|
| Rosetta Stone Version 3: Japanese Level 1, 2 & 3 Set with Audio Companion | 
 enlarge | From: Rosetta Stone
Category: Software
List Price: $549.00
Buy New: $475.00
You Save: $74.00 (13%)
New (3) from $475.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  39 reviews
Sales Rank: 265
Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Windows Xp, Mac Os X, Windows Vista, Windows 2000
Media: CD-ROM
Edition: Level 1, 2 & 3
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 6.5 x 2.8
Model: 21785
UPC: 794678217852
EAN: 0794678217852
ASIN: B001AFFYSW
Release Date: June 16, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 1-5 of 39 | | ... 8 NEXT » |
 excellent immersion course November 13, 2008
Approximately 3 months of usage now and going strong. I am able to recognize simple characters and basic conversation phrases in Japanese. Each level takes 1 year to fully complete, so this complete set is in effect a 3 year language course.
 Not good as a standalone October 21, 2008
I started my experience with the Rosetta Stone software with the Spanish (level 1, 2 and 3). With the Spanish version I have found that it has helped me understand Spanish as well as speak and write Spanish at a very basic level.
However, it helps tremendously that Spanish uses the same character set as English. With Japanese you have to learn not only a new language but also a new character set. It is hard--really hard. I gave up after set 1 because I was just making too many mistakes and was too frustrated.
I do think that if I had this as a adjunct to a "real world" training course that it would be a great supplement. However, as a stand-alone product I think it is just too hard to learn a new language and a new character set at the same time. I gave it three stars because it is a quality product and would be great for that purpose. But I took off two stars because they DO advertise it as though you can learn conversational Japanese just using this software.
Intutitive and Easy to Use September 18, 2008
Rosetta Stone Version 3: Japanese Level 1, 2 & 3 sfotware is intutive and easy to use. The software allows the user to install all 3 levels at once or piecemeal depending on your hard drive space requirement. It also has different exercises to test both visual and reading comprehension. The software grades the user's performance and will work on problem areas. It is dynamic immersion - there is no english anywhere once the lessons begin.
Two minor drawbacks (one style and one substance) hinder Rosetta Stone. The style issue involves the use of pictures. Rather than exclusively use cultural situations and settings, the pictures depict a myriad of cultural situations and settings. I suppose it is both cheaper and easier to do this when Rosetta Stone offers programs in 31 languages. The second issue involves the microphone and voice recognition software. Basically, it doesn't work. You can say almost anything and the program will grant you a passing score.
 Would have been nice September 16, 2008
1 out of 11 found this review helpful
I suspect I would have enjoyed this product very much if it had been compatible with my computer. Unfortunately, however, I had compatibility issues and was unable to use it.
Very effective September 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Rosetta Stone Japanese Course Levels 1, 2, and 3
Pros: The Rosetta Stone approach to language learning is a new (and quite frankly, effective) one. Instead of learning vocabulary and grammar through repetitious rote memorization, Rosetta Stone utilizes the user's own deductive logic and inherent learning abilities to make the language fun and much easier to master. Each unit begins with the introduction of new sounds and words. You aren't expected to know what the words mean at this point, but you are encouraged to repeat them and listen to how you sound compared to native speakers. This is accomplished by using the included headset and microphone in conjunction with visual feedback of your voice.
Next comes the vocabulary section. As I mentioned before, you are not given direct translations of the words; instead, you are shown a series of pictures that help you deduce the meanings of words and how they fit into the structure of the sentence. It becomes a sort of detective game, as you are given a sentence written entirely in the language, and using your brain, you come to instinctively pull it apart to find the meaning. After you find meaning to your words, the Phrases and Speaking sections help you put it into practice and solidify everything you learned in the unit. Add to that the included CDs full of audio lessons and samples of native speech, and you have a full package that turns an incredible task into an enjoyable experience.
Cons: The only real con I could find with the software itself was the price. It may seem like a large price to pay for some CD-ROMS and a USB headset, but after using the product for awhile, I have come to see its true value. I have taken nearly a year and a half of college-grade Japanese, and I still have learned a great deal from the software. Also, the presentation of the material makes it fun enough for leisurely learners and youths. So even though the price tag is a bit exorbitant, it beats the heck out of paying for 2 years of college language courses!
Intended Users: This is where Rosetta Stone courses really shine. Not only did I have a go at the program, but I set up user profiles for my mother, father, sister and nephew in order to get a good cross-sectional view of how different ages and educations would react. All were positive. Perhaps the greatest surprise to me was my father, who is a very stern "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" kind of guy found himself getting caught up learning a language that he didn't even have a need for! All in all, I'd certainly suggest this program to anyone looking to learn another language, brush up on one that may be slipping away due to lack of practice, or just looking to stretch their mind a bit.
|
|
|
Copyright
©
2006 Adminpal LLC | |
