. If you want to be a grammar nazi to natives in a foreign land, take a lot of classes.

 

[nanette1985]

I got it (free) from our local library. My son's wife's family only speaks Spanish, so I figured I'd try to learn enough to talk to them. What Rosetta Stone mainly did was to bring back in memory all the spanish I'd picked up during my lifetime, from living in NYC, and so on. Not a bad thing, but I'm glad I didn't spend any money on it.

My son actually learned his spanish from playing obscure RPGs online with non-english players. In fact that's how he met his wife.

 

[bfdd]

No matter what you are still going to need a real person to practice with some how. Find a pin pal online.

 

[Sumguy]

http://www.livemocha.com/

I signed up for French for shits and giggles when I had nothing better to do.

 

[DaWhim]

it works, get u a good start on basic stuff.

i have been learning spanish with RST. only up to unit 2 on disc one. so far, if i see a table, bed, chair, etc. i know what it is in spanish. since RST use picture mainly, instead of learn what "chair" is in spanish, they showed me pic of chair in spanish. my brain processes a lot quicker by skipping thinking in the languages u already know.

 

[AreaCode707]

I've found the Pimsluer programs to be good for conversational purposes.

 

[MikeMike]

This is useful. The whole teaching him a college class is an issue, since it won't, and probably won't even cover what he's taught...

going to tell parents this now.