I purchased in several years ago and I go back-and-forth with it. For me it would be more helpful if it came with a book. Sometimes looking at the pictures I don't know if somebody is giving or taking some thing. It's not always clear on what is supposed to be said. Having said that often times it does not pick up my voice when I speak the words. It worked best with the headset that came with it but it does not plug into my computer now.On another note I can go between Italian and French.

Who hasn't heard of Rosetta Stone? I've always thought of them as the top brand for self-taught language courses. I don't think that now.SUMMARY:- Should not be primary, much less only tool- Bad user experience online- Useless phone app- Decent speech recognition online- Great for grammar- Great practice typing (online version)- Not sure that it's worth $200FULL REVIEWIt's cool to think that you'll be able to learn 25 languages, but seriously.... You'll only have time to learn one well, at a time. And, at the slow pace that the lessons proceed, you'll spend 1 - 3 years learning the basics (vocab, grammar, etc).But, one thing to take into account, is that this IS NOT for strict beginners. If you've never had a basic course in your target language, it will be hard to understand what to do, and how to respond.This brings up a question of, "what is your end goal?"- Are you looking to learn simple phrases you can use for an upcoming trip?- Is this to supplement high school or college courses?- Are you wanting to learn just enough to say a few phrases with friends or if you meet a native speaker?- Or, are you like me, looking to become fluent?I do agree in the "immersive" approach that Rosetta Stone takes. I, however, disagree with the way they implement it. No matter how much of an immersive experience, you usually have someone who can help explain any questions you might have.- a child has adults- when I got thrown into 3rd grade without knowing a word of English, there were kids my age patient enough to help me understand/learn/communicateAnd that's something that this course is missing.For these reasons, this should not be your primary tool for learning another language (slow pace, not for beginners, no help).In addition, the web interface lacks functionality. Some lessons have a nice way to go back to lesson plan/path while others do not, forcing you to go back to 'Home'.The phone app is notching more than flash cards. And the last straw was this morning when it sent me a message telling me to brush up on my Spanish (a language I've never even clicked on in app or site).I find myself using Duolingo a lot more than Rosetta Stone. It encourages me because they've gamefied the experience but they've also done a fantastic job with their interface (online and on mobile).Rosetta Stone's audio companion files have proven useless for me. The on-demand videos have some value in explaining local customs and slang, but not really all that useful. They should have turned these subjects into actual courses, instead.WHAT DO I LIKE ABOUT ROSETTA STONE?It complements Duolingo by navigating a similar path in terms of difficulty and themes, but with different subjects or vocabulary.On Duolingo I might be learning about cats eating birds or children reading, while on Rosetta Stone I'm learning about adults driving and teaching or children running and riding bicycles.It also serves as my only real place for practicing pronunciation. I went into the settings and set recognition to the hardest level. It complains a lot more than Duolingo does, which is exactly what I want.Lastly, the typing... this is a feature that I really like on the Rosetta Stone and the web version of Duolingo.ANECDOTEl'éléfant mange... le singe court... la fille a un vélo.... etc.I've read the comments about useless vocab and examples because it gets you nowhere in a real conversation. Well... as part of my attempt to immerse myself in the language I listen to a French news channel that streams their content for free 24/7 on YouTube.I type away during the day, while working, with this noise running in the background.Once in a while I pick up a word or phrase. But a couple of nights ago, 'les éléphants mangent WHATEVER....WHATEVER WHATEVER les singes..." I'm like, "are they seriously talking about elephants and monkeys?" I look over, and sure enough, it was news report about how some elephants were running into a village and turning over trucks and eating and destroying a habitat where a bunch of small monkeys live, and that was pushing them into the village. The parting clip was an elephant picking up a bicycle and lifting it high above its head, on its trunk.LOL, like all of these crazy one-off lessons, rolled up into a single news story.VERDICTIs Rosetta Stone helping me learn French? Yes. But it is my least used tool at the moment. And I've just ordered books so I have a feeling that I'll be using it a lot less.I don't think it's worth $200.

It doesnt start you out with the Spanish Alphabet or word definitions or classicly educate you on the specifics of the gramma or explanations of useages. You start out with core excercises and it expands. You may have 6 examples with a function, then you have six more or 8, and then sudden moved on past it all. No definition of the word, no expanation of why it is be used this way, no expanation of why there are 4 words seemingly similar sound by you need to figure out why there are being use this way...and very quickly so it can move on. You suddenly realize you memorized enough to get thru the excerises but you really, havent learned it. If someone askes you what or why they used this way, what the marks mean, etc.,. You are clueless. Making me spend alot of time in google translator, and other language reference sights to slow it all down and break it down. I do not recommend it for all your learning information.The structure for breaking it all down to the simplist form, with clear direction and explanations of what and why, are not there. It has materials on the sight to look it too, but you must search it out. Im not sure this is the best process to really retain, atleast it isnt for me.

Unfortunately, if you get rusty and want to review, you cannot restart the program. You can change your focus for your chosen language which will show multiple days that you have already completed in another track and are now locked. You can also pick a new language, but you cannot start over.

i bought this to study for my trip to Japan. I started rosetta stone in earyly Aug. I have to go over and over the lessons because the facts they teach are totally not relevant to getting around Japan. Why do I have to learn that the fish are swimming or the horse is running. i am on lesson 3 and have yet to learn the word WHERE, Bathroom or PLEASE How about instead of learning that the fish are swimming or no i am not a doctor, teaching me Good Morning, Good night, please, thank you and other words needed to communicate just the basics. I just gave up and loaded Google translate on my phone. I do think Rosetta helped with pronunciation i can say correctly that the boy is eating and the cat is black.I m leaving for Japan after 3 months of studying learning nothing to help me day to dayi did email the company my displeasure and was told that Rosetta stone is an immersion learning program..I just wonder when you immerse yourself in common phrases and helpful dialogue.

I have done about 3 days of lessons so far for Persian/Farsi. I like that lessons are presented in small bits and the constant quizzing definitely helps me to remember things. However, the lessons start with both oral and written Persian. I know the written Persian alphabet so seeing the words/letters while hearing the speakers say a sentence is helpful to me. Someone who does not know the alphabet would have a much more difficult time. Also, lessons are totally in Persian with no introduction to what you will learn and no explanations. The speakers do speak slower than they would normally but without seeing the written words, I would be lost since the syllables go by so fast while just listening. I am afraid that by the end of just the first week of lessons, I will be totally lost, not knowing what they are teaching. We'll see. This immersive approach to language learning is popular but I find it wastes time. Why say "he is running; she is not running" 10 times instead of just telling me to add a "ne-" in front of a verb to make it negative? Anyway, I will plod onward and hopefully I will get used to this method.

I tried this and completely quit using it in favor of Duolingo. I just have more fun on Duolingo.

Wrong advertising should be 25 languages instead 24

Please read their Terms and Conditions - found in very small print and the very bottom of their website."Lifetime" does not mean YOUR lifetime, but the lifetime of the product!I purchased it many years ago, but they no longer support that version of the product, and now I no longer have access to it online. They do not provide a path to upgrade, but to purchase the whole thing again.If you look them up in the BBB website, you will see many complaints from unhappy customers such as myself.I suggest giving your business to companies that don't use deceptive and sneaky marketing techniques!

This product does not translate or explain anything in your native language. This software teaches by trial and error. This method works for flashcard like lessons such as objects, and colors. It does not help when it comes to understanding why the language is spoken the way it is. I found the conversation parts very difficult by this method. I would have preferred an explanation and an English translation alongside the lessons. The lessons are pictures and words that you match. You also need to match what they are saying to the picture or finish the sentence. At one point they just start having a conversation with pictures and you have to choose the right response.I purchased the lifetime subscription. You access this content from a web browser on your computer or you can download their app. Microphone and a headset are recommended.