Rosetta Stone: Polish Explorer Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been looking at self study language courses and came across RS. I would urge you to check out its website, because there you can get free sample lessons. There are also different options for the length of courses, and whether you want it online or CD rom.
I find this program quite sneaky and clever - it'll get you to recognise and build upon what you know through recognition and interactive software, so that you will learn just as kids do, figuring out the rules by yourself. I'm personally interested in how my mind puts it all together. Here are some thoughts (and gripes) I have about the RS course:
1. They seem to have one module and translate it into many different languages, forgetting that kangaroos are probably more useful in some countries and non-existent in others.
2. You would probably learn faster if you complemented with another more grammer based course. I am a bit dubious about completely buying the 'learning just like a child learns language' theory. As adults we have the benefit of transfering ideas of abstract rules to help us with our 2nd (or 3rd, etc) language.
3. It isn't totally clear from the picture sometimes what the sentance is saying, but I could 'get the right answer' through elimination even if I didn't totally get what was being said. I solved this by downloading the manual for the "English" RS course, which told me exactly what the equivalent sentance was supposed to be.
4. There is more emphasis on recognition than production, which can be a useful first step. However, this is not the quickest way to learn. I found Pimsleur tapes more useful for breaking down the sounds of the words and really making me think of the sentances and words in context. Here you just have a bunch of pictures. However, compared to the Pimsleur for the same amount of money (that is, if you choose the right type of RS course) you get larger range of volcab. In a nutshell: Pimsleur will teach you to speak. RS will teach you to recognise.
5. It may get tedious after a while because it is structured in the same way. But if you are really interested in learning the language it's in small digestable modules. My strategy is: in one day I will preview lesson 3, do the listen/read test from lesson 2, and the listening test from lesson 1. The next day I will preview lesson 4, listen/read 3, and listen for 2.
6. It is no subsititue for speaking with a native speaker and going there, because the phrases in the modules are still really limited.
7. The writing exercise I find a bit naff and is about sorting out a sentance anagram. Theoretically it has a speech recognition so that you can test your accent, but like the writing because it has limited computer intelligence it can't correct you in a useful manner.
Having said that, I think it is a really decent component for a cram course - which is what I need before I go to Poland - and I think it really helps my volcab. It does mean sitting in front of a computer for many hours. Good luck.

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Now you can learn a new language with the award-winning method used by the U.S. State Department to train diplomats. Proven effective by NASA astronauts, Peace Corps volunteers, and millions of students worldwide, the Rosetta Stone Language Library teaches new languages faster and easier than ever before.
We all learn our childhood language by associating new words and phrases with the world around us. The Rosetta Stone method replicates this process by presenting vivid, real-life images to convey the meaning of each new phrase. Instead of translating, memorizing, and studying rules of grammar, you actually learn to think in the new language. Vocabulary and grammar are integrated systematically, leading to everyday proficiency. It's the natural way to learn.
The Rosetta Stone Explorer contains 22 lessons for beginning learners with nearly 900 real-life images and phrases spoken by native speakers. It develops all key language skills--listening comprehension, reading, speaking, and writing--while its systematic structure teaches vocabulary and grammar naturally, without lists and drills. Includes previews, exercises, and tests for every lesson, with automated tutorials throughout the program. (Ages 6 and older)

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Instant Immersion English (5 CD-ROM set) Review

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(More customer reviews)It's a waste of money, don't buy it. The phonetics tools are good, but there is no chance anyone would learn English with this 5-CDs version, and also is too basic for people who want to improve their English command. I've found better stuff for free in Internet.

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Power Translator Premium V12 Review

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(More customer reviews)It would have been very helpful to know that it does not work with Windows 7. I had an older version of Power Translator PRO version 6.4 that worked on windows 95. I tried to install that one and did not work so I ordered Power Translator prenium V12 thinking that would work. SO DON'T BUY IT UNLESS YOU KNOW THAT IT WILL WORK ON YOU COMPUTER!!!!!!

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Instant Immersion French Levels 1, 2 & 3 Review

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(More customer reviews)I started this program along with three other comparable programs and have been using them for 30 minutes every day. For Swedish, I bought Rosetta Stone, and for French, I figured I'd try Instant Immersion to see if it really is comparable to Rosetta Stone. In both languages, I have had about the same amount of learning, i.e. reading about them out of books without hearing the language.
Comparable? Well, the boxes are both yellow, but that's about the extent of it.
I got my masters' degree in German philology and have studied the best methods on how to teach foreign languages. Rosetta Stone demonstrates many of these; Instant Immersion includes some but is lacking. I will list the pros and cons of Instant Immersion first and then those of Rosetta Stone.
Instant Immersion
1. It's cheap.
2. The 9 CDs that it comes with are not connected.
3. The CDs drill vocabulary and entire chunks, such as sentences: "I would like a table for four."
4. Don't expect any lessons on grammar, verb conjugation, gender, adjective placement. As far as Instant Immersion is concerned, none of these sentence elements exist. You just have to already know that French has two genders and how it conjugates verbs.
5. Sure, it lets you record your voice...if you have a microphone. Fortunately, I had one from the Rosetta Stone software.
6. Back to only drilling vocabulary... Students who are not given clear examples with correct grammar and why it works that way will not know how to construct their own sentences. Yes, you can throw out lots of random sentences with Instant Immersion, but good luck knowing how to create your own grammatically correct sentence using a combination of words and phrases.
7. CD 1 part 1 is a different program from CD 1 part 2, which looks like a previous version of Instant Immersion. CD 2 part 1 is different from both of those and also different from CD 2 part 2. CD 3, parts 1 and 2, are similar but mostly give sentences to memorize. It appears that Instant Immersion collected a lot of their old software and bundled it all together to sell in a falsely advertised comparison of Rosetta Stone.
8. The MP3 CD is designed specifically for iPod. I managed to download it somehow by copying and pasting the tracks individually to my computer, but it won't just play in a CD player.
Rosetta Stone
1. The program starts with simple, basic sentences from lesson one.
2. It highlights ALL areas that encompass language learning: speaking, hearing, reading...etc.
3. It comes with a microphone--hallelujah!
4. It remembers things that you miss and periodically brings them back for review.
5. It builds on previous lessons, i.e. doesn't throw long chunks of sentences for you to memorize. Instead, you gradually build up to longer sentences. This leaves a very non-threatening feeling that the learner can actually accomplish something instead of making him want to give up.
6. It grades the learner on pronunciation instead of just recording the voice for the learner to compare.
7. It gives approximate times for how long an activity will take.
8. There aren't 9 CDs full of extra old software.
9. The MP3 CDs will play automatically in a CD player and can be burned directly to the computer instead of being specifically tailored to iPod technology. We don't all have iPhones.
10. Rosetta Stone doesn't give English equivalents, but I've found that I don't need them because they design their program so that you don't really need that, and if so, a basic pocket dictionary is plenty helpful.
Yes, Rosetta Stone is expensive, but it is worth every penny of it. Instant Immersion will work as a vocabulary builder, and is worth every penny for that. Just don't expect to learn more than vocabulary. If pointing and saying nouns will get you through France, more power to you. I'm sorely tempted to give up Instant Immersion and just take a French class in the fall at my local university.

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Instant Immersion English Levels 1, 2 & 3 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)At first I wasn't so sure, because the price is not that high it all, and normally this type of teaching software is always expensive to be a good product. But after digging in it for a while I found it pretty good and so easy to follow, I really say go for it and give it a try, you gonna love it.

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Instant Immersion
The quickest way to learn -- guaranteed.
Instant Immersion uses natural image-association techniques to help you learn as easily as you learned your first language. With Instant Immersion, you will have more fun, save money and reach your goals faster -- guaranteed*!
Level 1 screenshot. View larger.

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Instant Immersion French Levels 1, 2 & 3 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)In a nutshell, Instant Immersion French is not bad for the price if you are not serious about learning French. If you want to dabble, learn some words, see if a child will hold an interest in a language, or very cheaply get your feet wet before a trip to France, the lower price tag for this compared to Rosetta Stone may well make this a good purchase for you if you are on a budget. If you are truly hoping to learn French or need high school credit (i.e. homeschoolers), this is not a good choice.
The good.
The game format is appealing, especially to younger learners.Learners need to accumulate points earned by performance at various learning games, and seeing the number go up with play is motivational.
The accent used by the speakers is authentic and standard Parisian French.
The program allows for multiple user accounts. This is important because each user's progress can be tracked independently.
The software uses multiple modes to teach the material---flashcards, search-and-find games, image-selection games. Honestly, although the look and feel is different that Rosetta Stone, the gist is the same. They say a word, and you select the appropriate picture, unless you are in tutorial mode in which case they just tell you. It's not an awful way to learn some vocabulary and phrases (but don't expect to achieve any amount of fluency).This is like an interactive Berlitz guide--it is not like taking a real French class.
By the third level, some of the phrases/situations are reasonably challenging. There is a direction finding game where a car and a maze is on screen, and a speaker gives directions to find something. You have to click on the square where you would end up if you followed the directions. That would be great practice for someone planning to travel to France, since the examples given are complex and involve several different cues (i.e., go straight to the end of the road, then left, then it's the third street on the right next to the clock.) Still, someone who has completed the entire program (all three levels) would not as a result have acquired any measure of fluency. But they would know a lot of words and be able to understand some simple French, possibly even enough to get along for a week or two in France.
The Interactive DVD is ok. It's less game-oriented than the software, and was straightforward teaching and quizzing. I liked that it has multiple choice answers that include testing on spelling, although I'm not sure how important it is for a visitor to France to be able to spell "allergie alimentaire" [food allergy] correctly. In a quick survey of the DVD, I encountered one spelling error "qu'y a t-il [sic]..." which is hardly earth-shattering but shows a lack of editing.
The bad.
The choice of words taught is bizarre. For example, in the first level the words for "stockpot," "octopus," "pin," and "hippopotomus" are among the first 50 words taught. Seriously?And the fact that "cassette" is in the list also shows that the fundamentals of the program haven't been updated since the cassette tape went the way of the 8-track. I was also surprised to see a fairly non-authentic vocabulary choice: as every beginning French student knows, the word for "pen" is simply "un stylo," but this program gives the more complex phrase "un stylo à encre" (essentially, "an ink-pen").It's not wrong per se, but it's definitely not the way pens are usually referred to.
The program is not specific to French needs. They wrote the program and then dubbed it into French (and a bunch of other languages). Sometimes that causes oddities. For example, corn is not generally eaten in France. It's mostly considered a food for animals. So the fact that "an ear of corn" is one of the first vocabulary words taught is rather misguided, as it is a rarely used word in France.Similarly, I'm not sure that "chopsticks" needs to be on someone's must-know list for travel to Paris. Also, there is a video image of a man and woman on some screens, and it's really annoying to see their mouths widely and smilingly exclaiming, "Yes!" when the word I hear is "Oui!" It's like a spoof of one of those badly dubbed Japanese movies.
For a program that works by showing pictures matched with a spoken word, many of the pictures are unclear. Watching my son try out the program, he was confused by many of the pictures and couldn't figure out what he was supposed to be learning. "Is that ice or sugar?" he asked of a picture full of little white cubes. Similarly, we were both baffled by a picture that looked like an onion but turned out to be a melon, and the picture of the airplane looked for all the world like a space shuttle. As far as the pictures that are supposed to represent "Where is the suitcase?"....well, forget it.I have no idea how someone who doesn't already know French would figure out what they are supposed to represent.
The CD-ROM game "Who is Oscar Lake?" did not work for me either on my Windows or Mac system. It appeared to load but then I couldn't get anything to happen no matter what I clicked. The instructions supplied with the game are virtually useless; they just say "use your television and phone a lot" and "explore everything." The loading screen shows a copyright of 1996; I think this is a really old game that they tried to update to work on modern systems. Apparently they failed.
The audio CD only works on an MP3 player, so if you want to listen in your car you need to make sure your car can play off your ipod. You can't just pop the CD into your car CD player and expect it to work. Also, it's super boring. It is a list of words and phrases to imitate at the easier levels, and long conversations to try to understand at the upper levels. It's not well done, as in, say, the Pimsleur CDs which are outstanding and well worth the money.I would not recommend the CD.
The absurd.
In its competition with Rosetta Stone (RS), this product makes some exaggerated claims. In a comparison chart on the back of the packaging, Instant Immersion claims to have sold more units, have more levels, and have more audio content than RS. But a look at the fine print shows that they are excluding the upper 3 levels of the RS French program from the comparison as well as all RS units sold directly by rosettastone.com.So really all Instant Immersion has over RS is a much lower price tag, a printable picture dictionary, an interactive DVD, and a game.The price tag alone may sell you on Instant Immersion (and I think that's not a bad choice) but it's a ridiculous claim for them to say that they offer significantly more language learning than RS.No way.
Basically, this is a moderately fun program for learning some elementary French, and the price is right. I give it 3 stars because I think it pretty much does well what it sets out to do, except for some oddities mentioned above. Just don't expect too much out of it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Instant Immersion French Levels 1, 2 & 3


Instant Immersion
The quickest way to learn -- guaranteed.
Instant Immersion uses natural image-association techniques to help you learn as easily as you learned your first language. With Instant Immersion, you will have more fun, save money and reach your goals faster -- guaranteed*!
Level 1 screenshot. View larger.

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Instant Immersion Italian Levels 1, 2 & 3 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For the money, nothing on the market can touch Instant Immersion language sets for the money. I disagree with some other reviewers who claim it is as good as Rosetta Stone. It's not. But at a fraction of the cost, it's an unfair comparison. For in-depth language comprehension, Rosetta Stone is the way. If you're a tourist or a newcomer to Italian, this is a great place to start. And it may be all you ever need. TREMENDOUS value for the dollar.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Instant Immersion Italian Levels 1, 2 & 3


Instant Immersion
The quickest way to learn -- guaranteed.
Instant Immersion uses natural image-association techniques to help you learn as easily as you learned your first language. With Instant Immersion, you will have more fun, save money and reach your goals faster -- guaranteed*!
Level 1 screenshot. View larger.

Click here for more information about Instant Immersion Italian Levels 1, 2 & 3

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Berlitz French Premier Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I used this for a review of my high school and college French before going on a 10 day trip to France. It was a great refresher and allowed me to start off speaking some simple French when I arrived there, and I built from there. I will save and use it again before future trips.


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Jumpstart Languages - Vista Compatible Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a great starter for kids to learn languages of other countries. It will introduce tehm to Frenach, Japanese, and Spanish. They will learn a number of words and phases, just a great intro for 3 to 6.

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