Learning German Week 4: Level 1 Finished
By: Keith
I finished Rosetta Stone German Level 1 today. Rosetta Stone doesn’t say how long it should take a person to finish the first level of a language, but my guess is that 1 month is a realistic estimate. Some days I spent 3 hours studying, others got just an hour of my time. Then there were the two days I missed entirely. Like I said a few weeks ago, the guy I spoke to at the mall kiosk said the program really doesn’t start in earnest until the second level (that’s why I haven’t recorded myself speaking yet – there’s not much I can say), thus I’m holding out judgment on the effectiveness of Rosetta Stone until then. I will say, though, that the program is engaging and not at all what you remember from high school or college classes. Finishing an hour long session is easy. You won’t catch yourself watching the clock or getting bogged down in tedious repetition (even though it’s my belief that repetition is a cornerstone of mastery). That being said, fun doesn’t necessarily translate to results, and that’s why I’m reserving judgment until I get a bit further along. Now, also as promised, I have a few gripes about Rosetta Stone which I’ll now elucidate.
Two Disappointments about Rosetta Stone:
Lack of Community for Languages other than Spanish: If you want to learn Spanish, Rosetta Stone has you covered. Their new software (found on V4.), Totale, allows for interactive game-play with other language learners at your same level. It also provides for one-on-one sessions with native speakers at the end of each unit. Since 2/3rds of everybody using Rosetta Stone Software is using it to learn Spanish there is a thriving community of Spanish learners with whom you can interact. However, other languages are of considerably less value. German, for instance – most of the time there is nobody else online learning the language at the same time, and that means I don’t get much use out of the interactive function of the Totale software. In terms of value, I’m not getting the bang for my buck that the Spanish learners are getting.
Restrictive Licensing: I’ve purchased, at full retail value, three programs from Rosetta Stone totaling about 2,000 dollars. I’ve registered my products, too. Thus, you would think they would be anxious to be helpful to me. After all, I’m probably one of their best non-corporate customers. The big issue I’ve had is that despite never having lent my product to anybody else, and only using it on our own home computers, and despite deactivating the software from each computer before reinstalling it on a new one, I’ve been locked out on three separate occasions with a message telling me that I don’t have permission to use it on my computer until I deauthorize it from my other computer (which I did). This is the same problem that has caused me to hate all things Apple. I own an iPod that I can’t use on my computer because I get a message saying the device is already registered somewhere else and that if I sync it, I’ll have to erase all my content (even though all that content is from my own CD collection). Thus, my solution, instead of hassling with stupid hoops, is to not use the iPod and hold a massive grudge against Apple. I’ve encountered the same problem with Rosetta Stone except, if you can believe it, It’s even more expensive. The times that I’ve called their customer support, they have been helpful in re-licensing the software for me. But the point is that they shouldn’t have to help me at all as I’ve followed all the proper procedures each time I’ve switched computers. Bah!
The point is this: Don’t expect that spending 800 bucks on a product makes it actually yours. Nope, not yours. It’s overpriced to begin with. Making us jump through hoops is just adding insult to injury. If you hate Apple, you’ll probably hate Rosetta Stone for the same reasons. Naturally, though, there’s a reason Apple sells tons of units and is one of the most valuable companies in the world. We might hate them, but they have a product people want. That’s why next week I’m going to talk about how Rosetta Stone is an experience unlike any other language learning you’ve ever had before. I’ll tell you why, after all the ire, the product might still be worth your time–might.
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I’ve been wondering about the Rosetta Stone software and have been considering getting the Spanish version but the cost seems way over the top.
Ricky: The cost is, indeed, way over the top. The good news though is that Spanish is the best language to take on Rosetta Stone because of strong online community. If you’re going to get your money’s worth out of any of the languages, it wouldn’t definitely be from Spanish. Just be sure to take advantage of the online features. If not then there’s no way it’s worth the 750 dollar investment.
I still vote for Rosetta Stone. I’ve tried other methods but I keep going to back to Rosetta. I like the style and I like that it remembers what I’ve learned and keeps building on it each day, much like it would be if I were in another country surrounded by native speakers.
It can also be done inexpensively if you do a little searching. I found it through a college’s online language learning program ( http://www.cbcwebcollege.com ) which includes all the levels of German, Spanish and others for just $48 a semester.
I took academic classes but the language teacher gave us a lot of language theory and conjugation exercises and not only did it not stick very well, but I don’t think it will be very understandable.
Pete: That is true. I was a Spanish major in College and I took 2 years of German and Latin, but I couldn’t speak Spanish until I moved to Mexico, and I still can’t speak German or Latin. I’ll check out that link. Thanks!
I’ve been toying with picking up the German language Rosetta Stone program. With little man in Kindertreff, my wife speaking to him in German more and even me reinforcing things like please and thank you in German around the house I feel I need to get my act together.
Compré la última versión del curso de inglés en una librería de Texas y el programa no lo puedo cargar en mi pc, no funciona y nadie responde!!!!!! Tanto la empresa Rosetta Stone como la librería son poco serias. ESPERO QUE NADIE COMPRE LOS SOFTWARE DE ROSETTA STONE
Hey Dad. My slanguage books are described as a ridiculously simple-minded way to learn a language. Happily produces Americanized French and Spanish. Who cares?
I cannot stand hearing about people’s experiences with Rosetta and Pimsleur any more.
Thanks.
Mike Ellis
Emperor of slanguage.com since 1997