rosetta stone

[bricolage]

has anyone used it? is it any good?
also does anyone know anything about http://livemocha.com/?

[Zav]

It's a good program, but certainly not worth $500. Torrent it instead.:D
I've only played with the first levels of a couple languages, but I think I can gauge it based on that. The learning style certainly isn't for everyone, but you can get it free so give it a try. Language learning is always good.

[bricolage]

yeah I wasn't gonna buy it.

[Nox]

It's very repetitive, and unless you have a genuine passion for the language you're learning, you will get very bored very quickly.

Torrent it.

[Princess Luna]

It is confusing as shit to install, even when bought legitimately

[Janichkokov]

Livemocha is an excellent program, especially considering the price (free!). I am learning French with it, and it is fun, easy to use, and I believe it is effective. You should definitely check it out. I have never used Rosetta stone, but I think it uses pictures and stuff to help you get the word associations down, and Livemocha does that too.

[Zugunruhe]

It's a waste of your time. You can get everything you want from it through a couple of nice phrase books. It could get you to the point where you're having very simple conversations with people, but it's not going to teach you the German you'll need to read Das Kapital or the Spanish you'll need to watch the news on Telemundo (but maybe you could watch some novelas--I recommend Decisiones on mun2, it's remarkably progressive at times).

[Hermes]

Does it teach grammar at all? I attempted to do the Italian course a couple years ago, but it seemed like it was just teaching vocabulary. Do they go into grammar later on?

[Zugunruhe]

Does it teach grammar at all? I attempted to do the Italian course a couple years ago, but it seemed like it was just teaching vocabulary. Do they go into grammar later on?Kind of. They give a mild attempt at teaching grammar, but it's really not horribly effective. It's really focused much more on vocab.

[The Fighting_Crusnik]

I bought the v2 version of the Swedish and so far I'm enjoying it and seeing progress. However, v2 does virtually nothing for grammar compared to v3 and v4... only reason I went for it is because 1, I have a grammar book that I found for $10 and 2, like 97% of the structure of Swedish grammar is identical to English. But with that said, what language you are learning will play a role also. From what I've heard, the RS is great for Romance languages (ie Spanish, French, Italian) and Germanic languages (ie English, Swedish, German) but is incredibly poor when it comes to language isolates like Japanese and Gaelic and mediocre when it comes to lesser common languages like Arabic and Farsi. All in all, just research the specific language you're wanting to learn first and look for materials to accompany the Rosetta Stone and you should be good. :cool:

[wsg1991]

there is Rosetta stone and Tell me more , and you have to be disciplined in learning , it's gives you the basics , but you have to start watching that language videos (films\ series )

[The Young Pioneer]

Here's my opinion of programs like Rosetta Stone:

The supposed genius of it is to teach you from the ground up, like a child, you begin with cat, hat, fat, etc. You pick up some vocab, you pick up some simple word phrases and question answer scenarios. But how does that help an adult? The idea is to teach you as a native speaker learns, but in reality that ends up treating you like a native speaker is when they begin- i.e. like a baby. If you want to speak a language like an adult learning a language, there are much better routes. If you want to speak a language like a five year old native speaker, stick with Rosetta Stone.

If you're in the US there are some great language programs you can attend on fellowships (in other words, for free), if the language isn't an extremely popular one. Right now I am doing just that for Croatian language. I have had three weeks of classes so far and can already understand a shit ton, more than I ever did with anything like Rosetta Stone or even regular school classes.

If you just have to study independently, my favourite is the Teach Yourself book series, which has a pretty good couple of textbooks for each language. That's where I got the basics of Russian. It explains grammar to you and illustrates ways to use the language in real life situations.

Someone else mentioned Live Mocha. While that does have some of the same qualities I find hindering about Rosetta Stone, it's free and offers a section for practicing your speaking skills, which is a great tool. At the end of each lesson you record yourself speaking and native speakers who also use the site critique you. Though, in turn, you will be required to critique people practicing your native language.

I'm such a language nerd, sorry for the tangent, best of luck to you, though.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

It's really shit. Seriously man. Really shit.

I learned more in like 2 days just going to Latin America than I did in weeks from their package.

As daunting as it seems, there is no better way to learn a language than to immerse yourself in it, in reality.

[bricolage]

As daunting as it seems, there is no better way to learn a language than to immerse yourself in it, in reality.
yeah I mean this is true and when I was in spanish speaking countries I picked it up really quickly, however I just don't have the time or money to do that at the moment so am looking for something I can do here. thanks for everyones comments on rosetta stone, my housemate said something similar and I'm not bothering with it.

another questions, does anyone know anything in spanish like say news reports that are read slowly or things I can listen to that might be helpful?

[bricolage]

(but maybe you could watch some novelas--I recommend Decisiones on mun2, it's remarkably progressive at times).
cheers, stuff like this sounds good.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

What Spanish do you want to learn? Like, Castellano (the mainland stuff) or Latin American?

Obviously there's a great difference. I mean, it might be useful to read www.granma.cu and see what you can pick up, and it'll probably be vaguely interesting too if you have any interest in Latin American/Cuban affairs.

[MotherCossack]

I went to see it at the British Museum last week..... me and the Kernal himself.....
it is most uninteresting..... i prefer the mummies .... they are soooooo cool....... especially the xrays and ultrasound scans.
I've been thinking..... i dont want to be buried in a coffin or cremated.....
I want to be buried at the seaside.... straight in the sand..... yo....
here she is the mummy cossack!!!