What do you know about the Rosetta Stone language program?

Hey Janet,

I also have the German program, and as others have said, if you are willing to take the time and work on it every day, it is a very helpful program.

The way it works is that there are no translations. The language is taught to you the way you would learn as a child, by applying pictures to sounds and eventually using what you've learned to figure out new meanings. It sets things up in a pattern that is almost subliminal in nature, so that after you have gotten through a lesson, the words and sentences come quickly to your head, especially when the picture is added. There are different portions to teach writing and speaking, and the system recognizes voice patterns to match your accent with that of a native speaker. There are plenty of reviews, and the lessons are added in layers, never leaving the old, but consistently adding the new.

It's expensive, but it's worth it if you really want to learn a language.

Rosetta Stone is far and away THE best computer system for learning languages that there is out there. If you don't want to take a class or cannot get into one, this is the way to do it. It uses the immersion technique, which research indicates is the best way to learn. You see photographs and hear native speakers, so you are not mentally translating. There are components for listening, speaking, and later for learning to read. With the speaking part, you see what are the formants created by the native speaker's voice and then you repeat into a microphone. Then you see the formants created by your own voice. This gives you a visual with which to compare the native speaker's version and your version, as well as your own ears. This is especially helpful for the beginner who may not yet be able to hear all the distinctions among sounds, especially some of the sounds don't exist in the learner's native language. The only down side is that if you get stumped, you can't ask the computer a question. I have used Rosetta Stone for Spanish and for Chinese. It worked well for the first and okay for the second. I knew a fair amount of Spanish to start off with and any time I wasn't sure of something, I could look it up in my dictionary. With Chinese, that was a lot harder to do.

If the price is just too much for you, go to Google on the internet and type in "The Learnables." This is also an immersion method of learning a variety of languages, but NOT computer based. They use CDs, and a little booklet with drawings instead of photos. There's no speaking into a microphone here. But it's essentially the same type of system, with the same one drawback -- nobody to ask a question of, if you get stumped. I bought the Spanish and Chinese components of this, too. It too is very good.

I've used both systems in Teaching English as a Second Language classrooms and my students enjoyed both. Classrooms have a great advantage because the confused student can always ask a question. But other than that, Rosetta Stone is number one. The Learnables is second.

As others said, you can go to the Rosetta Stone website and do a demo there, and also get a free CD sent to you, as a sample, so you can try it before you buy it. You may also be able to get it via your library, so I'd have you search for the program there first, and only buy it if you can't get it there.

In addition if you do buy, I suggest you only buy one language at first, and see how it goes. If it goes well, you buy the other. If not, you're only out the cost of the one language.

That said, I've tried Rosetta, as well as Pimsleur, and classes. Of those, my recommendation would be to combine a class with either Rosetta or Pimsleur. You only learn so much vocabulary off Pimsleur or Rosetta, and you really need a class to bring your skills up to the next level. With something like Rosetta, you really only learn the language at a very, very basic level - no where near true speaking ability. But it can be a good place to start, and it would be a wonderful addition to an actual class, if they were to also take a class.

With that said, if a class is not available to you, and you are choosing between Pimsleur and Rosetta for two boys, I think Rosetta might work better for them... while Pimsleur would work better for you. I believe Rosetta would work better for them because it's fully interactive - there are pictures, sounds, the kids speak, they can record themselves speaking, etc. It should keep them interested. Pimlseur is audio-only, which for two boys, probably won't hold their attention. I think Rosetta would be the better option.

The problem I have with Rosetta is that it really just teaches you words without much context, and what context there is isn't particularly relevent to the situation you'd be in if you went to Germany tomorrow. For example, if you want to string the words you know together in a sentence and speak to someone, you won't really get that from Rosetta, unless you want to ask them "Where is the book? Where is the pen? It's in the library. :LOL:.) But you will get real world context from Pimsleur (Do you speak English? I only speak a little German. I'm sorry, but where is the toilet, etc.) But Pimsleur doesn't teach as many words as you'll get from Rosetta.

What I mean is that, with Rosetta, you'll get all the basics re: what you yourself may remember from language classes. "Where is the book? It's under the shed." etc. Pimsleur, however, does an amazing job of teaching useful language; what I'd call "tourist German" - you'd finish the CDs not only being able to ask and answer all the basic questions, but you'd have amazingly good pronunciation (another strength of Pimsleur).

One of the nice things that Rosetta does is that there are no actual translations. You see a picture, hear and see the text of the German word, and it clicks in your head. As an aside, though, one of the problems I had with it was that sometimes, I couldn't tell what the pictures were supposed to *be*. I mean, I grew up in Boston; how was I supposed to know if the picture of this animal they showed was a cow, a steer, cattle, a bull, or something else? :LOL:

So for you, an adult? Pimsleur. But for your boys? Rosetta.

A couple of years ago we bought the Italian course but because of a family crisis only got to lesson 4 or 5. Surprisingly, I still remember the words I learned in those few lessons, so I guess it works. You have to make sure you make time (or your boys do), and follow a regular schedule. The lessons are short, so once a week isn't enough. I understand now they offer a demo CD/DVD; you might want to try one first. Also, check to see if your local library has a copy. Also, the guarantee is for 6 months, so within that time you can certainly return the courses. Perhaps you want to try with one language first to make sure the system is compatible with your boys' way of learning.

Hello mom, Rossetta Stone is as good as many others with one difference, is very expensive. I am a language teacher and I strongly recommend a private tutor or language classes at a language school. Rossetta Stone is just a tool to practice or to improve something that you already know, it means that you have to learn the basics first which is the base in order to learn a new language. I hope this is help-full and you think before you buy something like this.

Rosetta Stone, as far as I am aware is one of the most effective ways of learning any language as it uses visuals to commit word to memory. So instead of just listening and repeating which can be tedious, it allows the mind to connect an image to each word.

I would say the best thing to do would be to check out the Rosetta Stone website where you can view a demo of how the system works.

www.rosettastone.com

or

www.rosettastone.co.uk

Good luck to your boys! :)

Hi Mom...

I dont know about this language program. But maybe the boys heard it from someone and became enthusiastic about it. It is agreat thing that they wanna learn. Just make sure they really wanna learn it for a decent amount of time , not just a temporary interest which usually is a case of teenagers.

I used to be very fascinated about learning martial art when i was young, in fact I took some classes and stopped short within 6 months, simply because I lost interest XD . Looking at their chart maybe mom ?, see if they have a good conjunction(s) / pack houses that doesnt get distorted by Neptune or Mercury .

If you are financially capable , then give them a chance. Though personally, sending them to language classes might be more efficient since you also get to know their progress. I find real life learning and communications are much more effective when it comes to language study.

I have a friend who is a Translator--travels all over the world and swears by Pimsleur--have been wanting to learn some languages myself -so recently asked--I also found it at the library for free--but I'm also in LV. As a mother, I always checked out the free stuff first-- ;)

No idea about this program. I'd learned German when I was in Germany. The fastest way to learn is when you hear nothing but the language, everyday and exposed yourself to that culture.

Edit: You should also purchase a German dictionary. Along with that languge program, it will be easier to learn...

I have this program for learning Chinese. To be honest, I lent it from the library and copied it <_<

It only cost me 1 euro that way. It's a bit complicated at the beginning. For a long time I couldn't figure out how to access other vocabulary.

But it's a great prog that also covers speech correction and picture association.