How effective is the Rosetta Stone Language program? How can I remember the words?

[Cicero]

I'm really wanting to learn both French and Italian. How effective is the program, and how much is it in Pheonix, AZ?

Also, I did a sample, and the words seem rather hard to remember. I have horrible memory btw, does it get easier?

I really wanna get it, but my main concern is that I won't remember what I learned. Due to horrid memory.

[Rayquaza]

There's this:
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=how+effective+is+rosetta+stone

which gives you this answer from some guy on Yahoo Answers:
Rosetta Stone is a breakthrough way to learn a language.

Instead of the method of connecting the idea to your native language to the language you are learning, it connects the idea directly to the new word in the language you are learning.

It is similar to how you saw and felt water as a baby, and heard people refer to it as water, and you learned water.

It is much better because most other methods teach you to translate, which is 3 separate thought actions, whereas Rosetta Stone connects the idea or concept directly to the new language word bipassing the translation from your native tongue.

It's the closest way of learning to how you learned to speak naturally as a child.

However, we have this:
osetta Stone rarely works. I can say that with confidence because I’m a language enthusiast, world traveler, and a successful language club organizer. As you might expect, I’ve talked to a lot of people who were trying to learn Spanish, French, German or some other language with Rosetta Stone.
Rosetta Stone Reviews - Fail

Sadly Rosetta Stone rarely works.

In all that time, I have never met a Rosetta Stone student who could ask me a useful question like “What’s your name?” in the language they were studying. So if you’re asking yourself, “Does Rosetta Stone work?” my answer is, “For everyone I’ve met, Rosetta stone does not work.”

Summary of these Rosetta Stone reviews: “Rosetta Stone doesn’t work for most people.”

I wish I didn’t have to say that because the people who work at Rosetta Stone are a talented great bunch of people. Hopefully they will eventually develop language learning programs that really work. (continued on http://language101.com/reviews/rosetta-stone/)

You'll have to make your own judgement for this one.
I mean, I don't think many people on VT have used Rosetta Stone before so we just have to rely on other people's experiences.

The pricing is roughly the same over America. But then you could have Googled that too.

[Gigablue]

TWPR :arrow: Education and Careers

I've never used it, but I have heard that it is one of the best language learning programs. However, it's very hard to learn a language without the help of a native speaker. I would recommend that you talk with one at least once to make sure you are pronouncing everything properly. You might also need help with some of the grammar. A person is a better teacher, but Rosetta Stone should work fairly well.

Rosetta Stone is a breakthrough way to learn a language.

Instead of the method of connecting the idea to your native language to the language you are learning, it connects the idea directly to the new word in the language you are learning.

It is similar to how you saw and felt water as a baby, and heard people refer to it as water, and you learned water.

It is much better because most other methods teach you to translate, which is 3 separate thought actions, whereas Rosetta Stone connects the idea or concept directly to the new language word bipassing the translation from your native tongue.

It's the closest way of learning to how you learned to speak naturally as a child.

This doesn't sound like it was written by a real person. No one speaks like that.

[Guillermo]

Rosetta Stone is great. I have both the Spanish and French. Even though I am a native-Spanish speaker, I needed to work on my writing/reading skills because they weren't good at all - especially writing. I came to the US from Puerto Rico when I was 3 and grew up writing and reading in English better and solely speaking Spanish at home. Rosetta Stone has improved me in those areas. As for French, I just started but so far, it's going well too.

With Rosetta Stone, you learn with pictures instead of written translations. This method is far better than learning with translations because pictures tend to stick in your brain far better than translations. That's why many people claim that they didn't learn anything when they took a language in high school or college. As for your memory; don't worry. If you practice about an hour a day then you're good. Also, a free online access period will come with your purchase. These features allow you to speak with a native speaker, play addicting games that will jog your memory, and stories to further your reading skills. As for the price - well, it seems they are having a New Years sale. (http://www.rosettastone.com/)

Overall, though, you have to stick with the program. Learning a language takes time - fluency won't happen within a couple of weeks or even a few months. Just remember that. But the goal - fluency - is rewarding, because you'll be able to travel to other countries and speak their language. Or get more pay in a job since you're fluent in another language. Or maybe even move to another country.

[HunterSteele]

There's this:The pricing is roughly the same over America. But then you could have Googled that too.
Should he install Ubuntu while he's at it? :what:

I've tried Rosetta Stone before and it was very boring. It does not get easier as you go on. Only harder, as the words become phrases. I didn't use it long enough to tell if it was effective. I do remember the words from the parts I got through. I'm not sure if this is because the method is actually effective or if it's because I just happened to remember them. My memory isn't so great either.

f you're not good at memorizing you should try Michel Thomas. It is specifically stated that you should not try memorizing anything you learn. I'm not sure if it is effective either since I haven't gotten past the first second lesson yet.

[stev]

I had a friend who tried it he said it takes years of dedication to learn a language with rosseta stone.

[Silicate Wielder]

Honestly I prefer Pimsleur approach, its something you can listen to anywhere as long as you have something portable to play music with and of course a pair of earbuds or headphones.
however it dosn't teach you how to write in the language, of course. I would just learn to write on a free spelling site site.