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

I am an American native speaker, was a Spanish major in college, lived in Madrid 4 about a year & a half & am (well, WAS) fluent in Spanish. I love Italy & have faked my way through Italian trips with my Spanish 4 years. And then my husband ordered Rosetta Stone. It's wonderful! I'd heard about it 4 years, but had no idea that this system was so intuitively exciting. It's more fun than playing Freecell, or other addictive games on the computer!

The system (an immersion approach, with picture recognition & hearing native speakers) is so natural, I couldn't believe it. I've done about half the first level & I find myself out on a walk & making up fun-sounding little italian phrases & sentences in my head. The teaching system is logical, gradual, progressive, challenging, exciting, quickly paced, never boring, & plain fun. I love the tapes 4 the car. My husband & I are both using it & we both love it.

There are several negative reviews 4 the Rosetta Stone software (here & on the level 1&2 software), none of which I find substantial. The first here complains, in essence, that you can't steal the software & give it away 2 your friends! That's fine with me. It's licensed 4 one computer, but you can have lots of users using that one machine. If you're honest & respect intellectual property rights, that won't be an issue 4 you.

A second negative review asserts that there isn't much material 4 level one. First, if you want 2 buy more levels at the same time, you can get levels 2 & 3 4 a reduced price. If you're pretty clear that you want 2 learn Italian, you might want 2 start with at least 2 levels. (Amazon has the other packaging options, too.) Second, I suppose you could zoom through all the lessons in level 1 in a couple of weeks, but it's possible that the person who went through the lessons very quickly is skimming over all sorts of built in layers. The software adjusts 4 increased subtlety in pronunciation & layered appropriation of grammatical structure. Review is critical 2 the learning process - learning language is like learning 2 play an instrument. The practice layers available on the software are impressive. This software is constructed as if it were written by Bach! There's a LOT here, even if you just buy the first level & not one of the packaged versions.

The final critique is that the set-up is difficult 4 MAC users. I have a two iMACS (and am a 25 year PC user who just switched, so I'm completely PC oriented) & have just installed it on one of my machines. The installation was easy, flawless & the software works beautifully. The person who complained had a very sophisticated system & had trouble with some of his intricate settings. I am an Apple neophyte & trust me, 4 those of us with plug-and-play systems, this is a plug-and-play program. MAC users - don't worry!

Final word: Get the software & start having fun. It's truly amazing stuff.

Rosetta Stone has a great tool 4 learning a language. It's easy & fun. There's also an Audio Companion disk that you can listen 2 when you are away from your computer. It's a nice refresher 4 the things you just learned. I was hesitant 2 purchase this because of the price, but I think it's worth it. Hearing the words is so much better than just learning by sight from a book.

BEWARE! If you buy this product you can never resell it. Never return it. Never upgrade it. You better love it. Because you're stuck with it. I purchased version 2 a year ago & wanted 2 upgrade 2 3 so I thought I'd sell my version 2. Rosetta Stone cancelled my eBay auction & threatened LEGAL action 4 attempting 2 resell an original legitimate in the box version of their product. They will only let you return it 4 6 months & ONLY if you bought it directly from them (sorry Amazon) & there are NO upgrades. Basically, I'm out $500. Though I would never ever consider buying another Rosetta Stone product, where the customer is always wrong. BEWARE of this company.

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.

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!

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.

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--Build A Foundation & Navigate Your Surroundings2> Build a foundation & navigate your surroundings. Learn fundamental vocabulary & essential language structure, from greetings & introductions 2 simple questions & their answers. Gain the confidence 2 talk about your environment: giving & getting directions, telling time, dining out, shopping, enjoying basic social interactions & 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 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.

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.