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

[matcom]

we are going to buy it as our gift to each other for Xmas. I have a good 'broken Spanish' but want to get proficient. Mrs Matcom is a beginner.

It's fairly expensive at $300+ for levels 1&2 so i'm interested in any good or bad reviews from DUers who have worked with it.

Gracias

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. I've only seen the sample lessons on their website, but they

were at such a simple level that it's hard to judge the worth of the course as a whole.

The sample lesson gives you four pictures of people doing various things, and the recorded voice speaks a sentence. You're supposed to guess which sentence the speaker is describing. When you guess right, you move onto another set of pictures, and the speaker recorded voice says another sentence that is somewhat similar. Again, you have to guess which picture it refers to. In the course of the first few sets of pictures, you get the words for "man," "woman," "boy," "girl," and a few verbs. Then they recombine the nouns and verbs with more pictures.

I'd hate to think that it went on like that for hours and hours, but I don't know.

You can go to their website and try a sample lesson for yourself. Choose a language you don't know so that you can really test the method and not rely on your previous knowledge.

http://www.rosettastone.com

In just about any language, learning the simple tourist survival phrases is easy. The real test of a language curriculum is whether it can push you past that stage into the ability to hold a real conversation.

[MountainLaurel]

3. That was my impression as well

I can access RS via my local public library and have been looking around at it to freshen up my Spanish (since none of the classes at the local universities or community colleges fit into my schedule). There also are some sort of speaking and writing exercises, but I haven't done those yet. That's what is available at the beginning lessons of the program; I'm not sure if the format differs later on.

[matcom]

5. we actually have the demo CD

and have gone through it. supposedly later on you are supposed to use a microphone to take tests on your speaking (i think)

[underpants]

2. Yeah but that banging from the huge stone is hell on keyboards

Thank you thank you I'll be here all week.

[Hugin]

4. What? What's this you're saying about the Rolling Stones?

Yeah, they're a great musical group... Why I remember they did the half time
at the Super Bowl.

Yes, they did.

[Elidor]

6. I think I can save you some money

The phrase you're looking for is:

"Hey, mamacita, tengo un pollo de goma en el hotel. Mucho dinero."

Seriously, though: my SO bought this Spanish for Gringos book and plays the CDs endlessly in the car. She hasn't quite reached full intermediate fluency yet, but she can converse at times and she's getting better all the time. And it was a lot less than $300. Being able to practice on genuine spanish speakers seems to be the key.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. Yes, other inexpensive ways to learn Spanish

Get the Teach Yourself Series books, which comes with CDs. For the common languages, they have Teach Yourself Beginning Whatever, Teach Yourself More Whatever, and Teach Yourself Whatever Grammar. There are exercises with ANSWERS in the back.

Also, if you already know some Spanish, you can watch Spanish-language TV, which is more fun than doing lessons any day.

[Book Lover]

8. It is excellent and I highly recommend it

If you want a trial run, your library system may have a license; mine does, and I can even access it remotely.

[matcom]

9. great to hear!

can you tell me a bit about what it does ASIDE from the phrases/pictures thing?

also, i'm thinking since we are shelling out $300+ for it, THAT will be our motivaton for actually USING it ;)

[Book Lover]

11. The lessons are structured in different ways

The pictures/words content are presented to you in a few ways: you can choose to hear the words and choose the correct picture; you can chose to view the pictures and choose the right word; you can choose to hear the word or phrase and see the picture, and then type in the word or phrase; and you can choose to say the word or phrase of the picture you are presented with. The words and phrases get more complex as you progress: you start out with single words (nouns, prepositions, colors, etc) and progress to simple and then more complex phrases and sentences.

I have to say, though, that I got my copy as a gift. If I had to pull $300+ out of my pocket for it, I might have chosen to go the book route. Then again, I am notoriously cheap when it comes to software.

[El Fuego]

10. I bought Pimsleur's, and I love it.

Though it's very pricey. It is not as comprehensive as Rosetta Stone, but you learn fast with 100% retention. It's almost all audio, and totally addictive.

[meegbear]

12. All you really need to know is hello ...

just walk up and say "Tu madre es una puta". You'll be remembered in the Spanish community for your language skills.

[matcom]

13. that phrase is already a part of my 'broken knowledge'

as well as a few choice others :rofl:

[JVS]

14. Support your local Graduate Student, take a course. Plus you can hit on college girls