| Rosetta Stone Version 3: French Level 1, 2 & 3 Set with Audio Companion | 
 enlarge | From: Rosetta Stone
Category: Software
List Price: $549.00
Buy New: $494.10
You Save: $54.90 (10%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  35 reviews
Sales Rank: 115
Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Windows Vista, Windows 2000, Windows Xp, Mac Os X
Media: CD-ROM
Edition: Level 1, 2 & 3
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 6.4 x 2.9
Model: 21185
UPC: 794678211850
EAN: 0794678211850
ASIN: B001AFD20E
Release Date: June 16, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Promotion: Save $10.00 when you spend $50.00 or more on Qualifying Items offered by Amazon.com. Enter code BMLSAVES at checkout. Terms and Conditions
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 Good for beginners or "returning learners," like me August 14, 2008
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I studied French in high school but over the years I lost what little I learned there. I've been using Rosetta Stone to get me back up to speed and so far it is doing a very good job.
Rosetta Stone's method is based on a technique called "Dynamic Immersion." You're immediately thrown into the language you want to learn -- there's no English allowed. This sounds daunting, but the software starts you off at such a rudimentary level it isn't intimidating.
Thankfully, the app employs a good variety of interactive methods (matching pictures to sentences, writing caption for photos, hearing words and phrases pronounced correctly by native speakers, etc.) so the "by rote" factor stays low. Rosetta Stone says its techniques are modeled on how native speakers actually learn their own languages, usually while still kids, and I think that's a good description for what the software delivers. You start with words and then move on to phrases, and then with level two you get to conversations. Level three kicks the conversational up a couple of notches. It's a natural progression.
I really like how the program keeps track of what areas I'm botching and pulls me back into those areas for more work. I also like the pronunciation practice via the included headset, although I can't verify it's always catching me when I'm mispronouncing things. To my ear I'm doing OK, but my ear isn't the best, hence my use of this program. If I'm pronouncing things badly and the program isn't always catching my errors, I'm not sure how I'd know, if you see what I mean. (I'm sure I'll find out once I begin practicing on real people.) My hope is that I can nail the rudiments of French and get a good grip on simple conversations using Rosetta Stone before trying to find people to practice with/on, thus keeping my embarrassment factor low.
I think there are people who prefer a more standard "grammar-first" approach because they've found in the past that this is what works for them. I imagine there are also people who don't like looking at computer screens for lengthy periods. These are valid concerns. There are different pedagogical approaches for a reason -- not everyone learns in the same way. My guess is that Rosetta Stone would serve the majority of people very well, especially students who are comfortable with computer-based learning. Ideally, I think this program will work best for people who are studying a language using many "inputs" (text books, audio programs, computer apps, foreign-language media, the foreign language audio channels on your favorite DVDs, native speakers, etc.) All of these things will ultimately reinforce one another. The more immersion, the better.
Overall, I am very pleased with this product. The program's interface is well-designed, I've experienced no bugs or glitches, and I am making progress faster than I thought I would (or at least I think I am). I'd give the app five stars but I cringe just a little bit at the price. I don't think it is overpriced for what you get, mind you, but the cost -- well, it is what it is. There is a demo on the Rosetta Stone Web site that I encourage you to try before buying. It'll give you a good idea how well this program will work for you. If you like the approach, the price for all three levels is well worth it.
Keep in mind that learning any foreign tongue will realistically take a while. Rosetta Stone shortens the learning period a good deal and makes sticking with the program easier, but it doesn't promise total fluency. It's only a foundation. Still, it's a pretty darn good one.
 So far So good August 12, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Being that learning a new languag takes time, I cannot yet give a complete and fair review. However I am impressed so far. The 'total immersion/no translation" approach seems intimidating at first, yet it is indeed the most logical approach. The lessons rely on a user's logic anc common sense. I would describe it as a combination of a game of "memory that you played as a child.. and multiple choice.
Is it worth the MSRP of $550? Im not sure about that yet. Time will tell.
Want to Learn a Language, Get Rosetta Stone August 10, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
If you've read Jack's review, you know we both got the Rosetta Stone, French and Spanish. I loaded it on both my desktop and Viao no problem. The program does have to be authorized, much like the Adobe software, but it went without a hitch. You're allowed to put it on two computers.
I was going to learn French first, or at least try to master a basic understanding of the language, then move onto Spanish, and I did work with the French version for a few days as did Jack, but I've got a good friend who lives down the street, who's from Mexico and she just loves it that I want to learn her language, so not only do I get to use the excursus on my computers, my desk top at home and my Viao in the park, but I get to practice with a real live speaker of Spanish, which, when you think about it, isn't all that hard to find in America.
So first I work through the lessons, learning the basic vocabulary for things, verbs and numbers, then I practice them with my friend. Then I repeat the lesson. I don't use the microphone. I don't know why, just don't like the headphones and that thing in front of my face, I guess.
Anyway, my impression of the program is that it's probably the best way to learn a foreign language. I'm picking up Spanish faster than I ever would have dreamed and guess what, the other day, I found out that there's this girl who works at Borders who's from France. She's new to America and I came right out and asked her did she want to make a new friend who wants to learn French. She said yes.
Like I said, Rosetta Stone is a very good way, maybe the best way, to learn a foreign language and if you can add a native speaker into the mix and if you use the audio companion (I loaded it onto my iPod) and if you listen to radio station in your target language (we have Spanish radio stations here and I get a couple good French stations off the internet) then you'll be speaking in no time at all.
Sometimes an Old Dog Can Learn a New Trick or Two August 10, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Sara and I spend a lot of time in the Caribbean, actually we'd lived for several years on a sailboat between St. Martin and Venezuela and we dream of going back sometime in the not too distant future. In fact we've been looking at boats for the last couple months. Will we get back there, I surely hope so.
Sadly, when we were there we only spoke one of the Caribbean's three languages, English. I can't tell you how much greater the experience (not that the experience wasn't great, it was) would have been if we'd spoken Spanish and French, so when we got the opportunity to get the Rosetta Stone courses in the languages we so badly wanted to learn, we jumped at the chance.
These courses are expensive and sometimes you have to wonder when software costs this much, if you really do get what you pay for? The package is impressive, to be sure, but does the system work?
I'm thinking it does, but of course I won't know for sure for a couple months. I wish I had that much time to use the program, before reviewing it, but I agreed to get the review up as soon as possible. Anyway, I've been living with the program, almost married to my computer, for the last couple weeks and I really do feel like it's working. I did both programs for the first few days, but then set French aside, to concentrate on Spanish, but the learning process for both programs is the same.
You do a lot of listening, you read and listen, listen and read, listen and repeat, listen and learn. And I am learning, which is kind of amazing, because I've begun to think of myself as kind of an old dog, so I guess you really can teach an old dog new tricks.
Nice learning aid August 5, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Opening the package, I noticed the producty included several PC CD-ROMS, audio CD's, headset w/microphone, and instruction manuals. Installation was fairly straightforward although product activation is required. The activation process was a bit of a pain because during several attempts to activate, it appeared the computer stopped responding and we restarted. Finally, we decided to wait it out and after several minutes of apparent inactivity, a message appeared confirming activation. This was slightly annoying because we were unable to use the full suite unless we activated. after activation, we were prompted to configure the speech recognition. This was easy and it worked suprisingly well. The beginning lessons were concise and easy to understand. It basically teaches you a word and you repeat it and the speech recognition guages how well you did. Repetition is key and you do retain the information once taught. My daughter is a French honors student and she has already learned some content not yet taught in school. Overall, I think the lessons are pretty easy and the knowledge is retained if you approach it seriously. Overall, an excellent aid in learning if you are serious about the language and truly desire to learn, once you get past the installation issues.
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