Rosetta Stone?
Discussion
Just wondering if anybody has used this software to learn Spanish (or any language for that matter) at any point? Learning a second language would be really useful for work and it's just something I've wanted to do for a while now, a friend has the disks and has offered them to me but will it actually give me a decent handle on the language or am I better off signing up for some classes?
I´m currently learning spanish, but with a teacher and it really helps to have the correct pronuciation. A friend is using Rosetta stone and thinks it´s great. We concluded during our discussion that it depends on your learning style as to what works best for you. He swears by it, I think it´s dull and predictable..
T-J-K
T-J-K
Depends on how you learn. Personally, I find all the language courses on CDs dull because they're very passive, there's no feedback or variation. You can learn by rote, but it doesn't give you much scope. If you make mistakes, it can tell you the correct way to say what you were trying to say but it can't point out things where you're repeating mistakes, perhaps in different contexts. And you might not make the link yourself. But it's certainly a good way of getting started. When you're at the level of learning just the basics, it works out cheaper than a teacher and you could always switch to a teacher once you've got the basics.
If you want to learn a language properly, classes are a good way to start as long as you have a good teacher. One-to-one is the most effective, but in a group is more fun because a) there's a good chance you won't be the worst in the class
and b) because you'll be able to learn from each other's mistakes.
The best way to learn a language is by immersion in the target language and culture, i.e. go over to a country where they speak the language you want to learn and just get on with it!
If you want to learn a language properly, classes are a good way to start as long as you have a good teacher. One-to-one is the most effective, but in a group is more fun because a) there's a good chance you won't be the worst in the class
and b) because you'll be able to learn from each other's mistakes. The best way to learn a language is by immersion in the target language and culture, i.e. go over to a country where they speak the language you want to learn and just get on with it!
Edited by SGirl on Wednesday 10th February 09:20
SGirl said:
The best way to learn a language is by immersion in the target language and culture, i.e. go over to a country where they speak the language you want to learn and just get on with it!
+1Edited by SGirl on Wednesday 10th February 09:20
It's a great way of learning just how much you don't know
Saying that, a friend and I got into a conversation with two German blokes in a bar in Berlin (united by a mutual love of Rammstein playing on the jukebox) niether of whom spoke any English - I have to say that my German came on more during that conversation than at any other point
SGirl said:
The best way to learn a language is by immersion in the target language and culture, i.e. go over to a country where they speak the language you want to learn and just get on with it!
But surely you have to know the language well enough for at least a limited conversation to start with? Otherwise it al sounds like a gabble.Dr Jekyll said:
SGirl said:
The best way to learn a language is by immersion in the target language and culture, i.e. go over to a country where they speak the language you want to learn and just get on with it!
But surely you have to know the language well enough for at least a limited conversation to start with? Otherwise it al sounds like a gabble.Kuroblack350 said:
SGirl said:
The best way to learn a language is by immersion in the target language and culture, i.e. go over to a country where they speak the language you want to learn and just get on with it!
+1Edited by SGirl on Wednesday 10th February 09:20
It's a great way of learning just how much you don't know
Saying that, a friend and I got into a conversation with two German blokes in a bar in Berlin (united by a mutual love of Rammstein playing on the jukebox) niether of whom spoke any English - I have to say that my German came on more during that conversation than at any other point
Dr Jekyll said:
But surely you have to know the language well enough for at least a limited conversation to start with? Otherwise it al sounds like a gabble.
Yes, generally. Although it is possible to start from scratch too - depends on what country you go to, but you'll often find people who speak English who can help you out. Or failing that, you buy one of those Berlitz phrase books and learn how to point at things. People can never resist the opportunity to correct your pronunciation if you don't get it quite right.The jiffle king said:
I´m currently learning spanish, but with a teacher and it really helps to have the correct pronuciation. A friend is using Rosetta stone and thinks it´s great. We concluded during our discussion that it depends on your learning style as to what works best for you. He swears by it, I think it´s dull and predictable..
T-J-K
I suppose if you're sleeping with the Spanish teacher, then that would certainly not be dull. T-J-K
Out of interest, can you have a conversation with him in Spanish? Who is better?
ShadownINja said:
I suppose if you're sleeping with the Spanish:insert language of choice: teacher
round here the phrase for that would be 'long haired dictionary'! Joking aside, have used Rosetta Stone for Russian, was good, although very piccie on pronounciation at times! - which wasn't good with the stage my Russian was at the time. I would say, if you can, a mixture of learning methods is not a bad thing, so use one to reinforce another or to help with aspects you are struggling with. But certainly saying something scripted to the computer is a damned sight easier than a real conversation/lesson!
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