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Rosetta Stone French, course to chose? | ||
Tags: Rosetta Stone | French | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Language Programs, Books & Tapes |  | |
| johnclt Newbie Joined 5057 days ago 4 posts - 5 votes Studies: French* | Message 1 of 8 15 March 2011 at 4:05pm | IP Logged | ||
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For example, I've been on level 1 for in excess of 40 hours. I realized I choose the
"full-year curriculum". About 3/4 through, I changed over to standard because I became tired of the repetitiveness of full-year. Anyone else have the same experience? Also, I like using RS but have noticed many people say it won't get you to fluency. I wouldn't expect that but is it a step in the right direction? I know there is no silver bullet. I subscribe to some French television, watch movies, and have bought about 5 different books ranging from phrases to verbs. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Shenandoah Newbie United States Joined 5028 days ago 30 posts - 59 votes  Speaks: English* Studies: French | Message 2 of 8 15 March 2011 at 6:06pm | IP Logged | ||
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Most people here are pretty negative about Rosetta Stone. I do think it's improved from what most people think of when they think of RS - I have V3, and there are some decent grammar lessons, even verb conjugations (for example, I just did a lesson that had a series of pictures, all doing the same thing, with different perspectives - I, he, they, we, etc - and I had to fill in the missing word for the verb in the correct form).
I do like RS, but it is expensive for what you get. For that reason, and because of things I've learned reading here, I won't be using it for future languages (unless I can somehow get a free/cheap one). But if you already have it, I think it's worth finishing. I'm in Level 4 French now, and have learned a lot. But it'll never work as stand-alone study material for anything beyond the basics. I'm not convinced ANY course will stand alone for most people (there are always exceptions). I combine my Rosetta Stone with classroom work, Pimsleur, a textbook, books and TV, and starting just this past weekend, Assimil (which you'll find is generally the most preferred method on this forum). I just use RS in the standard format (not full year), and have gone through one lesson/day since I started (3 levels x 4 units/level x 4 lessons/unit + a couple lessons in level 4 + a couple days missed = about 2 months). Sometimes I feel like I don't quite grasp the material, but I still score well enough and a few lessons later it usually makes more sense, so I don't do any repetition beyond what's naturally built into the standard training. Just to make a comparison on fluency, my local Alliance Française has a series of 8-week classes 101-104, 201-204, 301-304, and 401-404. Using the Common European Framework, they say A1=class 102, A2=class 201, B1=class 301, B2=class 401. I'm currently in class 102, and would estimate that my speaking abilities are right on at that level. Looking at curriculum, I'd estimate my other-than-speaking abilities are around the 201 level. That's with 3+ levels of RS. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| montobello Newbie United States Joined 4998 days ago 10 posts - 10 votes Speaks: English* Studies: French | Message 3 of 8 21 March 2011 at 10:39pm | IP Logged | ||
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I love listening to audio language "tapes" while driving. I've done pimsleur french and
michel thomas. I love the michel thomas, its a lot of fun, even if his mouth sounds are a little wonky. I started with RS but didnt really get far, It was too slow for me. Edited by montobello on 21 March 2011 at 10:40pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| zekecoma Senior Member United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5345 days ago 561 posts - 655 votes Speaks: English* Studies: German, Spanish | Message 4 of 8 22 March 2011 at 10:57am | IP Logged | ||
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I say none to Rosetta stone http://www.forbes.com/2010/07/27/learn-second-language-
lifestyle-travel-study.html . That link tells you why you shouldn't. Since you are French. Why not you Assimil which has a bigger set of vocabulary and is more useful and has audio with it. It will actually get you further in a language than Rosetta Stone could ever do. Edited by zekecoma on 22 March 2011 at 10:58am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| jazzboy.bebop Senior Member Norway norwegianthroughnove Joined 5419 days ago 439 posts - 800 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Norwegian | Message 5 of 8 22 March 2011 at 2:22pm | IP Logged | ||
Indeed, Rosetta Stone is just simply not worth it. Even if you manage to get it for free, it should be used as a supplement. Assimil would be a good choice, I'm on lesson 26 of the the New French With Ease course and I'm loving it so far, especially the natural language used, it seems far less "textbooky" than many courses. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| mallorina Triglot Newbie United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5009 days ago 8 posts - 8 votes Speaks: Spanish, English*, Italian Studies: German, Portuguese, Norwegian, Hawaiian, Irish, Arabic (classical) | Message 6 of 8 22 March 2011 at 3:13pm | IP Logged | ||
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Rosetta Stone gets very boring and I don't recommend it.
Thou, it is good for vocab. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| johnclt Newbie Joined 5057 days ago 4 posts - 5 votes Studies: French* | Message 7 of 8 22 March 2011 at 3:49pm | IP Logged | ||
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Thx to all who have posted!!! After researching Assimil quite a bit, I've realized that perhaps it is the course for me. However, after looking at the library and on amazon.com I've noticied there are quite a few different versions. I am about 3 months into my french lessons, I use a combination of RS and Fluenz (which I happen to like much more than RS). Can someone point me in the direction of what assimil product I should use? I'm shooting for full fluency and comprehension and wouldn't say I'm a beginner. My fiancee is Canadian and speaks very good french and I vacation quite often in France and do some work in Montreal. I do have quite a bit of exposure. Thank you all so much again!!! I realy feel like I'm on the road to learning a new language and it's a wonderful feeling.
1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| ikinaridango Triglot Groupie United Kingdom Joined 6126 days ago 61 posts - 80 votes Speaks: English*, Japanese, Italian Studies: German, Polish | Message 8 of 8 25 March 2011 at 12:10pm | IP Logged | ||
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I would recommend New French with Ease, which is excellent not only for people who have never studied French, but people in your position who have already devoted a significant amount of time to the language. If you've already done three months worth of French you'll probably find that you'll be able to move through the earlier lessons quite quickly, while still being able to find in them much of use.
French without Toil also exists, the audio for which is available online. If cost is an issue you might find this the more reasonable option, though the dialogues will seem less contemporary in terms of both language and theme than those in New French with Ease. I would stay away from French with Ease, unless of course you find an extremely cheap copy with accompanying audio, as it is fundamentally nothing more than a shorter version of New French with Ease. A very good advanced level text, Using French, also exists, but I would suggest leaving it until you've tackled one of the with Ease/without Toil series. 1 person has voted this message useful |
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