Customer Reviews

Rosetta Stone V2: Swahili Level 1

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

 

 

Unfortunately, Rosetta Stone has not updated its Kiswahili program in the way that it has done with more popular languages such as Spanish. As a result, this is a fairly short program that teaches a limited subset of the language. Also, this sort of point-and-click language learning cannot begin to address some of the harder aspects of Kiswahili grammar.

However, it is good practice and a good introduction to the spoken language before diving into a more thorough text-based resource such as Teach Yourself Swahili, or Swahili: a Foundation for Speaking, Reading and Writing.

I have been using this a short time but Rosetta Stone is a full feature tutoring system for learning Swahili. I have friends that speak Swahili and am able to understand the words I have learned, and they are surprised how well I pronounce them. The feedback using the microphone for me and the recorded native speaker for comparison allows me to get the pronunciation correct.

I could only progress so far with this program before I felt frustrated and had to purchase some Kiswahili grammar and conversational text guides to keep learning. Also, they don't offer much native visual or cultural context to the areas you might actually use this language in, which is something even my college-level Spanish and German courses stressed (for example, Workbook in Spanish First Year).

Rosetta Stone also hasn't released an update or improved this product in any way (they've been on Version 2 for a few years now), yet they have raised the price by at least 5% since I purchased it in spring of 2008. I get the feeling that Rosetta Stone is lazily and haughtily leaning on its reputation and market share in the absence of other strong competitors. I would give this product 3 stars if it weren't for the increasing price on an aging product.

I also should note that the DVD surfaces are coated with a heavy yellow paint which can cause an unbalanced disc and catching in some DVD drives. My disc gets caught every time I eject (on two different DVD drives now, one a Sony, the other a LITE-ON) and it scratched the foil clear through, affecting DVD performance. I contacted Rosetta Stone's customer service for a replacement disc, and they were quite rude and abrupt and told me they will not issue you a replacement disc unless you can prove you originally purchased it NEW (so don't count on any replacement of used versions purchased from used book stores or eBay). Thankfully, Amazon keeps records of your purchases online on your account, because I long since discarded the receipt that came with the box.

Also note: Not surprisingly, you CANNOT purchase any 'used' versions on Amazon from other sellers...they're not made available on Amazon.

Do not purchase this item if you think you are going to learn Swahili basics such as "hello" "please" "thank you", "how much" etc. This system is all about object identification, which is fine if you already have some basic language skills. As a tourist, I just wanted to learn commom words and phrases that could be used everyday in simple interactions. When I called Rosetta Stone the customer service agent told me I was wrong until she looked it up herself. I was very disappointed with Rosetta Stone and will never use any of their products again.

I can't really tell you how it works...because....IT NEVER DID!!!! I bought this program a few months before I left to live in Kenya permanently. Because Rosetta Stone has such a respected name, I sprang for it - an expense I would normally never even consider. In hindsight, I shouldn't have! I had to send for replacement cds 3 times, because they didn't work on my brand-new MacBook. Because I was in Kenya when I found that my second set of replacement discs didn't work either, I was stuck with useless cds until I returned this Christmas. Now back in the States, I've spent several hours on the phone with technical services and after uninstalling and reinstalling several times, making the issue even worse, they shifted the blame onto Mac and said I had programs missing! Even their top level techs couldn't resolve the issue - they just sent me an article on how to install some program. All-in-all, I'd never purchase another Rosetta Stone program - a private tutor is not expensive and works much better - I got a husband out of the deal :)

Do not believe it when they say 100% satisfaction guaranteed.

Two gifts were sent to us. They would not accept a return on the second one, despite the package being unopened. In addition they lied and said they could not take the product back because it was discontinued. Clearly they are still selling the language we received on a number of web sites.

They are not interested in negotiating even to receive a comparable product - and foregoing a refund.

I feel that is terrible customer service and a company that cannot be trusted.

On top of which the product did NOT help with the language when we reached our new home.

I would never recommend them!

Swahili is the national language of Tanzania. Having traveled there twice and planning to return as a healthcare volunteer, I decided that it was time I learned Swahili. I purchased the Rosetta Stone language learning program in part because there are not too many Swahili language programs out there. It is a full immersion program which is not my strongest suit. However, I have modified the program by adding my own written word supplements, vocabulary and grammar separate from the program. The program is good, I make no bones about that. It is just that I need more than immersion in order to learn a language so different from English as is Swahili.

My plan is to work in a hospital in Tanzania for one month per year and I think that this program will give me the basic Swahili that I need. The visuals are fun, colorful and effective. The program requires dedication and work, up to two hours per day. I love doing the work but feel that I am just not getting it all. I am looking for another program to supplement this one. I have just ordered the Pimsleur program and will try to do that one along with the Rosetta.

I failed miserably to get on with this course which was bought as a gift for me.

A lot of it may be my lack of exposure to the Rosetta Stone methodology of repetition, repetition, repetition, but the actual user interface for the Kiswahili course was so horrible, counter intuitive and unpleasant to use that I just stopped using the software and returned to a more conventional course.

The Mac OS X software is so old that it needs rosetta, you also must keep the dvds in at all time while using the course and most of the time I could not get the recording and playback sections to work with the microphone, which negated the features I really wanted to use (iesuch as stress training as Kiswahili stresses differently to english).

I saw a demo of the Spanish language course (no-one had the Kiswahili course to trial) which looked ok and had some nice features. But after spending several hours with this older V2 version, I had to get a refund.

I would recommend spending some time with a Rosetta Stone product and really understand how their training methodology works (its definitely not for me), also fully understand the refund policies as they are a little odd and evaluate strongly other products such, as Swahili as a Living Language or Colloquial Swahili.

But until Rosetta Stone update this product, I would steer clear.

I speak 4 languages, 2 fluently and the other 2 well enough to carry on a conversation. I've used Plimsleur courses and absolutely think they are the best and fastest way to learn a language. As I am trying to learn KiSwahili, I had already completed the Pimsleur basic course and was looking to try something else since Pimseleur doesn't carry an advanced course in Swahili.
I ordered the Rosetta Stone course and returned it the same day I received it. First of all, by phone, they promised me it would also come with CD's that I could listen to in the car,...it did not. The headphones made my ears sore right away, and the things they want you to learn are ridiculous! Who going to Kenya or Tanzania needs to learn the word, ball, or horse? Plus, since the entire course is in KiSwahili and there are no subtitiles, it's not clear if the word they are trying to teach means, little boy, child, teenager, or...
THEN...even though they didn't provide me with what they promised, they made ME pay for return shipping.
I think Rosetta Stone was trying an illegal "bait & switch" scheme by offering me something in order to get my money and then not providing it. Even it it weren't for that, the program is a waste of time when compared to Pimsleur!

This software is easy to use. The only thing to make it more user friendly would be the ability to use it on a portable DVD player, to use when traveling, etc.