Customer Reviews

Rosetta Stone V2: Italian Level 1 [OLD VERSION]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have had some knowledge of the Italian language so I am not a total beginner, but pretty close to it. The reason I purchased this software is that I found myself loosing the little knowledge I had. How this program works is through picture recognition along with coinciding speech. For an example they will show you a picture of a bird in different sequences such as: flying, swimming, and the color of the bird etc... They also show people doing similar actions. By picture recognition, repetitive patterns, and hearing the words, you do learn the language. The pictures do build in a methodical way and eventually you do learn to form the words, and then into sentences. But, there is no explanation in the how and why the grammar works. The word "the" is different in Italian with respect to masculine, feminine, plural, and the program does not explain this aspect of the language. You learn merely by rote imitation. This indeed is how a child learns to speak a language. A nice feature to this software is that the native speaker does speak in a slow pronunciation, in some parts of the program you can really slow the speakers voice down and hear every syllable. The program allows you to record your voice so you can hear your progress. Learning in this way is fun and I do not find my mind wandering.

I have had some knowledge of the Italian language so I am not a total beginner, but pretty close to it. The reason I purchased this software is that I found myself loosing the little knowledge I had. How this program works is through picture recognition along with coinciding speech. For an example they will show you a picture of a bird in different sequences such as: flying, swimming, and the color of the bird etc... They also show people doing similar actions. By picture recognition, repetitive patterns, and hearing the words, you do learn the language. The pictures do build in a methodical way and eventually you do learn to form the words, and then into sentences. But, there is no explanation in the how and why the grammar works. The word "the" is different in Italian with respect to masculine, feminine, plural, and the program does not explain this aspect of the language. You learn merely by rote imitation. This indeed is how a child learns to speak a language. A nice feature to this software is that the native speaker does speak in a slow pronunciation, in some parts of the program you can really slow the speakers voice down and hear every syllable. The program allows you to record your voice so you can hear your progress. Learning in this way is fun and I do not find my mind wandering.

This will not work for you as the first or only program for learning Italian. It is great as a supplement to other methods of learning Italian. The method is entirely intuitive - there is no English anywhere, so you may also want to have a dictionary and a grammar book.

I have found Rosetta Stone language programs most useful for reviewing the information I have learned elsewhere, for brushing up on languages I haven't used for a while, and for expanding vocabulary.

It may not be the best choice for total beginners, but you can learn a lot by associating words and expressions with the images and occasional mini videos. I do consider it definitely a worthwhile purchase.

After trying two language programs before this and being highly disappointed in their performance I finally put out the money for this program. It is comprehensive and I have found it very valuable in it's method of teaching the Italian language. I highly recommend it.

The Rosetta Stone application requires that the language CD be present in the harddrive, and it *continuously* spins up the CD disk while the program runs. This unfortunate design will quickly run down your laptop batteries, making this application unsuitable for travel. My repeated requests to Fairfield Technologies, the Rosetta Stone software company, to remedy this problem were declined. Considering the substantial price paid for this software, it should *behave* like software, and not a DVD. If the application could be installed and run like normal software, it would not uselessly drain you laptop batteries.

Easy to use and fun. Eliminates tedious repitition and memorizing of rules. Great product to get you started. I only wish it had a dictionary included. Easier to use than most similar products. ****

My kids, 7 and 9 years old, are addicted to learning Italian using the Rosetta Stone system. After a year of trying traditional methods (workbooks, audio tapes and videos - all for children)without much interest on their part ("It's too much like school!" my seven year old complained)I was at a loss until a friend recommended the system to me. We tried the free demo CD (available at Rosetta's website) and I was delighted to see my kids enjoying the games AND spouting Italian words and phrases. We ordered Rosetta Stone Italian Level 1 Win/Mac Personal Edition from Amazon and now after just four weeks of daily five minute lessons (sometimes they play for a half hour) we are having mini Italian conversations. I am pleased that my kids enjoy the program and that they are learning the language without their mother nagging them. Che bello!

It may be a little more expensive than other language software, but I think it is well worth the extra cost. The total immersion method may seem a little intimidating, but you will be surprise at how quickly you learn as opposed to a memorization technique.

This is more like playing a game than work, and the information sticks with you! You don't even realize you're learning so much with the tiered system, but you put it all together in the end and it's easy!

This is an excellent way to learn how to speak Italian right in the privacy of my own home....it's like having a language laboratory right in front of me....I like it so much that I purchased one for my daughter....next I would like to get the French level to review my language skills there....