Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1531 in Software
• Brand: Rosetta Stone
• Released on: 2007-10-09
• Platforms: Mac OS X, Windows XP

Manufacturer's Description
Rosetta Stone is the world #1 in language-learning software.

Escape the endless tedium of translation, memorization and grammar drills. Get the language you want, the skills you need and the success you deserve by learning a new language naturally the same way you learned your first language.

You learned your first language without translation. This happened easily and naturally by connecting words to objects and events around you. Learn a new language with Rosetta Stone the same way: using native speakers and thousands of real-life images to help you think in the new language from the very beginning.

Studies show that learning exclusively in the new language, without translation as a crutch, is crucial for effective learning. Our exclusive Dynamic Immersion method reinforces your own natural language-learning skills with our award-winning instructional technology. You identify your learning goals, and then choose customized courses that take you there. The timeless immersion method, along with our research-based techniques and new technologies make Rosetta Stone the clear solution to your language-learning needs.

What will you be able to do?

You will understand everyday language through our proficiency-based listening and reading activities.

Pronounce words correctly after practicing with our proprietary speech recognition and analysis tools.

Speak without a script. Contextual Formation makes sure you have the confidence and the cues you need to get the words out on the spot.

Spell and write accurately, building gradually from letters to words and sentences.

Engage in real-life conversations. With our Milestone activities, gain confidence using speech alone to get around and get what you need.

Retain what you learn. Our unique Adaptive Recall reinforces language so it sticks with you in the real world.

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

Quick, simple, effective... but a bit expensive.
Ok, so first of all there are a lot of bad reviews about this product, which i was weary of before buying. i read one which said that it teaches you like a child and adults need to read books to learn a language. Whilst i agree that the techniques are very simple, i completely disagree that a book would serve you better.

Rosetta Stone concentrates on teaching you a language (pronunciation and spelling included), not specific phrases you may need for a holiday. The whole process is quite repetitive and sometimes slow (it can feel like you're going over the same thing again and again, then you realise how easily you've learnt it), but the point is, it's not quick learning an entire language. It features images, speech recognition and typing tests so you can learn (as a child would) to speak fluently. Some may find it tedious, but it really drums it into you. Picking up the new words and phrases is fast and actually interesting. It managed to keep my attention longer than my French phrase book.

I really liked that you can identify the picture that goes with the phrase, then it turns it round so you choose the phrase that goes with the image. I've used some other software that only did the former, and found it was too easy to 'cheat'. By reversing it, it really gets you thinking.

Another thing I liked is that there is no English translation. Instead you work it out from the picture. Like I said, it's easy to pick up and I enjoyed not feeling like I was reading a vocab book.

After the first day I noticed a VAST improvement. I took French for 5 years in school, yet didn't manage to pick a lot up in the long term. After using it for about half an hour a day, for 2 weeks, I can now string sentences together and my vocabulary is better than ever.

It's quite expensive, but if you want to learn a new language, and are willing to put in the time, then this is for you.

Got me talking, despite my previous disasters.
I found Rosetta Stone's method of teaching very engaging and think I made progress quickly. This was a relief because I had struggled learning French for what seemed liked forever, despite absolutely loving the country!

What I liked about Rosetta Stone was (1) the fact that it does not use translation at all. I just got what the words and the speech meant from connecting them to the pictures of what was going on. (2) I really enjoyed the speech recognition. It's wierd for me to get that a computer can actually "understand" what you're saying and grade what you say against a native speaker. I liked the feature where you could slow down the speech of a native speaker and match your pronunciation against a visual representation of what they said.

So it worked for me. I wasn't going to become an advanced speaker, but I felt I was able to get by and more than that too. I guess to really be an advanced speaker you have to be in country, but even though I would love that, I cannot afford a 12 month holiday in France.

Best course available
I am totally happy with my Rosetta Stone courses. First I bought the Italian course, and in three months I was able to stay in Rome for three days without having to revert to English. Then I got the French course, and I have enjoyed working my way through it. The best thing about it is that the progress is slow and you really learn something. Compared to Hugo's courses (which are good as add-ons), you learn to speak the language. I recommend that you repeat each phrase three times, even if you are not required by the section of the course you're at to speak it out loud.

Highly recommended, but expensive. My Spanish course awaits me.