Customer Reviews

Rosetta Stone V3: Italian, Level 1, 2 & 3 [OLD VERSION]

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

 

 

As with most things, you'll get out of this whatever you put into it. This isn't osmosis, and you'll have to work -- but the efforts will pay off. I'm using it on 2 different Mac systems, and I have no problems whatsoever. Interface is intuitive, everything is easy to follow -- all you have to do is commit to the process and let it do its thing. Before you know it, you'll notice that the language really is seeping into your head, and you'll start to notice yourself speaking in your mind what you're seeing around you.

Commit to a routine schedule, daily if possible, to make sure you don't spend too much time away from the process. Also, give it time, and don't get frustrated if you have to go slow or keep redoing lessons -- just redo whatever you need to, knowing that you'll learn it all the better the next time through.

My son has struggled with his Jr & High School Italian classes for years --just couldn't get him to put in the time, and study. This absolutely caused a big change! Now studying Italian is like playing a computer game - I can't get him off it. He's gone from failing to A grades. I wish I'd bought this years ago.

The method employed in Rosetta Stone is similar to the intense method
to which I was exposed in college. Thus far (after three weeks), I've been
impressed by the ease of use, the logical progression of information,
automatic "reviews", and many other aspects of the software. If one spends a
half hour or so per day, the software provides an efficient way to learn new
information and to reinforce previously learned information. The quality of
the images, voice recognition, native speakers employed and combination of
speaking, listening, reading and writing make Rosetta Stone Italian
both effective and fun. I would highly recommend the product.

BACKGROUND
Using Rosetta Stone French (v.3) on a Mac iBook G4 (10.3.9). Using home school addition. Have used it for last 6 weeks.

SUMMARY
In spite of the cost, the awkward port from Windows and difficult network set up, it's still best of class for learning a foreign language.

REVIEW
Powerful, detailed and complicated: those are the adjectives I would use to describe this program. If you want to learn the language, then this program systemically teaches it to you. It keeps record of your progress, gives tests and records your grades. It treats you as if you are a student in a classroom. Additional workbook, study guide and included microphone headset supplement the visual and audio CD disk. But having said all this, there are some things I wish as a Mac user that I would have known.

The set-up of the program is SO non-intuitive and non-mac like. This includes installation of the application and its MANY helper files needed to run in the background with the main program disk. In my former life, I was an Apple System engineer, so I am no stranger to the Mac and networks setups. But even this installation caused me to eventually have to call Rosetta's technical support for instruction. This is partially due to my complicated home network set up (I've got multiple Macs with multiple (non-Mac) Routers that work as Access Points and bridges), and partially because of the complexity of installation of the program itself. This is definitely NOT a "drag-and-drop", or "double click to un- compress" or even "double click and follow the step by step instruction" type of experience. It is "multi-step, enter by hand, enter in data and information" type of installation process.

That is what is most disappointing to me. This is a BAD PORT of a PC program. They did nothing to make the program conform to Apple program standards. This means there are many helper files (20 something??!!!) in various folders. There is a network component that HAS TO run in the background for the main language program to run. This means you have to always first launch this secondary program (or leaving it running all the time). If you run on a network (like I do), you have to assign the computer's IP address that the program is running on (can't use the default, non-network IP given by the setup program). If your computer ever is assigned a different IP address locally by your router (power goes out, etc), then you will have to make some changes or this network helper file will not launch, and therefore, the language program will not either.

Getting to the place to even begin to first use the program is a tedious and complicated process. Another helper program that keeps track of the students progress must also first be set up. The "teacher's" name, access settings, the "student's" name(s) and their access privileges must first be established. ALL THIS IS DONE AWKWARDLY AND IN AN IBM 90'S INTERFACE. Constant referring to the user guide is necessary. There is no way some one could figure out what to do by only looking at the screens.

And this is the main criticism of the program, this clunky interface, non-intuitive layout of material is the same throughout the entire presentation of the language program. The program's strengh--the detailed comprehensive, multi-media presentation of material--is also it's greatest weakness. It's hard to follow where you are, where to go, what stage you are in, how much further you have to go on any given unit, lesson or session. The implementation of more than one user account and switching between the two is counter intuitive as well.

My 16 year old daughter, is now working her way through the program and has used it enough now to understand how to advance though it. But it was a slow start. She is enjoying the program and is learning the language of her love, and I have no doubt this program is a great help, I just wish more effort and forethought was given to making it more elegant in its presentation. Basically this looks to me like a 90's program in desperate need of a face lift. While calling the toll-free tech support and talking with a couple of different individuals, you quickly come to understand these people don't fully understand the Mac. The first individual had to pass me on once he discovered my Mac issues. The second was very polite and patient and we finally got my set up to work. But it wasn't easy for them since I was on a Mac. And I bet if you call you will get the same two people, They are, after all, not a help desk, but a language learning software company.

CONCLUSION
OK, so that's it. I hope this review was helpful. I've tried to share my experience for other Mac users so they know more of what to expect before they buy the program. A program that has (from my research) no other comparison as far as best in class for learning a foreign language, but a program that--in it's implementation and presentation as far as on Macintosh computers is concerned--leaves a lot to me desired.

Tom

Easy to use, easy to install. Documentation not that clear I had to play with the program on my own to find out what to do. Would be nice if a dictionary either written or in a file were available. Plan to buy the Spanish one for my wife and onec I finish the Italian will probably get the French one.

Very easy to use and intuitive product. Have tried several other products because I did not want to spend the money on Rosetta Stone. When it was all said and done, I just wasted my money on the other products and forked out the money to get a class product.

Innovative, informative & fun to use. Buyer should be aware, however, that this program alone (including all 3 levels) will provide only a base or supplement for learning the language and a very expensive one at that.

Am enrolled in Italian 101 and find that the Rosetta Stone V 3 has helped me apply what I'm trying to learn in class. IMMERSION - the best way to learn a language as one absorbs the knowledge rather than just cramming information into the brain!
My first language was Spanish and learned English by "Immersion" in school at a time when no one in class was able to communicate with me (no such thing as ESL in those days).

Am planning to purchase Rosetta Stone in Spanish as a Christmas gift for my family as Spanish is very necessary in the working world of today.

We previewed this product earlier. This newest edition is fantastic! It's a great help in learning the Italian language. We've been to Italy three times on our own thus far and hope to return a few more times. Getting comfortable in the language has helped us out of a couple of difficult moments. We hope to progress more to speaking the language.

I bought Italian Level 1, 2 & 3 a few weeks ago. I have almost gotten through level 1 so far. I am satisfied with the product. It is easy to understand and navigate. The concepts are introduced in a logical manner. It is entertaining enough to encourage countinuing with the lessons. One negative point about Level 1 at least is that sometimes it moves a bit too slow and doesn't let me practice enough on things that I don't immediately get. It offers the answers to the questions too quickly without allowing for sufficient time to think through what the answer should be. Otherwise, I think this is a very good tool to get the basics of the language.

Also, I saw in some other reviews that people were not sure whether it would work with Vista. I have Vista and haven't had any problems so far.