Customer Reviews

Rosetta Stone V3: Latin Level 1 with Audio Companion

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

 

 

I am holding in my hand the CD for Rosetta Stone Latin, Level 1, Personal Edition, dated 2004. This review is a critque of that product.

The student begins with a preview of the lesson and views a picture and listens to a speaker tell him/her what is represented in that picture in Latin. No English is used at any point in Rosetta Stone. The student identifies the picture with the word. Once all the words have been learned, the student is given a chance to view four pictures. The speaker gives the word in Latin and the student points to the appropriate picture with the mouse and clicks on it. If the answer is correct, a check is given with an approving sound and another word is spoken. If the student is incorrect, an x is shown with a disapproving sound. The word is spoken again and the student has a chance to make another choice. Four choices are available and by a process of elimination the student will at some point make the right choice. So far so good. Much useful vocabulary can be learned in this manner.

Soon the program gives sentences, again illustrated in the pictures shown. In the beginning the sentences are all given in the present tense and it is not difficult for the student to learn the appropriate Latin and then select the correct picture from among those given. Later, however, the student is shown pictures in which the action taking place is located in the present, imperfect, perfect, or future Latin tenses. Additionally, the nouns are shown in various cases appropriate to the picture. Now the student must identify the appropriate tense of the verb and case of the noun. Without help at hand in the form of a grammar book of some kind and a Latin dictionary, the student must try to figure out what is happening to the words and why. This activity is time consuming and unhelpful.

Latin nouns, pronouns, and adjectives decline, that is they change form depending on whether they are in the nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, ablative, locative, or vocative case. Verbs are much more complicated and must be translated according to person, number, tense, etc.

Just as a start, the student must memorize the five declensions of nouns and the four conjugations of verbs and know them well or simply guess at an accurate translation of what is shown in Rosetta Stone. Instruction not given in the Rosetta Stone program is essential. Without instruction it is highly unlikely the student will ever be able to read or write Latin correctly.

If the student is serious about learning Latin and is progressing systematically with a Latin text of choice, Rosetta Stone is a useful aid to vocabulary acquisition and sentence recognition. It does not appear to me to be a "stand alone" product which even the brightest student can use to master Latin. For the significant amount of money spent on this product, the publisher should construct a text to explain the complexities of the Latin language and key the explanation to each lesson in the program.

For those who can afford it, I recommend Rosetta Stone as a supplement, not a stand alone product for learning Latin.

Unlike my Rosetta Stone: Italian program, the newer Latin program came with headphones and a microphone, adding pronunciation practice to my experience. Ironic, since millions speak Italian while spoken Latin is rare even among Catholic priests now. But what fun it is, not just the speaking but the grammar, vocabulary, and reading. I am having a blast. Thanks, Rosetta Stone.

 

Rosetta Stone has discarded its commitment to maintaining a solid reputation. Received the Latin I software. It required updates which has caused endless grief. After a battle to get the update on my system, the start icon to commence the lessons is inoperative. Of course, the help call-in # is not active at this time so I have to call on Monday morning.
I am not looking forward to beginning my week on Monday having to call Rosetta Stone to work through the software bugs.
Given that Rosetta Stone is charging premium prices, I would highly recommend that you consider other options as their software is problematic.
Sadly, this is the first review I have written after 100s of Amazon purchases.
Rosetta Stone is pathetic.

ZERO stars, really, since they included the incorrect activation code with the product and thus I cannot use it. I recieved the correct product - Latin Level I - but the activation card was for Japanese Level I. I have contacted Rosetta Stone and if they get me the correct code I may - or may not - consider changing this review.