Who has used the new version of Rosetta Stone?

[ZeroTX]

Hi guys,

I am looking at Rosetta Stone as an option for me and/or my wife for learning Spanish. I might like to try it for another language as well. But, it's pricey... is it worth it?

[tacuba]

Originally Posted by ZeroTX

Hi guys,

I am looking at Rosetta Stone as an option for me and/or my wife for learning Spanish. I might like to try it for another language as well. But, it's pricey... is it worth it?

You should ask Laepelba, I think she's been using it for awhile. I used it for awhile but I did not like it. It's very professionally produced and very slick, but for whatever reason RS and I just didn't get along that well:>)

But that doesn't mean that you and RS won't get along.

BTW, I think if you go to their site, you can take it for a little test-run.

[ZeroTX]

It looks a little simplistic. Does Level 3 get into advanced vocabulary and subjunctive uses?

[literacola]

It is pretty simplistic. I had to start at about level 2.5 to get to my level (which is still very basic). There is another new product out called Fluenz I believe that has really good reviews on amazon and takes a totally different approach.

[ZeroTX]

Originally Posted by literacola

It is pretty simplistic. I had to start at about level 2.5 to get to my level (which is still very basic). There is another new product out called Fluenz I believe that has really good reviews on amazon and takes a totally different approach.

Hmm, in that case, nah. I will stick with the other things I'm doing right now

[laepelba]

I just discovered this thread. For the record, I took four years of Spanish 20 years ago in college and don't remember very much at all. I started with Rosetta Stone in October and attempt to sit down with it two or three times a week (I've got a lot of other things going on, though, so I don't always get that frequency that I'm looking for...)

For MY learning style and level of Spanish (and I'm a mathematics teacher by training and by profession), it works VERY well. It is completely picture based ... and does NOT have you translating ANYTHING. That is what has me sold on it. I'm not yet to the point where I can handle any changes in verb tenses - everything in the present for now. Given that qualification - the program has helped SO much.

Of course, I'm supplementing it ... with Tomísimo, with some other online things, with listening to music and watching Telemundo, and I have recently found someone to "tutor" me (i.e. someone to sit and have coffee with me for an hour each week while she forces me to speak spanish with her. )

Hope that's helpful for anyone else who stumbles upon this thread....

[Jackson]

I have been using RS for Spanish also, however I'd have to agree that it is very, very basic up to level two, and that for the extensive price tag it may not be quite right for anyone who is currently or has had any significant training in Spanish already.

I'll qualify this by saying that it is fantastic when used in conjunction with some basic language curricula to get basics about grammar down and to get some additional vocabulary going. I'm also using the Vistas language material, and I practice vocabulary on my own. In doing this I am trying to learn Spanish the same was I started learning English when I was 8 years old - I had immersion (through going to school in the States with all English-speakers), and I trained also with written material and studied vocabulary extensively. RS provides the immersion, primary-language learning style, while I am able to learn a greater volume of words through more standard study with Vista and my trusty 501.

We will see how it goes , but I can say that nothing replaces immersion...

luego,
Jackson

[Rusty]

I agree, nothing beats total immersion.

Based totally on different things you provided in your profile and your post just above, I assume your mother tongue was French (probably Québécois, right?).

[Jackson]

Yep! I'm from Red Lake, Quebec originally.

[Zizek]

I have been using this software for 9 months and I love it:
http://www.tellmemorestore.com/product.asp?specific=305

I researched Tell Me More and Rosetta Stone before buying and Tell Me More beat RS at every point in my opinion. They have a demo of an older version on the site, but the Performance edition is much better than the demo. It includes all ten levels in one package. I am currently at level 3.5. I can understand a lot of written and spoken Spanish, but I'm not comfortable with forming complex sentences yet.
With the software comes access to a weekly online lesson and tests to gauge your progress as you move through the levels.
The only thing that some people might not like is that the Performance version is Castilian Spanish. When I ordered, however, I whined and they threw in the Latin American dialogue disc from another version for free.
My husband took seven years of Spanish in college and I've had him check out the software to tell me how good it is and he was pleasantly surprised by how thorough it is - he plans on using it to brush up and advance a little further. Plus, it's cheaper than Rosetta Stone @ $370.00 with more levels.
I highly recommend at least checking out the demo. Hope this info is helpful!

[Fazor]

I've recently tried out RS. I think it's a good supplement tool, but for me I prefer a more academic method. The "Immersion learning" helped me remember some vocab vocally, and it is nice to be able to hear words spoken in the language you are learning. But I'm a very bad speller (even in my native tounge), and with only a "use-based" approached to words and conjugation, I don't end up learning what I'm doing (instead just paroting what I hear).

So I really think it's going to depend on your learning style.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Fazor

I've recently tried out RS. I think it's a good supplement tool, but for me I prefer a more academic method. The "Immersion learning" helped me remember some vocab vocally, and it is nice to be able to hear words spoken in the language you are learning. But I'm a very bad speller (even in my native tounge), and with only a "use-based" approached to words and conjugation, I don't end up learning what I'm doing (instead just paroting what I hear).

So I really think it's going to depend on your learning style.

May I ask you what is RS?

[tacuba]

Originally Posted by irmamar

May I ask you what is RS?

Rosetta Stone.

[bobjenkins]

Hola

He tratado muchas programas para aprender al español Mientras rosetta stone es un buena programa, y tiene un gran nombre jeje, prefiero tellmemore. Tellmemore me ayuda a entender gramática más fácil que rosetta stone.

Sí, las dos programas son muy caro, no duda, pero ellos me han ayudado a aprender tan mucho, tambien con mis amigos de Tomísimo me enseñan a comprender ese lenguaje

¿Es posible que puedas comprar las dos? tengo no duda que vas a encontrar la programa la que te ayudará mucho

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by tacuba

Rosetta Stone.

Of course!

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by bobjenkins

Hola

He tratado muchas programas para aprender al español Mientras rosetta stone es un buena programa, y tiene un gran nombre jeje, prefiero tellmemore. Tellmemore me ayuda a entender gramática más fácil que rosetta stone.

Sí, las dos programas son muy caro, no duda, pero ellos me han ayudado a aprender tan mucho, tambien con mis amigos de Tomísimo me enseñan a comprender ese lenguaje

¿Es posible que puedas comprar las dos? tengo no duda que vas a encontrar la programa la que te ayudará mucho

I have one couple to ideas of as you can learn the language faster than now, if you have the opportunity to get movies's Spain, I know that if you try to understand them thus as you try to read the post in Spanish, I know that it will help you to get better the structure of your language or whatever it will supporting you in the learning, because I have made it before, I watch the movies in English and later I try to understand them without translation in Spanish within of the same movie.

I know that you can do it.

Tomorrow I will be going again to my job because I don't be in my city and maybe I can give you some titles of some movies in Spanish for that you can watch them later.

[Arielle]

I've actually heard somewhere that you can download RS on certain sites, eliminating the price factor. I'm not encouraging illegal online activity, I'm just saying...

[Ferlas]

I just downloaded it, and I think it's great.

Then again, I've only been using it for 10 minutes. If you could get it legally without paying, go ahead. But if you can't, still try to get it, though I'm not encouraging illegal online activity, either.

[Fazor]

There's a big difference between what you can do and what you're suppose to do. Anyway, I haven't used the software much since I initially tried it, just because when I've been home I haven't spent that much time at my computer. It was fun, but it seems like it's effectiveness will really depend on one's learning style. For someone like me, I'd at least recommend a textbook or something to go along with the RS program.

[chileno]

Please, start reading a novel in Spanish, and copying what your read in a notebook. While doing this translate and pronounce what you are writing the best way you can. You'll be hitting this board more often and with REAL problems in your head!