[OLD ASIN] Rosetta Stone: Learn Spanish (Latin America) with Lifetime Access on iOS, Android, PC, and Mac [Activation Code by Mail]

This uses photos to help you learn through recognition but the photos are often quite difficult to decipher.It’s also very pricey; I’d look at other options.

I'm an advanced beginner when it comes to Spanish as I've been doing Duolingo for over a year now. I was excited when the I got the opportunity to try out a subscription to Rosetta Stone as a way of trying a different product that might help me learn Spanish. I've always gone into it knowing that nothing will replace hard work and certainly Rosetta Stone is no magic bullet.Basically, there are about 20 different topics with around 4 one hour lessons each. The lessons are pretty standard read and repeat with lots of repetition. While I actually found that these did help my spanish comprehension and vocabulary, I didn't find anything about these lessons that made them more valuable other free crowd-sourced ways of learning Spanish (i.e. Duolingo).

There is nothing easy or automatic about language acquisition and retention, particularly for an adult. Sure, some people are better at it than others, but for most of us, it involves hard work and continuous. Back in school, I studied Spanish, and I've taken one refresher class, but many years (okay, a couple of decades!) have passed, and once again, I find myself extremely rusty with disuse. Enter, the chance to review Rosetta Stone's Spanish language program, which I decided would be a great way for me to brush up on my extremely rusty Spanish as well as an opportunity to compare this online system to classical and immersion programs I've tried in the past. I'm a former educator, as well, so I have a lot of familiarity with learning modalities and educational materials, and I have to say, for an online program, Rosetta Stone is very well designed.First, I unlocked and registered the program on my Macbook Air. It requires the use of Adobe, and you'll want to use a headset with earphones in order to access the program's feedback on pronunciation. Or you can use a smartphone--I've been using my iPhone 8 Plus because I hate wearing headphones and so prefer to work off my phone. Both methods, however, work quite well with few audio glitches. I've tried deliberately butchering pronunciations in ways beginners would to get it to steer me and give positive feedback.The program is immersive, using pictures with Spanish only in an intuitive way to gradually build vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation skills. You're continuously tested on modules and have the opportunity to go back and repeat lessons to raise your score if you'd like. You may also schedule live help if needed, which I have not yet tested in my first several hours of work through the initial units.I love that each lesson gives an estimated time (usually ten minutes) but you can work at your own pace. Each subsequent lesson continually touches back on earlier vocabulary to force you to keep using it. Visual and auditory learning are used, as you're asked to read, look at pictures, listen, and respond appropriately. Sometimes, you're challenged to make an intuitive leap using the process of elimination to introduce a new concept or vocabulary word. No instructions are given in English, but you'll find you won't need them.The only thing Rosetta Stone is missing is the social element providing by a really good immersion type class, which is very reinforcing, but it also won't allow you to hide behind your smarter classmates or slack your way through concepts you don't understand. As an introduction to a language or a way to refresh your knowledge, I would definitely recommend the program. I like it well enough that I'm considering purchasing the Italian version, as I've been wanting an introduction to that language.Do I believe you can become fluent in a short time using Rosetta Stone alone or that it's a complete replacement for a well-designed class with a good, live teacher? No, but as long as you don't go in with unrealistic expectations, it's a very good place to start and a worthy way to learn at your own pace.

Rosetta Stone finally found a solution to their new no-disk system...the lifetime license. Years ago I got a large set of language disks that worked so well for. It wasn't long before I learned just why Rosetta Stone was a popular choice for at-home learning of new languages.But then to my disappointment, last year when I ordered a new set, I received just a code in the mail. The code would give me access to Rosetta Stone software for a very limited amount of time, and this was for the exact same price they use to charge for a whole set of disks you got to keep forever!This was disappointing to say the least. To buy a product only to find you don't even get physical disks, and the software you do get to use, you only have for a short time. And all this at the same price they've always charged for their product. It felt deceiving, and I decided if this was the way they would be going from this point on, I'd try other language programs, like Babble, to see what they had to offer.I'm so glad to see that Rosetta Stone has changed the way they are selling these licenses, and are making them lifetime ones now, and not short limited licenses for the same full price as everything else. I understand companies are all moving to no-disks, but to charge the same price for a short license when you use to have the disks for a lifetime wasn't appealing.The one year licenses are still available to buy, but they seem much cheaper now. So if you do only need a short time with the software, you're not paying the same full price as what a whole set of disks use to be.

Adobe Flash Player is a system requirement for the Rosetta Stone Online Subscription.Rosetta Stone is being very irresponsible in requiring Adobe Flash to run this version - what a shame! Rosetta Stone is a great way to learn language. Using Adobe Flash is a REALLY BAD IDEA. You will open yourself to computer viruses, malware, etc. Adobe announced it will officially end support in 2020. Just google it. I can’t believe a company like Rosetta Stone is still using Flash. I would avoid this until Rosetta Stone update their software.

I have been using Rosetta Stone (Spanish) for a few weeks now. I am impressed with the lessons and actually think it is working albeit in use case specific scenarios. For instance, I am finished with the first module and I still don't know how to count or say the alphabet in Spanish. But I can say "the girls are eating noodles" perfectly!One huge issue that makes this less valuable is the fact that customers may not set up multiple profiles. I would like to use this along with my wife. However, Rosetta only allows one profile and we can't learn independently. For such an expensive product, that is a deal breaker for me in terms of recommendation.