Rosetta Stone Language Software - Anyone Use It? Is it REALLY that good?

hi all :hi:

my first post here. i posted the above question in the Lounge but forgot about this group!

I can speak a good 'broken Spanish' and Mrs Matcom is a beginner. we are going to buy Levels 1&2 for xmas but at $300+ its pricey.

so, just wondering if this software is as good as the hype.

Gracias in advance

The "Rosetta method" is awesome because it's accessible. That doesn't deny any bit of its didactic qualities; it's just that I seriously doubt that a "typical" (or "ideal") Rosetta Stone customer will later on leap from that method to a more "serious" method to reach and surpass the "advanced" stage.

Now, don't mistake me for a classic pedagogical rigor freak. I think accessible language methods are by nature more fun, which is an immensely important motivational stimulant. But the thing is, if you want to learn a language "well" (let's say, up to semi-native conversant level) and you're also planning on being regularly committed to woking on it (say, every day 15 - 30 minutes, which I think would be an ideal time investment to keep up in the longer run with the greatest pay-off, namely the biggest chance of actually reaching your goal and not getting lost in a near-unsurmountable effort) then starting off with a more linguistically rigorous approach would be an ultimately better alternative.

Rosetta Stone isn't "bad" at all - I think it's very good. But if you're cautiously entertaining the idea of going beyond a basic level, I'd advise on checking out other "interactive" methods. Not because they're "better" (it really depends on how you define that, and what you want to obtain) but because they start off with the same (unfortunately) universally necessary type of language acquisition "discipline" that you will need very much when you're past the initial hurdle.

To exaggerate but hopefully better illustrate my point: I see it a little bit like facing a jump from a Kindergarten (fun, and with certainly much practical value as well) to High School (with its far greater scholastic rigor and necessary degree of self-reliance).

So, if you vaguely plan on reaching HS level, I'd rather advise to consider other programs.

But if being able to converse pragmatically is good enough, and you don't feel like investing much more time once you've reached that intermediate plateau, Rosetta Stone is a fun and well-designed product that'll be much more for you and your spouse.

I hope that was useful! :)

I think I really prefer a teacher. Most of the text was in Kanji.. how can a beginner even begin to read Kanji? Anyway.. I don't think its really all that good for Japanese.

Check out the free stuff for students of Spanish here: http://www.unilang.org/resources.php?mode=language&targetlang=es&sid=dafb93702ffd3c466555aca2221ca018

learn it -- from actual experiences where objects, tasks, information is occurring in the real world and someone is talking about it, asking you questions, describing the world around you. Second languages are the same. As an adult, the best method of course would be total immersion in the language (and a tremendous motivation to learn it). Otherwise, multiple strategies work best: listening to radio, old fashioned formal textbooks (if that makes you comfortable), reading in the 2nd language, watching television, taking a cooking or hobby class taught in the language, formal classes (if you like that way of learning), conversation/coffee groups, books on tape, travel to communities where the language is spoken, etc. Mix all together, with opportunities for real communication with actual people, and you have a chance to make some headway into learning the language. Rosetta Stone? Perhaps part of the options, but expensive. The company has made millions selling to folks who want an instant package, and after awhile, leave it sitting on a shelf. Marketing in airports, and very visible promotion in big book stores has made this seem like the way to go. It isn't.