Rosetta Stone Version 3: French Level 1, 2 & 3 Set with Audio Companion

I just purchased Rosetta Stone French the other day. I had 2 come back here 2 write a review on it. For one reason is before I bought it I read some clowns review on it here that was totally negative against it. Saying it was tedious & all this. He said something about how you won't be using what they teach you like the boy is under the plane. Of course you will use all of that. You might not see a boy under a plane but you might see a cat under the table while your new French wife is looking 4 the cat. Please who are you working for? One of the companies that wrote How 2 learn French in 10 days or your money back? lol. As God as my witness I just started it & I see the quality in their techniques with immersion. They have various exercises. One core learning exercise I think & others. But it works on your mind in a very effective way. I feel I am gaining some knowledge from my second day now. Sure I don't know much but I see the pattern they are working with. Building a foundation. A couple exercises where I had 2 spell it out or type something I wasn't there yet but I clicked 4 the answers building my mind. I didn't beat myself up 4 it since I am just starting. I am not under a gun on this. I don't have a professor hounding me on my cognizance. All in good time. This will be like a hobby 2 me I think. A mind game. A confidence builder. If you like video games or crossword puzzles. Anything that intrigues you then learn a language. Sure it is early 4 me 2 praise this 2 the sky but I see what I purchased is valuable. And I know I will succeed. I bought it since I met a beautiful woman from Morocco online. I am in an online relationship with her now. She speaks Arabic & also French & English. I am helping her with english. And she is inspiring me 2 learn French. I see she knows three languages. I know only my first. I finally said hey everybody else knows more than one language & I am finally going 2 do it. So French is it. The language of Romance. Also hey if you don't know any french people in real life big deal. Go into Second Life & meet some French people. Appreciate everything you learn. Don't look at it like OMG this will take forever. Look at it like hey I will open this fun & intriguing program up everday 4 something 2 occupy my mind. Stimulate your mind 4 a few minutes. And as you know a year can go by a little too fast sometimes. And when it happens as it will you will know how 2 speak French. Maybe not like a scholar in a year but hey fundamentals 2 start you communicating & feeling part of it all. Ok well good luck. Wish me luck too. Oh & hey I am not rich but I threw down the 400 anyway. I wanted a Plasma or LCD HD but said no that isn't the responsible thing. This is the smart thing 2 do. Buy the tv in a few months when they get cheaper from this bad economy. Do this 4 your life. To be somebody. Ok thanks 4 reading my type happy review. Bye signed Enthusiastic Learner of French, Jerry in Northern CA.

I am the kind of person who was never good at learning a foreign language. In high school I took 2 years of German; in college I had two semesters of German. Yet I was barely able 2 ask where the bathroom was after all that. It just never clicked.

Fast forward 15 years & Rosetta Stone has transformed the language learning process! For years I've seen ads 4 Rosetta Stone in magazines & at the airport. Looking at the price tag I was always thinking 2 myself "Yeah, right. There's money that will go right down the drain!" Little did I know how wrong I was.

I started out skeptical -- & have 2 admit I was making it hard from the start -- but after two lessons with Rosetta Stone I was actually starting 2 enjoy learning French! I found myself really getting into the lessons & -- amazingly -- was starting 2 retain some of the words & their meaning!

Rosetta isn't like tradition language classes. You don't try 2 memorize words & phrases. No, they do away with all that nonsense. Instead you are immersed in the language through a multi-media experience. Images & sounds encapsulate you. You are actually learning French as though you were dropped right in the middle of France! You are learning it how every school child learns it!

Now here we are 3 months later & I can honestly hold a basic conversation in French. I feel confident I could get on the plane & land in France & be able 2 get around & take care of myself with relying on English or a translator. Now THAT is amazing -- at least 4 me!

This old dog has been taught some new tricks -- & I highly recommend this software not only 4 business folks, but also 4 kids & others who want 2 learn a foreign language without being forced 2 memorize useless phrases that make the proces so difficult.

It sounds like a good idea, but it's not. I used this product over time, so this is not a snap judgement. Rosetta Stone does not deliver what is promises. I learned more of a foreign language in a semester of college than this poorly designed product delivered in 6 months of use. Massive waste of time & money. Now, several hundred dollars worth of software sits on my shelf collecting dust.

PROS:
- Rosetta Stone will consume hours of your time & lull you into believing that you are learning a language.

CONS:
- WAY, WAY over-priced.
- Designed 2 work only when the CD is in your computer (TIP: Plan on carrying the language disk around with your laptop if you want 2 use the software.)
- Voices become extremely grating over time.
- Moves you at a snail's pace; if you are learning a language 4 business or expect 2 move past kindergarten level in a few months, then forget this product.

If you want 2 learn a language then I'd recommend you take a course at your local college or buy one of the many texts available & a dictionary; sadly 4 me, either of these routes would have cost me a fraction of the price of this product & served me better in the long run. Save your money, & pass on Rosetta Stone.

I was pleasantly surprised with the completeness of this course. It contains everything 2 gently introduce the user 2 the French language, with each stage leading 2 a higher one.
WIth the audio companion included, learning the french language become even easier. This is highly recommended

This is one of the easiest ways ever 2 learn a foreign language. And I speak as someone who has had a tin ear 4 learning langauges in a classroom settting.

Rosetta Stone Personal Edition contains everything you need 2 start learning a language. It's built around our award-winning Rosetta Stone curriculum, which has been adopted by organizations around the world including the U.S. Army, NASA, major corporations such as Deutsche Telecom, IKEA, Royal Dutch Shell, & over 10,000 schools worldwide--and is available in 31 languages spoken by over 90% of the world's population.

2>The Fastest, Easiest Way 2 Learn a New Language2>

Proceed at Your Own Pace
Rosetta Stone is considerate of your time. Anytime, anywhere, you can learn a new language with Rosetta Stone. You learn comfortably without feeling pressured or overwhelmed. Rosetta Stone provides guidance 2 make your language learning effective, fast, & enjoyable with a process that is intuitive, interactive, & visually engaging. At the end of each lesson, you are given the opportunity 2 test your new skills. And, since Rosetta Stone automatically records your progress, you can easily pick up where you left off, when other priorities arise.

Make Language Learning Intuitive with Dynamic Immersion
Rosetta Stone uses rich visual imagery 2 help you learn. You will be presented with sets of images 2 match correctly with a spoken or written phrase in the new language. You will advance 2 the next set of prompts once you've successfully matched words & images & pronounced the words correctly. With Dynamic Immersion, you learn by directly associating your new language with images--nothing is lost in translation.

The comprehensive language-learning solution that fits your life. Learn Naturally Learn your next language the same way you learned your first language. Dynamic Immersion empowers you 2 see, hear & comprehend without translating or memorizing. You already have this ability, Rosetta Stone simply unlocks it. Engage Interactively Get feedback 2 move forward. You learn best by doing, & you'll apply what you've learned 2 get 2 the next step. Rosetta Stone adapts 2 your individual needs & skills, because you drive the program with your progress. Speak Confidently Start speaking immediately. From the very first lesson, you'll speak. You'll begin with essential basics, which form the building blocks of the language. Soon you'll create new sentences on your own using words you've learned. Have Fun Best of all, Rosetta Stone is addictive. With every entertaining activity, you'll feel success. You'll want 2 use Rosetta Stone 2 have that next moment, that next breakthrough. So you'll keep using it, & you'll learn more!

Fun, Easy, & Immediate Reinforcement
Interactive exercises create a learning environment that is engaging & game-like--it's fun!

2>How It Works2> As children, we gradually learned our first language through a process of associating mental images with words or phrases, accompanied by complete immersion in our environment. This approach was simple because it was natural & allowed the brain 2 adapt 2 increasing complexity.

Rosetta Stone recreated this natural way of learning by developing a method that uses a computer 2 mimic the environment in which we learned our first language. We call this Dynamic Immersion. A simple, intuitive interface & advanced technology confirms learning at every step of the process by prompting you 2 make connections between images you already understand & the new language. You receive immediate feedback, which helps you 2 reinforce learning. This systematic structure builds from simple nouns & verbs 2 more complex concepts & phrases very quickly, helping you achieve your language-learning goals faster than you ever thought possible.

2>Level 1, 2 & 3--Connect With the World2> Connect with the world around you. Build a foundation of fundamental vocabulary & essential language structure. Quickly gain the confidence 2 enjoy social interactions such as greetings & introductions, travel, dining out, giving & getting directions, shopping & other recreational activities. Learn 2 share your ideas & opinions, express your feelings & talk about everyday life, your work, your interests, current events, & much more.

3>Features & Benefits3>

Faster & More Effective
Rosetta Stone will teach you as fast as you can learn! Leveraging your natural language-learning ability, Version 3 immerses you immediately in the new language, providing just the right context 2 prompt you 2 speak, pronounce, read & write in the very first lesson! Intuitive, sequential learning builds progressively & makes every lesson count. Our Dynamic Immersion method is so fast & so effective, it's used by the Fortune 500, the U.S. State Department, & over 10,000 schools.

Convenient
You pick the time, the place & the pace! We are ready when you are because there are no class schedules or missed lessons 2 make up. From your desk or your dining room, your valuable time can be turned into productive language learning that fits your lifestyle.

Enjoyable
When something is fun, it captures your attention...and holds it! The interactivity in Version 3 instantly engages you. Rich, vivid imagery, real-life context & voices of native speakers make Rosetta Stone different from any other product out there--never tedious or boring. Rosetta Stone provides a captivating, game-like experience.

Milestones
Learn & apply! Our MILESTONE feature lets you try out your new language knowledge in real-life situations.

Track Your Progress
New ADAPTIVE RECALL feature tracks your progress, reinforcing your strengths & revisiting your development areas.

New Speech Recognition Technology
State-of-the-art new speech recognition technology helps you learn 2 speak your new language even faster. And our new Speech Analysis Tool compares your voice 2 that of native speakers, helping you perfect your pronunciation.

Life-like Context
Our New CONTEXTUAL FORMATION feature uses real-life simulations & vivid imagery 2 give you exactly the context you need 2 produce new language--all on your own!

3>Level 1, 2 & 3 Set Includes:3>

The Basics
Nouns, verbs, adjectives, numbers, questions, colors, clothing.

Friends & Family
Ages, family relations, household items, introductions, landmarks, states, descriptions.

Work & School
Times of day, greetings, calendar terms, body parts, speaking, personal hygiene.

Shopping
Buying, selling & shopping; entertainment & sports; merchandise, speed & weight, comparing & contrasting.

Travel
Destinations, transportation, directions, locations, telling time, distance, cost, weather.

Past & Future
Tenses, letter writing, school subjects, signs, workplace terms, polite requests.

Friends & Social Life
Months of the year, arrivals & departures, social interaction, celebrations, meal courses, quality terms, apologies.

Dining & Vacation
Future tense; terms 4 art, architecture & music; emotions, places of worship, travel & lodging.

Home & Health
Terms 4 home, garden & backyard activities; household items & appliances; terms 4 strength & physical activity.

Life & World
Emotions, continents, life milestones, oceans, botanical terms, terms 4 animals.

Places & Events
Opinion & judgments, currency exchange & transactions; measurements, household repair tools, culinary terms.

Talking About the World
Nationalities, governmental leaders, political terms, media terms, business terms, religious terms. Doing things!

Audio Companion allows you 2 take Rosetta Stone anywhere: in the car, the gym or on-the-go.

2>Audio Companion--Taking Rosetta Stone 2 the Next Level2> Introducing Audio Companion from Rosetta Stone, the newest enhancement 2 the world's #1 language-learning software! It's a great addition 2 the Rosetta Stone experience, allowing you 2 take Rosetta Stone anywhere: in the car, the gym or on-the-go!

What is Audio Companion?
Audio Companion CD-ROMs enhance language learning anytime, anyplace. You can learn new skills on the computer, & then reinforce them with Audio Companion. Play the CDs on a stereo, or download them 2 a MP3 Player & go!

Enhance the Rosetta Stone Learning Experience
Audio Companion activities correspond 2 Rosetta Stone CD-ROM software lessons. You can listen 2 Audio Companion & practice what you've been learning, turning travel time into productive language learning time.

Extend Study Time
Now, you don't have 2 stop learning when you leave your computer. Audio Companion lets you access lessons whenever & wherever you want. It empowers you, & works within your busy lifestyle!

Build Vocabulary & Pronounce Words & Phrases
Audio Companion features distinct words & shorter phrases 2 make them easier 2 hear & repeat. Build good enunciation habits by hearing native speakers pronounce them first.

Speak & Converse
The speaking portion of Audio Companion lets you listen 2 questions & answers, repeating them 2 use later. To help them build your conversation skills, first you'll listen 2 a conversation & then repeat phrases individually.