My review of Rosetta Stone | General discussion | Forum

Hello All,

After seeing all the negative reviews and comments about Rosetta Stone, I'd like to tell a little bit about my experience with the software for anyone who is contemplating using it. I started using Rosetta Stone to learn Italian about 2 and a half years ago and have since used it on and off for French and Dutch as well. Here are my thoughts about it:

PROS

1. You can open it up and dive right into learning the language without being overwhelmed with explanations of stuff. It cuts out ALL of the filler and gets right down to the point.

2. It is linear. You move in a straight line, and it guides you through each step. It's not like other software programs I've utilized that are basically like "ok, here are some games and activities, have fun." For a person like me, the linear format keeps me focused and engaged rather than having my mind all over the place.

3. You get images, audio, and written text, at the same time. This is extremely helpful because it means that you don't have to constantly refer back to pronunciation rules and try to determine how words are pronounced.

4. It gives you a percentage grade at the end of each lesson. This helps you gauge how well you are grasping the material.

5. It is divided and organized into levels, units, and lessons. Progressing through each section gives you a feeling of accomplishment, and gives you an idea of what your proficiency level is in the language.

CONS

1. It is very repetitive. While I have found that the repetitiveness does actually engrain the words in my memory and I am able to recall the words later, it can also get boring very quickly.

MY REMEDY: I only do each Core Lesson (which is where it introduces new material to you) and then I do Writing Practice (which is where you listen to a part of a conversation and then you type it out). I skip Vocabulary, Pronunciation practice, Grammar, Listening, and Speaking. That stuff is just repetition of what you learn in the Core Lesson, but it focuses on particular aspects of the material. By cutting that stuff out, I only end up doing about 30% of the whole program, but learn the same material, just with less repetition. While the writing tasks are no less redundant than the other sections, I enjoy doing them because it forces me to think about how words are spelled, which helps me remember them better.

2. The speaking portion sucks. It does not correctly understand spoken input, and will often act as if you aren't pronouncing things right even if you pronounce them perfectly. MY REMEDY: I skip the speaking portion, and practice speaking with a human being instead.

3. It is very expensive. I definitely understand the complaints people have about the price of Rosetta Stone. It is indeed costly. I just happened to get access to it free online through a contract my employer has with Rosetta Stone, so I didn't pay out of pocket for it. However, if I had the money and I had to pay the full price for it, I probably would if I were just starting out with a new language. For me it is truly a great way to get acquainted with the language and go from complete beginner to an intermediate level.

4. It has its limitations. Rosetta Stone is a great way, in my opinion (and for my personal learning style), to go from having no knowledge of the language to achieving an intermediate level of proficiency. It is not going to get you to an advanced level of proficiency, however. You'll need to start seeking other methods and resources at that point. Additionally, it is not a substitute for having a real human being to talk to and practice with. When I used Rosetta Stone to learn French, I had no real world exposure to the language. The result was that I can actually understand French fairly well, but I can't speak it. I feel almost mute in French. However, if i combine the knowledge I learned using Rosetta Stone with some real world practice with other French-speaking people, I believe I will quickly develop my speaking proficiency.

Well, I hope some people find my review helpful. Now, I'm going to start working on RS French Level 4. Au Revoir!