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Rosetta Stone?

RhinoRhino TheRhinLOLRegistered User regular
edited October 2009 in Help / Advice Forum
Has anyone ever used this? I tried finding some reviews online, but they all sound like guerrilla marketing. Seriously, who uses the full legal name with copyright symbol when doing a review as a "first time buyer".?

Anyways, anyone on here use it? Good/bad?

Do you have to be at the computer to use it, or can you listen to it on an mp3 player?
I heard they'll try to sue you if you try and sale your used copy?

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Posts

  • Sir CarcassSir Carcass I have been shown the end of my world Round Rock, TXRegistered User regular
    edited October 2009
    I don't own it, but I've used it before. It seemed pretty good. But I'm pretty sure you have to use the computer. It involved a lot of clicking on pictures and typing things out. There's also even a part that uses a microphone to help with your pronunciation. It's definitely better than just something you listen to, but I can't say if it's completely worth the price as I haven't spent any real time with it.

    Sir Carcass on
  • RaneadosRaneados police apologist you shouldn't have been there, obviouslyRegistered User regular
    edited October 2009
    it's interactive you have to use a computer to use it

    i used it a little bit a while back and I have to say I found it very very easy to use and remember

    Raneados on
  • JasconiusJasconius sword criminal mad onlineRegistered User regular
    edited October 2009
    The consensus I've seen here and other places is that it's good for latin/germanic languages which relate closely to your native language, but for Asian languages it is substantially less good.

    It does a very good job of searing vocabulary into your mind.

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  • ShogunShogun Hair long; money long; me and broke wizards we don't get along Registered User regular
    edited October 2009
    Actually I have used it for mandarin chinese and its awesome but what you have to keep in mind is that Rosetta Stone is purely for speaking. You learn practically nothing of the written language you are studying. I suppose it depends on what you want to get out of Rosetta Stone. When I say I want to learn chinese I want to learn chinese not just how to speak it moderately. However for speaking it is fairly thorough and the vocabulary is good. Its also quite fast which is very handy but it is also expensive.

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  • kitchkitch Registered User regular
    edited October 2009
    You can listen to Pimsleur on an mp3 player.

    e: It comes with some manuals/lessons. Sometimes you can't really get how the vocab is spelled (romanized, of course) so you don't know how to truly pronounce it other than mimicking the narrator.

    kitch on
  • RhinoRhino TheRhinLOL Registered User regular
    edited October 2009
    Shogun wrote: »
    Actually I have used it for mandarin chinese and its awesome but what you have to keep in mind is that Rosetta Stone is purely for speaking. You learn practically nothing of the written language you are studying. I suppose it depends on what you want to get out of Rosetta Stone. When I say I want to learn chinese I want to learn chinese not just how to speak it moderately. However for speaking it is fairly thorough and the vocabulary is good. Its also quite fast which is very handy but it is also expensive.


    That is a good point. I am learning Latin, mainly so I can read/write it. It's not like I can ever foresee myself having a converstation with Latin...

    It's not worth it for that?

    Rhino on
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  • sirchrissypoosirchrissypoo Registered User regular
    edited October 2009
    I used it for learning Japanese, and it worked pretty well. I haven't had the discipline to keep up with it, but it does work. Thing is, you gotta use the thing ALL THE TIME in order for it to really take.

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  • HypatiaHypatia Registered User regular
    edited October 2009
    Shogun wrote: »
    Actually I have used it for mandarin chinese and its awesome but what you have to keep in mind is that Rosetta Stone is purely for speaking. You learn practically nothing of the written language you are studying. I suppose it depends on what you want to get out of Rosetta Stone. When I say I want to learn chinese I want to learn chinese not just how to speak it moderately. However for speaking it is fairly thorough and the vocabulary is good. Its also quite fast which is very handy but it is also expensive.

    Pretty much what Shogun said, for Latin since it's the same alphabet I wouldn't be worried. I've also got it for Chinese and it really really sucks for trying to learn how to read and write, but it's fine for the listening comprehension/talking part.

    Hypatia on
  • adytumadytum The Inevitable Rise And FallRegistered User regular
    edited August 2011
    ...

    adytum on
  • juggerbotjuggerbot NebraskaRegistered User regular
    edited October 2009
    Adytum pretty much has it. It's very useful if you just want to pick up a few phrases and words for a vacation, but definitely not if you have aspirations as a professional translator. It also helps to know your own languages' grammar. I facepalm every time I hear a Spanish classmate translate "I was going" as "Fui yendo."

    juggerbot on
  • EskimoDaveEskimoDave Registered User regular
    edited October 2009
    Adytum explained it better than I could. I started using it with French. It was the same. All I learned was how to say whether it is a female/male child/adult swimming/running.
    No teaching of the root words of 'nager' or 'courir'.

    You do learn languages using it, but its more in the way a phrase book teaches you a language.

    EskimoDave on
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