Rosetta Stone

[Blazin]

Hi, I recently dropped Spanish 3 because I felt I would of failed the class if I continued. My family is offering to buy Rosetta Stone Spanish 1-3 if I can dedicate myself which I know I will. My question is, since I already have a basic background of Spanish, if I were to do levels 1-3 in Rosetta Stone over the summer would it help prepare me for Spanish 3 in school? Thanks, Chris

[Jean Poutine]

Rosetta Stone is overpriced and useless. They'll have you speaking about airplanes in the second lesson, and you won't learn a single greeting for the entirety of the ordeal. If Rosetta Stone hasn't seriously improved, I would not recommend it.

You need shiny 200$ programs to help you keep focus on learning languages?

There are no shortcuts. Just watch movies in Spanish with English subtitles. Don't just read though, try to focus on the spoken Spanish. I used to read Spanish mangas and my Spanish has greatly improved. Of course I speak French as a native language so it was like kind of playing fill in the blanks. Just scout the web for that kind of stuff.

In addition, there are "language exchange" websites where you can find some dude who speaks Spanish and wants to learn English to IM with you.

[Contra]

Rosetta Stone is overpriced and useless. They'll have you speaking about airplanes in the second lesson, and you won't learn a single greeting for the entirety of the ordeal. If Rosetta Stone hasn't seriously improved, I would not recommend it.

You need shiny 200$ programs to help you keep focus on learning languages?

There are no shortcuts. Just watch movies in Spanish with English subtitles. Don't just read though, try to focus on the spoken Spanish. I used to read Spanish mangas and my Spanish has greatly improved. Of course I speak French as a native language so it was like kind of playing fill in the blanks. Just scout the web for that kind of stuff.

In addition, there are "language exchange" websites where you can find some dude who speaks Spanish and wants to learn English to IM with you.

It's the best advice you can get.
I improved my English watching "The Simpsons" and other shows in English with portuguese subtitles.

Well, I can speak Spanish, so if you want help, say something, ok?

Espero que haya sido útil! :D

[Patchy]

Expensive programs don't really work, a lot of them have the same info as a lot of cheap text books etc however since your paying a lot of money you have more of a drive to want to learn so you take more in. If that makes sense.

However it may work for you, my school trialled it and it never made any difference than doing lessons on free language course webbys.

[Sugaree]

Rosetta Stone works for me. I've used it for the past year for learning Spanish and it works great. I would take the offer. The program is basically the most simple way to learn Spanish, and I've taken corses that were way more complex than Rosetta Stone. Definately get it!

[Jean Poutine]

Rosetta Stone works for me. I've used it for the past year for learning Spanish and it works great. I would take the offer. The program is basically the most simple way to learn Spanish, and I've taken corses that were way more complex than Rosetta Stone. Definately get it!

Definitively not.

Stuff that's available on free websites isn't worth 200$. At best, you can you-know-what it. I don't condone it but honestly it's far more bandwidth than RS is worth.

Gosh, learning languages is my field of study. I have to be proficient in Spanish, English and German before I even think about my diploma. I have tried every expensive program out there. They don't work any better than a textbook and some drive, or movies and good subtitles, in fact they may work worse.

I have something good to say about audio methods though. Pimsleur's are good. But then again you're spending 200$ on audio CDs and a small textbook. 200$ for just the basic lessons. You-know-what it. Language learning methods are grossly overpriced.

Get a native speaker friend and get to writing/speaking, ask him to correct you. Watch movies. Write a diary in Spanish. Just practice it. Fluency will come with it. How'd you think I learned English? I was constantly in contact with English speaking people through online games, and I always asked them to correct me. It paid off it the end, didn't it?

Well, I can speak Spanish, so if you want help, say something, ok?

That's because they speak Spanish in Portugal don't they João? :D

Just yanking your chain.

[Patchy]

Definitively not.

Stuff that's available on free websites isn't worth 200$. At best, you can you-know-what it. I don't condone it but honestly it's far more bandwidth than RS is worth.

Gosh, learning languages is my field of study. I have to be proficient in Spanish, English and German before I even think about my diploma. I have tried every expensive program out there. They don't work any better than a textbook and some drive, or movies and good subtitles, in fact they may work worse.

I have something good to say about audio methods though. Pimsleur's are good. But then again you're spending 200$ on audio CDs and a small textbook. 200$ for just the basic lessons. You-know-what it. Language learning methods are grossly overpriced.

Get a native speaker friend and get to writing/speaking, ask him to correct you. Watch movies. Write a diary in Spanish. Just practice it. Fluency will come with it. How'd you think I learned English? I was constantly in contact with English speaking people through online games, and I always asked them to correct me. It paid off it the end, didn't it?



That's because they speak Spanish in Portugal don't they João? :D

Just yanking your chain.

Great points there.

Just like studying for any subject at school you need to find a way to study and learn a language that works for you. I would always try before you buy with programs like these, if you think you can't sit and use a textbook and think a software package is suited to you, find one that does a 30 day trial or something so you can see if its suited to your learning methods or not.

just a suggestion.

[The Batman]

Why not try and get a tutor?

[Atonement]

Okay, this is kind of a weird place to plug it, but SpanishD!ct (http://www.spanishdict.com/) is great. It is a free course guide leading you through tons of grammar and mounds of vocab in a non-overwhelming way. I use it to study all the time. It helps loads and if you don't get something, its easy to look stuff up on there and a community to help you if you need it.

[Contra]

That's because they speak Spanish in Portugal don't they João? :D

Just yanking your chain.

Well, it's not. In Portugal we speak portuguese, we have our own language, but Spanish is so similar that it's easy to speak, to me, and they're right next door! :D
And good, you know my portuguese name! :D

[mrmcdonaldduck]

i know what you mean john, i speak alright portuguese and i can understand spanish if spoken very slowly.

[Jean Poutine]

Well, it's not. In Portugal we speak portuguese, we have our own language, but Spanish is so similar that it's easy to speak, to me, and they're right next door! :D
And good, you know my portuguese name! :D

You mean Portugal is not, like, Spain but smaller? :OOOOOOOOOOO

:D

[Contra]

You mean Portugal is not, like, Spain but smaller? :OOOOOOOOOOO

:D

I know a lot of people still think Portugal is a part of Spain. But we are portuguese and proud of it! Btw, our food is better and cheaper... :D

[mrmcdonaldduck]

Yay for portuguese chicken!!!!