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 Language Learning Forum : Language Programs, Books & Tapes |  | |
| andrewm Diglot Groupie United Kingdom Joined 6015 days ago 40 posts - 41 votes Speaks: English*, German Studies: Russian | Message 1 of 34 08 June 2008 at 9:13am | IP Logged | ||
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Hi all, glad I have managed to find a forum like this! I have been learning German for a long time but fancied trying Rosetta Stone German to see what all the hype was about, and to keep my German ticking over in a city (London) where precious little German is spoken.
What I find amazing is that throughout the entire 3rd series, not one mention or example of the "du" informal "you" form is come across, even though people seem to be engaging together in activities in the software photographs, which would imply they are friends, and thus on informal terms. I can say from experience that using the formal form in situations where it isn't necessary sounds strange, awkward and normally receives strange looks as a response. For the $400 or whatever Rosetta Stone costs would you not consider it a bit ignorant or unacceptable to leave something so significant as this out? I emphasise this particularly as it is intended for beginners, assuming no prior knowledge of any German. There also seems to be all in all quite limited material for the amount of money you pay. That said, I do enjoy the software and have found it helpful in keeping things ticking over. Your opinions...? Cheers, Andrew 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| musigny Triglot Groupie United States Joined 6023 days ago 57 posts - 61 votes  Speaks: English*, FrenchB2, Japanese Studies: Italian | Message 2 of 34 08 June 2008 at 10:55am | IP Logged | ||
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Hi Andrew,
I went through Rosetta stone French and demo'd Japanese and Chinese online. Rosetta Stone is very repetitive but visual as well. If it works for you, I'm sure you'll learn a lot and improve fluency. But like everyone says here on the forum you need a multi-pronged approach. Rosetta Stone has a six month money back guarantee so if it doesn't work for you, you can just take it back. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Cage Diglot aka a.ardaschira, Athena, Michael Thomas Senior Member United States Joined 6626 days ago 382 posts - 393 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: French, Portuguese | Message 3 of 34 11 June 2008 at 1:00pm | IP Logged | ||
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Andy, I will have to agree with you 100% on Rosetta Stone. It seems to be more show than go.
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| TerryW Senior Member United States Joined 6359 days ago 370 posts - 783 votes Speaks: English* | Message 4 of 34 11 June 2008 at 6:56pm | IP Logged | ||
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I have to laugh at the radio commercials for Rosetta Stone that have been playing here lately.
They say "The fastest way to learn a language --- Guaranteed!" Although I bet that sells a lot of copies of RS, if you think about it, there's absolutely no way to take them up on that guarantee. What can one say, "I learned how to say 'The boy is on the horse' faster using Berlitz, so gimme my money back"? What constitutes "to learn a language"? And how can one person see how long it takes himself to "learn a language" using RS, then compare it to how long another method takes when he's already learned the language? I also think it's funny that they often mention that NASA uses Rosetta Stone. I'm guessing that NASA ordered some copies for their resource library, big deal. It's not like astronauts are using it to learn to converse with aliens. Edited by TerryW on 11 June 2008 at 6:58pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Cordel Newbie IsraelRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 6046 days ago 29 posts - 30 votes | Message 5 of 34 12 June 2008 at 1:55am | IP Logged | ||
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Guys ,I also have to agree with everybody.I'm currently trying to learn Russian and I also have the entire three levels.It is not bad ,it gives me a pretty nice vocabulary ,but that's it. My main practice is being done via "Russian for beginners" by Y.G.Ovsiyenko (fantastic book),plus "The new penguin russian course" by Nicolas brown and also the great dual language "Russian stories" by Gleb Struve .
I can see a very big difference between that program and using these books. Edited by Cordel on 12 June 2008 at 2:56am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| andrewm Diglot Groupie United Kingdom Joined 6015 days ago 40 posts - 41 votes Speaks: English*, German Studies: Russian | Message 6 of 34 12 June 2008 at 5:20am | IP Logged | ||
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Rosetta Stone does provide a very thorough and effective method of introducing basic vocabulary and phrases, yet as mentioned by Musigny and many others, it is not alone going to give you competency in a language. How NASA and FTSE 100 Companies have managed to use the course material to aid them in communication is, however, a bit beyond me. Their vocabulary is presumably more than likely to exceed what one encounters throughout the Rosetta series.
Cordel, I too am learning Russian at the moment and have found "Michel Thomas Russian" by Natasha Bershadski to be absolutely outstanding. I enforced this on a successful trip to Moscow last month! Have you tried the course? 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Cordel Newbie IsraelRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 6046 days ago 29 posts - 30 votes | Message 7 of 34 12 June 2008 at 6:09am | IP Logged | ||
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Of course I have tried Michael Thomas ,it gives you an outstanding start for the Russian language ,however ,it is a pretty short course.I'd finished it in a couple of days and then turned to Pimsleur ,worked with the 2 first levels (got bored after with the beginning of the third) and then started using the books above. Edited by Cordel on 12 June 2008 at 6:11am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| andrewm Diglot Groupie United Kingdom Joined 6015 days ago 40 posts - 41 votes Speaks: English*, German Studies: Russian | Message 8 of 34 12 June 2008 at 10:22am | IP Logged | ||
You finished the entire foundation and advanced course in 2 days? That's pretty heavy going. Good luck with the books. 1 person has voted this message useful |
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