Customer Reviews

Rosetta Stone V2: Russian Level 1-2 [OLD VERSION]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Rosetta Stone series of language instruction software is "Pimsleur" level of effectiveness and unfortunately, Pimsleur level cost as well.

The programs work on a total immersion basis, with no English used at all. There are several types of drills, ones where you hear a word or sentence and pick it out of a group of pictures, another where you read the text of the word and pick out the pictures, etc. There are also typing drills in your language to help you spell (without having to download special fonts), pronounciation drills that allow you to hear a word, speak it to your computer and hear your voice in comparison to the native speaker played back to you.

This is the first program of it's type I've found where this feature actually works!

I own both German and Russian 1 and 2. There is a LOT to learn here, especially if you do all the types of drills for each lesson. You learn grammar from inference, such as word endings when the subject is "in" something rather than "on" or "under" it. You see the same endings used, compare them with the pictures and you start to recognize patterns.

But one of the best things about this software is the user interface. Since it's an immersion program, there's no English used and by it's very nature needs to be intuitive. This is how it should be done. I've used other types of language software that had a klunky, confusing interface with features that didn't work, etc. None of that is the case with the Rosetta Stone software.

On another note, I switched to Mac about nine months ago and Fairfield Language Technologies sent me out a new Mac OS X systems disc for free, no questions asked. At this price level you'd think this would be commonplace, but it's not. Adobe allowed me to change from PC to OS X when I upgraded from Photoshop 6 to 7, but Macromedia wouldn't and expected me to buy all new software (I didn't). So kudos to FLT for their stellar customer service!

Is it too expensive? I'd say yes, but this is a serious language learning tool for serious self students, and it's a lot cheaper than classes at the U. The axiom is true with both this and the Pimsleur method tapes; you get what you pay for.

After studying Russian, by myself, for about six months, I found that although my knowledge of the grammar and the vocabulary had progressed, my speaking and listening skills remained poor. I decided to buy Rosetta Stone Russian in order to learn how Russian words and sentences sounded. The programme was easy to install and easy to use. Best of all, I really enjoyed using it. The programme begins by showing four pictures and a word. The task is to pick the picture corresponding to the word. It is possible to choose whether the word is spoken or written, or both spoken and written. Gradually as you progress you meet simple phrases and eventually sentences and whole paragraphs. This method works really well as you are continually tested, while the whole learning experience feels more like a game than studying.

While the listening and reading elements of the programme work well, I found it was less successful with regard to speaking and writing. The speaking part of the programme involves attempting to imitate a native speaker. The programme compares the sound you make with what the sound should be. I generally found it almost impossible to imitate the Russian speaker in such a way that the programme considered I had done so successfully. I therefore found this aspect of the programme more frustrating than useful. The writing part of the programme unfortunately requires using a very fiddly onscreen keyboard, which makes the whole process very slow and tedious. The key thing anyway with writing Russian is learning how to form the letters by hand and no computer programme can teach you to do this.

I would suggest that someone beginning to use this programme should at least already know the Russian alphabet and ideally some of the grammar. Moreover to complete some of the exercises a dictionary is essential. There is no doubt that working through all the exercises is very useful. I found the programme especially good at helping me to learn vocabulary. This method of learning seemed to make the words stick in my mind. By the end I was able to understand long passages of Russian spoken quickly. It is important however to realise however, that a programme like this cannot be a substitute for studying Russian grammar in depth. I found when I went to Russia, after completing the Rosetta Stone course, that I still had difficulty in forming Russian sentences correctly. I could understand quite well and could pronounce the words reasonably, but I still needed to work quite hard to actually have a conversation. Nevertheless using this programme really helped my Russian, as studying on my own I would not otherwise have had any exposure to spoken Russian. The programmes good qualities outweigh its relatively minor weaknesses. I learned a good deal by using this programme and most importantly had some fun at the same time.

Overall the Rosetta Stone language program is very good. Arguably it is the best that's out there. You can read the other reviews and get a feel for the features of the program; You can also visit their website.

What you need to know:
You will pay a lot of money for this program, this is what you get: 1) An install/application disc which is the base program. This disc is the same disc that will come in all the Rosetta Stone programs. They are interchangeable. 2) You will get one CD that holds all the data for Russian One and Two. 3) You will get two workbooks, one for level I and the second for level II. Basically these workborks are a verbatum index of what is presented on the software. I would be surprised if you use them, in fact you can get better workbooks from your local bookstore for less than $15. Summary: You are getting one CD of data and two cheap workbooks for $300. THAT IS IT!

Finally, as the Fairfield lawyer explained to me, if you are not an authorized dealer, do not try to resell their software espicially on Ebay. If you don't like the software after you purchase the software, give it away or throw it away but don't sell it on Ebay. To do so would violate Fairfield's copyright. I learned the hard way when my Ebay item was removed.

Recommendation: 1) Shop around 2) Request a free demo CD from their website, know exactly what you are buying 3) Shop around again

I've studied four foreign languages in virtually every possible way of learning a language. Rosetta Stone's approach is a very nice combination of matching pictures with words in the language you're learning, with plain old (but very effective) brute repetition.

Some helpful notes for people considering this software:

If you simply hate repetition, you won't like this program. On the other hand, if you simply hate repetition, you will never learn a foreign language!

If you buy the program from Amazon, you can't use the manufacturer's money-back guarantee. (I asked Amazon this, and that's what Amazon said.)

The voice recognition component really does work, but only if you're patient and try out different things to figure out why your rating is low. I've think I've learned a number of things about pronunciation using it.

A completely unexpected benefit of the software is that I have learned how to touch-type on the standard Cyrillic keyboard (no joke!) and before even finishing the first unit. And I'm getting faster. This is because one of the components of the program has you write out what you hear. So you learn spelling very well (easy to get wrong in Russian) too, because you transcribe what you hear and you are corrected immediately.

Yes, it's probably overpriced, but it's totally different from a digitized version of a book, which is how some other language learning programs seem to me. It's more like a game, and a bit of an addictive game, too. So that's the other big advantage: if you find the method in general appealing, you might stick with it when you might not stick with other methods (but of course your mileage may vary).

Overall, Rosetta Stone Russian is an exceptionally useful tool to enhance learning of Russian. The pictures are well chosen, I found the pacing to be just right and I truly believe someone could get to an intermediate level just using the software. This is pretty amazing considering how difficulty Russian is for a native English speaker with minimal exposure.

The are a few exceptionally irritating quirks that I could live without, for example:
1. As far as I can tell, you don't learn how to say "Hello". I am living in a Russian speaking country and "Hello" in Russian is very difficult to pronounce. This makes NO sense to me at all. I wish they had a separate 'common phrases' lesson.
2. There is no English language index. For example if I really need to know how to pronounce something, like the days of the week, there is no way to know if it is included or where it is included. I can flip through lessons for hours with no luck.
3. One is not able to apply the knowledge immediately. For example, I can sit in my apartment and study for hours but it does me no good on the street, as I know how to say things like, "An old blue car and a new red car is parked on the street." People tell me it all comes together at the end...but really I would prefer some immediate gratification. I have trouble staying motivated as I don't see the result of my learning right away.

I learned the Russian alphabet from a friend, keep a Russian-English dictionary nearby when I get stuck and also take private lessons three times a week. In my private lessons we take a more traditional approach to language learning.

My private lessons are super expensive and overall I have learned more language from Rossetta Stone, so I would have to say Rossetta Stone works well. Russian is an exceptionally difficult language (compared to learning Spanish or French) so maybe I'm just taking out some of that frustration on Rosetta Stone.

I've owned this program for several months now and have enjoyed it immensely. It's fun and easy to use. My method is of course to keep a Russian/English dictionary handy to help learn new vocabulary.

I feel that many of the other reviews were unfairly critical of the program. With regard to common greetings and phrases, there are many typical sources that offer this (and little more). Rosetta Stone is for those individuals who already have the phrase book who are wanting to take the next step in their language development.

Additionally, this tool can't overcome grandiose expectations and poor study habits. If you expect to learn Russian by using this once a week, forget it. Our brains know where our priorities lie based on majority stimuli: the more time you spend with a language (allowing yourself to "drown" a little in the experience) the more your brain will realize "Hey, this person really wants to remember this stuff."

All I can say is that if you really, really want to learn and are patient and steadfast in the process, this is the best tool to help you take that next step.

Yes, it's expensive, but it's WELL worth it. You learn by both listening and reading, and it actually does a pretty good job of helping you pick up the cyrillic alphabet--although I suggest learning it separately if you want to learn the letters quickly. I haven't been through much of the program, and already I have a small vocabulary, with new words added every day.

Nothing beats the satisfaction of being able to read a sign or a poster without consulting a dictionary. I was watching a news story about the death of Slobodan Milosevic and I saw a Russian newspaper. The masthead read "glaz" (in cyrillic, of course, but Amazon's reviews don't take cyrillic fonts!) I knew that meant "eye" in Russian, and I was thrilled that I could understand it--thanks to Rosetta Stone.

The program makes you listen to words and sentences over and over until you get it. The boy is on the table. The boy is under the table. The table is under the boy. The boy is under the plane. The boy is inside the plane. Where is the boy? The boy is on the table. It's the ultimate training in sentence construction. You may not need all of these words (Cowboys? Elephants?) but by the time you're finished with a lesson, you know how to link them together.

Don't try to learn from a book--you'll never learn the pronunciation, emphasis, and cadence. Short of going to Russia, this is the best!

Learning with Rosetta Stone is fun, agreed. Easy? It depends. Frustrating? Certainly.

Everyone knows you learn through immersion, as do immigrants who assimilate. It's a nice feeling to know you can immerse yourself in a foreign language without leaving the comfort of your own bed to duck and hide from if it gets too scary for you. But can you truly learn what a meaning of a word is if it's in a huge sentence? So what anyone would do, or what I did, is when I was about to learn a new word I would write it down and look it up and all those new words I would study from with index cards. It worked but required me to do more work than what was advertised, but yet I still did it because I was committed on learning this language.

However, it can certainly go over your head like you would not believe. One unit can be easy, another unit can have long sentences trying to trick you with pictures that can mean several different things. But, again, any language can do that.

However you don't learn grammar such as tenses and structure, and Russian is quite confusing in that area.

I think rosetta stone is good for languages with the same type of alphabet and structure of your native language. I try to continue to use the program so I don't think I bought the lovely $300 program in vain, but I constantly feel as if I'm drowning. I don't think this program will get you all the way if your learning by yourself. Also understand that the company advertises that you can learn a language all by yourself with this program, a nice advertising method that probably boosted their sales, I know that's why I bought it. Using the program and taking classes is probably the better idea. When I took French years ago our class would use Rosetta Stone now and again at the computer lab and it seemed to go quite smoothly.

At least I know when I move to Russia next year I'll have another study material I can use, but I am disappointed I wasn't able to learn by myself, but yet again some people need a classroom to learn languages, I guess I'm one of them. Still, I have to think I will use it or I'll get somewhat depressed over the cost of it.

One thing is I would definitely give this five stars if I was taking a class along with this program. I could imagine the success I would have if I had such a great study guide as this one to help me in my studies. But I'm giving it three starts because I certainly did not learn so "easily" and "independently" as I expected to.

This software is an in depth approach to learning a language, however you won't learn "Hello", Goodbye","thank you" and other salutations in volume I. And this is for all languages since they are the same approach. If the first words you speak are "The color of the pencil is ...", this is the program for you.

I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 because I think some of the vocabulary you have to learn wasn't well chosen, for example the parts about cowboys and also there are some tools I don't even know the names of in English. Also you learn numbers kind of haphazardly. The vocabulary is repeated in subsequent lessons instead of being all new in each lesson. I guess that is ok but since you can review the old lessons anyway if I were buying this I would want as much as I could get for the money. The lessons are easy, most of the lessons are beginning, not intermediate, with short sentences or just words. But occasionally you come across some harder lessons.
This is good if what you need is listening and speaking practice. You can always get a grammar book at the library. I am currently trying the online version and so far I like it just fine. I wouldn't mind having my own copy but it is a little too expensive for me.