-
By Instrumentation
Books on Music
-
-
-
Accessories
|
|
|
|
| 
 enlarge | From: Rosetta Stone
Category: Software
List Price: $549.00
Buy New: $475.99
You Save: $73.01 (13%)
New (4) from $475.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  87 reviews
Sales Rank: 21
Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Windows 2000, Windows Xp, Mac Os X, Windows Vista
Media: CD-ROM
Edition: Level 1, 2 & 3
Operating System: Windows XP
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 6.5 x 3
Model: 20988
UPC: 794678209888
EAN: 0794678209888
ASIN: B001AFFZM2
Release Date: June 16, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Customer Reviews:
Makes learning (or relearning) a new language entertaining, challenging, and fun. October 16, 2008
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I'm using the Rosetta Stone Spanish version to help my poor Spanish speaking skills. I'm an American-born Hispanic, grew up in a bilingual household and bilingual schools early in my life, but speaking Spanish for me has always been a stumbling block I struggled with. As a young kid, when I tried to speak Spanish, I got laughed at by other kids...so I stopped doing it.
Rosetta Stone Spanish is helping me get past my fears by practicing and speaking Spanish in the privacy of my home. I can speak, review, re-review, and have fun without the pressures of "perfect performance" or getting laughed at. (But I'll laugh at myself.) While a lot of it is very familiar with me, especially in the early stages of the lessons which flew by quickly, it's nice to ease in and work my way upwards.
A part of me is disappointed that I didn't pick a different language like French or Japanese, even though I really need to practice my Spanish. Seeing how Rosetta Stone up their simple yet creative lesson plans, I really wished I was learning a new language from scratch. Really!
The Rosetta Stone kit includes the lesson plan software, audio CD for practice, and a set of USB headphones with a built-in boom mic. The headphone are nicely built and wear comfortably. (But, like most headphones, your ears do get tired and sweaty after prolonged use.) There's also a set of decals to use on your keyboard, if you wish. The decals are helpful but not required to use on your keyboard. Most often, the program will show a virtual keyboard on the screen to help you find the keys you need.
It supports multiple users, so my whole family can take of this program and tailor the lessons to our specific needs. The lessons plans slowly increase in difficulty making it easier to keep pace, especially in a total immersion environment. This is great for me because since I started doing Rosetta's program, my kindergartner now wants to learn Spanish too. I was able to setup a lesson plan for my young son and set his levels to "Easy" to accommodate his young speaking voice and learning skills. So far, so good. And he has fun doing it.
The program appears to be quite lengthy, so if you're thinking you can learn a whole new language in a week, think again. Each lesson session can take anywhere between 10 to 30 minutes to complete. There are plenty lessons for each level you accomplish, then you keep going up from there. Rosetta Stone is not a crash course in language learning; it more like a computerized school course with several grade levels you do at home.
Rosetta Stone has been far more practical to use on a laptop where I can move it to a quiet private place in my home to practice. Having a quiet place is crucial. The voice recognition program easily picks up background voices (TV, radio, family, etc.) easily and frustrates your efforts. It's happened to me on several occasions. And since lessons include speaking out loud back to the computer from time to time, you may not want to be close to anyone preoccupied with TV/phone/etc. or do this in a public place where they will look at you funny. (Anyone who plays with Brain Age or similar on Nintendo's DS Lite can relate.)
I have not finished the complete program yet, but have valued what Rosetta's program has offered so far for me and my family. I'm getting more confident with my Spanish speaking abilities which is priceless for me. My son is learning a new language at his pace. My husband is gleaning off of my abilities to help him in bilingual situations. It's been a win-win situation so far.
If it weren't so pricey, I'd gladly buy more languages to have fun with. But if a situation ever arises that requires that I learn a new language, I will seriously look Rosetta's programs to fill that need.
 Helps you learn some, but not a ton. October 16, 2008
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
I plan on getting hired by the Border Patrol, so I figured I'd get a head start on learning Spanish now, since it's required to speak Spanish fluently to graduate their academy. I got the program, and breezed right through the various levels. By the end of it, I don't feel very confident in speaking or listening to the language. To start with, the program speaks at about 1/10 of the actual speed a person would talk it. I think you'd have to combine this with some more learning to because fluent in Spanish. I'll still end up taking Spanish classes at academy... they'll be far easier since I took this, but I'm still far from being fluent.
Very good program... October 9, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Having had 2 years of college Spanish, and having been in an immersion program in Ecuador for 10 weeks - the value of this software is tremendous. As a stand alone course with out any other Spanish training, I would find it mentally challenging to master. But to complement a high school or college class, it is very good.
My complaint is that running on my AMD64 computer, it is a little slow. Version 3 is a big improvement over V2, with less emphasis on the progressive tense. The future and past tense are introduced earlier, and is very helpful in the early language development.
I wish there was a little more of a pause at the end of some lessons for you to review the sentences, vocabulary, and spelling. Instead, the answer are flashed quickly, and the next question is presented.
I know that to be a true "immersion" program, a dictionary was not allowed. But a few words are hard to comprehend, even with repeated exposure. You can not minimize the program to go on the net to look up a word. So having a spanish dictionary nearby is helpful. But 99% of the vocaburaries are easily comprehended from the photos.
Of the language programs I have used in the past, this has been the best. But again, it is best to use this program in conjunction with a formal Spanish course. Or after you have mastered some basic Spanish instruction.
 Great Product October 7, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Great Product - confusion on the ordering. this product includes the microphone headset, but amazon recommended purchasing a separate set.
Rosetta Stone: Stone-cold Awesome! October 6, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I'm a third year colledge student. I phave a two year degree but needeed general course credit before I could transfer. When I enrolled in a college level Spanish course, I wanted to make sure that whichever teaching style the instructor used (All, dialouge in Spanish once in the room, Textbook study and translatio, or a mix) I would be ready.
I've been using it for a month and the results *ahem* speak, for themselves. I have a larger vocabulary than my classmates, superior skill at constructing sentences, and my spoken pronouciation is far ahead. All thanks to Rosetta Stone!
I've been recomending it to everyone I know!
|
|
|
| |
