Thread: Rosetta Stone?

Hello all.
I have not been on here for a very long time. I started learning Russian about 2 years ago, and completed all 3 levels of Pimsleur. However, I have not studied for a year and a half, and I have forgotten most of it.

I was wondering if anybody has any experience with Rosetta Stone? I have heard that it's very good, but very expensive. I have purchased Levels 1 and 2, and I'm waiting for them to arrive in the mail. Can anybody tell me what they think about it?

Thanks!

the general consensus is that it's not very good to learn a language from and that it's overpriced... maybe it's somewhat useful for russian though by helping you build up some vocab in a language for which it's inherently more difficult to do because of the distantness of the vocab from english

... and you live in DE?

Well, I have heard a lot about Rosetta Stone...however most of it from Rosetta Stone. And it IS very expensive. I just paid $300 for both levels, and that was with a $60 discount and free shipping. The good thing is that they have a 6-month money back guarantee. I figure I will try it for 5 1/2 months and send it back if I'm not happy.

I know somebody who learned Spanish using R.Stone, and he did like it pretty well. But he also had several Mexican employees, so we was gettting a LOT of practice...and Spanish is closer to English. I guess we'll see. I am very excited to get it in the mail.

Yes, I live in Delaware. Why do you ask?

Hi Platinum. Welcome back. Hope you remember our Russian Class (on the sticky of the Getting Started with Russian section). The one you helped to start. I find the Princeton course, while not perfect, to be very good. With the Rosetta Stone, it should enable to have more practice. I have used it for a couple of lessons and found it pretty good too. However, just don't have the time to use it more often.

Originally Posted by tohca

Hi Platinum. Welcome back. Hope you remember our Russian Class (on the sticky of the Getting Started with Russian section). The one you helped to start. I find the Princeton course, while not perfect, to be very good. With the Rosetta Stone, it should enable to have more practice. I have used it for a couple of lessons and found it pretty good too. However, just don't have the time to use it more often.

Hello Tohca! I can't believe you remember me! It's been a long time since I logged into here, and even longer since I've practiced Russian. I'm just getting started on my Rosetta Stone. I think I'm going to like it, but it will be slow going.

Why of course I remember you. How many people do you know of with the name of the most sought after (and precious) metal? Hehehe.

Either this language is so tough or I do not have the right brain cells to understand the language.

It's almost 3 years since I have started on the journey (on and off just like most people) and still nowhere near the advanced beginners level yet. I think I'm still stuck at the intermediate beginners level. Just gone past being comfortable with the cyrilic alphabets. Maybe that's also stretching the truth too far.

However, this forum is fantastic, and I've been getting lots of help from very kind and helpful 'residents' here.

Do stick around and if you incorporate the Rosetta Stone with the Priceton classroom, you'll definitely go past the adv begginers level in no time. (Not for a slow coach like me though).

Originally Posted by tohca

How many people do you know of with the name of the most sought after (and precious) metal?

Actually, rhodium metal is much more valuable than platinum. But then "rhodium" is not a very good name. Anyway, I'm really hoping that Rosetta Stone is worth the money. So far it seems really good. I'm only on lesson 4. They recommend about 1 lesson a week, and there's over 200 lessons. That means it should take me about 4 years to complete both levels of Russian. By then i really hope i can speak to a native speaker. Also I am using the Curriculum Text to review the words I learn on the software.

I'll track my progress here, so wish me luck!

Platinum

Yes I wish you best of luck. Not with the study material though, as I know that it's a good teaching tool. And if you really keep to the recommended schedule, you'll definitely be more than proficient in the language. It's the discipline that gets us most of the time!

Actually, we have Rosetta Stone, my son is using it, and I listen and watch along. I think it is useful for quickly hearing the language, and I find it amazing that, with no English at all, you can progress from identifying девочка from мальчик, to at least recognizing "У одной из этих уток голова белая, а у другой - зелёная. "

It's expensive, and does not explain grammar worth a hoot, but it's fun, especially for kids of all ages. It does, with regular use, sink into your bones. We'll see how much we retain to use elsewhere....

Platinum, if you are around, how are you coming along with this program?