Minniewannabe2
- Reviewed on Thursday, January 28, 2010
- Grades Used: 2nd through adulthood
- Dates used: 2007 through 2010
I am writing this review because we have upgraded from version 2 to version 3. While Rosetta Stone doesn't give a price break for upgrading, the money was well worth it for us.
We use Rosetta Stone for Chinese, Spanish, and German. My DD started at about age 7 and has been using the program on and off for over 3 years.
First, let me say that Rosetta is a little tough for a youngster who is beginning a foreign language. They'll do OK for a few units, but the program accelerates quickly, especially if the language is very different from English like Chinese.
Our family always begins with a babyish language program prior to starting Rosetta Stone. For example, The Complete Book of Spanish Grades 1 -3 and BetterChinese were great beginner programs for us. Then Rosetta Stone is a nice step up.
Version 3 of Rosetta Stone is miles ahead of version 2. The words and/or symbols are printed much larger. The voice recognition is much more advanced and can be fine tuned to abilities. Version 3 keeps up with where someone is in the program much better. This way, we can work for 20 minutes and get off without having to repeat the entire lesson if we weren't finished yet. Finally, grammar is introduced more rapidly and the user must demonstrate correct usage of grammar early in the lessons.
The photos and videos used for word recognition in version 3 are similar to version 2. Nonetheless, it's a good idea to restart at the beginning if one is switching to version 3. This is because different vocabulary is introduced at different times in both versions. If, for example, you feel fairly advanced in a language, just do the overview lessons for each unit rather than going through every little lesson. But still start at the beginning in order to complete your vocabulary.
I do not have the homeschool version, so I cannot comment on the record keeping features. At our house one has to have a grade of 90 or above to advance to the next lesson, so we don't have to keep up with grades really.
Many of the good features of earlier versions are retained in version 3. For example, the photos are interesting and clear, the speakers are concise and easy to hear. The program is fun and one feels like he is making good progress rapidly. Another poster mentioned the photos aren't so easy to interpret as one advances through the program. This is true to some extent, but I wouldn't let it shy one away. Usually the photos come in groups of 4 or 8 with a general theme. By looking at all the photos as a group, one can usually tell what to focus on in each photo. Nonetheless, it's a good idea to keep a dictionary close by. I usually look something up about once per 20 minute session in the advanced levels. The only shortfall with Rosetta Stone is that there is no way to click on a word and get the English translation.
Finally, I would like to comment on the Chinese version specifically. While all languages in Rosetta Stone use the same photos and progression of vocabulary, Chinese is a tad different in that one can choose between traditional symbols, simplified symbols and pin yin. Unfortunately, the typing is done only in pin yin no matter what form one chooses. But if one does choose the symbols, version 3 has them large enough to see well. Version 2 has the symbols so small that it's almost impossible for a beginner to figure out.
Rosetta Stone costs a ton of money. But we have spent a ton of money trying all kinds of foreign language programs, including many reviewed on this site. I can say, in my opinion, that if one can afford it, it's a great program to have. Each level corresponds to about 1 college semester so I feel it's worth the cost of the program.
Good luck with your decision.
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~Christy~
- Reviewed on Monday, November 30, 2009
- Grades Used: 9th
- Dates used: 2009-2010
Rosetta Stone is modern and very easy to use, but it also has some problems that I didn't notice until a few months into the Spanish program. The pictures for colors and simple verbs like swimming are okay, but now they are starting to use longer sentences and it's really hard to get that much information out of one picture, and they just aren't very clear in what they're trying to teach you. For example, they could show you a picture of a man sitting at a computer in an office building. The sentence meaning could be he is working, or it is nighttime, or it could even be something in the room like the computer. Or it could be the color of something like his shirt is green, or it could even be the type of clothes, like a coat, or his coat is brown. There are so many meanings in one picture and it's very confusing :(
I don't recommend it for young children...
After all the 5-star reviews I have read praising Rosetta Stone, I'm very disappointed that it hasn't worked for me. :(
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littleblessings
- Reviewed on Thursday, September 17, 2009
- Grades Used: Pre-K, 2nd, Adult
- Dates used: Fall 2009
We have been using the Rosetta Stone Arabic program for about a month now and are delighted. The kids have been making much progress as have I! We plan to finish all three levels in Arabic and then move on to the Spanish program.
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anne3boys
- Reviewed on Friday, August 28, 2009
- Grades Used: 3-5 and Adult
- Dates used: 2009
I and my 3rd and 5th grader are using this now to learn Spanish - Latin American. I love it. I have been learning for 2 years with Learning Spanish Like Crazy, and this has really sped up my learning. My 11 year old loves to do it. If you follow it as recommended, using the audio in the car or when you shop to reinforce learning it really sinks in.
There is a section with each lesson on grammar and it forces you to learn through conversation. I used this to learn for a mission trip and like how the units focus on a topic like "Dining" or "Shopping". The pronunciation practice is good for not seeing a persons lips move. I studied some grammar prior to learning, but only the basics of verb endings and a little conversation. I think this is the best way to become fluent quickly and have heard that from other fluent Spanish speakers who did mission work in Mexico. We may do another curriculum or grammar study later if necessary, but the great thing is that we are learning together and it's working. It is fun and addictive.
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