Customer Reviews

Rosetta Stone V3: Spanish (Latin America) Level 1 [OLD VERSION]

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

As a 50+ learner I wondered how well I'd retain the information but it's been great. The format makes it fun & appealing while the word/picture association facilitates retention. We have all 3 levels and I'm currently on the last session of Level 1 (after 6 weeks). While it says it's a single user product, you CAN install the Version 3 on two computers; however both installations cannnot be running simultaniously (I called Rosetta Stone about this & we're doing this w/ husbands & my computers). The microphone set-up is great to hear yourself speak & make corrections as needed. Since Rosetta Stone provides no written Spanish (ie book) a good English-Spanish dictionary is helpful or having a free-translation window open on your computer for occasional clarification. Also it helps to look at some free websites that explain general sentence structure and word tense in the Spanish language. If you're consistent in it's use, quiz yourself mentally during daily activities, and proceed at a comfortable pace (too slow & you lose momentum, too fast & you forget) you'll be speaking Spanish in no time. I've learned far more in the past month with this product than I did taking a weekly conversational Spanish class at the local community college.

Rosetta Stone V3 Spanish (Latin America) Level 1 Personal Edition (Win/Mac)

I was about halfway through the old version when this came out and decided to try it.

It is really good, and although the old version was also quite good, this one is much more so. The lessons and the review management are particularly well designed. The language method is much improved and more realistic. The immersion method they've implemented is so good that I don't use the notes I used to use, and also don't refer to my Spanish dictionaries as often as I did with the old version.

It is so pleasant to use that I'm not taking as many breaks as I did with the old version. In fact, my progress is so fast I'll have to order Level 2 much sooner than expected.

Tom in Arkansas

Installed product, got the microphone hooked up, and then needed to not do the speaking portion of the lessons. Just felt overwhelmed with learning the words, and trying to speak at the same time.

I like the immersion concept. Just look at the pictures and see the words/phases and try to recall them. I'm a visual learner, so this is great for me. If you are not a visual learner this may not be for you.

I have images of pictures in my head now, with spanish words/phrases to go with it. Which is much better for me than grammar drilling, etc.

I'm NEW NEW NEW to spanish. I've never taken any spanish classes in school or anywhere else, and would appreciate it if those who HAVE prior knowlege of spanish or have taken Spanish formally in a classroom situation, or are a native spanish speakers, do not try to tell a NEW NEW spanish learners if this product will be good or bad for them, you don't know because you already know the language basics. You have a context to base your learning on, whereas an over 40 person who has never taken spanish is learning very differently than you, and is like a baby learning a new language. Which is what I'm hoping this product helps with. I'm learning like a new baby. Hear it, connect it with some images, and hopefully I'll integrate all this in and be able to speak it.
I've watched my infant/toddler learn, and they don't start speaking immediately with understandable words until they have a vocabulary foundation, and see the words in action, and they are looking at you and what you're saying and visually what its connected to. Then later they start to speak or repeat. Why people who create language learning product for adult beginners think adults should not learn like babies do is beyond me, but I think the Rosetta folks get it!

But who knows for sure. I'm giving it a shot with this product.

I had a remedial understanding of the Spanish language. Rosetta Stone is teaching me basic Spanish quickly and easily just as it promises. If you commit about 30-60 minutes a day, I am sure it can work for anyone. I really like this program and look forward to completing all three levels.

This product is great! It exceeded my expectations by having a voice activated option which allows you to speak to the computer and have your pronunciation recognized. This gives you the ability to make sure you are not only learning the words but speaking them correctly as well!

I would highly recommend this and I intend to buy other versions as I progress!

Adios!

This is an excellent resource for learning a new language. I had taken two years of high school Spanish before using this product and didn't learn as much as I had learned after the first two weeks of using Rosetta stone. The only thing that I dislike about the product is that it uses too much memory to leave it running in the background all the time. Other than that, I would most definitely recommend it to any one who wants to quickly learn a new language in their spare time.

This is an interesting concept in language learning. There is absolutely no English tanslation. Everything is accomplished through pictures and context. I took Spanish in high school, so I already knew the basics. Even if that weren't the case I think It would work. There are some phrases that are a bit tricky to grasp, so seeking outside help might be useful. There is a lot of repitition, and a heavy emphasis on pronunciation. Be persistant.

I'm giving this product a "2", only because of the company's behavior, not because of the product. The product is good, but overpriced. If the price and company were reasonable, it could warrant a 4.

I have purchased Rosetta Stone products twice. Most recently V.3 German, level III, hoping to brush up on my abilities. I found though, that level III really still was not up to my level (I've been active with the language for 22 years). So, I sought to simply resell it and recoupe some of my money.

However, I found that Rosetta Stone and Amazon, along with other retailers, have entered into an unholy pact to stop customers from reselling the products that they have bought and paid for. Imagine buying a car down at your local dealer, and when you go to resell it, they block you from selling, and no newspaper will take your ad! Isn't this called racketeering or something? Despicable!

So, reluctantly, I must say that I can no longer recommend Rosetta Stone products, even though they are essentially fine language learning tools. The company however, has devolved from one nobly engaged in spreading knowledge and making, I'm sure, a tidy profit, into a mere money-grubbing operation.

There are numerous other language learning software and methods out there that work well, don't cost as much, and are produced by admirable companies. I, for instance, became fluent in German without ever even having heard of Rosetta Stone. Until Rosetta stone relents on this racket they are in with Amazon and other sellers, I will not buy another product from them.

So far I've only finished the first unit, but I'm really impressed. I took Spanish for 5 years in high school, was never very good at it, and never got to the point where I could "think" in the language--I always had to translate from English to Spanish to say/write anything. Needless to say I eventually forgot everything I learned in high school and recently decided to pick the language back up. In contrast to the way I learned the language in high school (which involved learning the English definitions of Spanish words, e.g. manzana=apple), Rosetta Stone shows the user pictures of objects/situations that convey the meaning of words/phrases. This is enormously helpful in getting used to thinking in the language, and while at this point I certainly couldn't carry on a conversation in Spanish (like I said, I only finished the first unit), I don't need to translate the words and phrases I can say from English to Spanish--which feels great!

I'm a beginner-beginner and had never studied Spanish until this May when I started the Rosetta Stone Spanish Latin America level I. So far, I'm very satisfied with my progress. I've only covered 9 lessons (Lesson 1.1-3.2--still Level I), but I know how to count 1-20, identify colors (many), say greetings, ask basic questions (what is...? When...? Where...? What color...? Who is...? etc.), structure present-progressive sentences and many more.

The only drawback is that "writing" portion is very short and you may not be able to spell well. But you can download "course content" online and practice writing. (Go to the Rosetta Stone website. You should be able to find "download course content.")

For those people who have never learned ANY foreign language, it may be a daunting task to learn without a textbook. But you can use the "Course Content" and check vocabulary before starting a lesson. Yes, if you want to be fluent, you need to do some "extra" works. (which means that you need a good Spanish-English/English-Spanish dictionary in addition to the Rosetta Stone. Yep, learning is not cheap!)

Lastly, you cannot just sit and expect that the Rosetta stone will make you a fluent Spanish speaker. You have to work hard. Persistence and determination are two important things in learning. Good luck!