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Rosetta Stone Review


ConsumersAdvocate.org Rating: 5 / 5 (Excellent)
22 Customer Comments & Reviews - see all comments
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Rosetta Stone is known to be one of the most effective Language learning courses on the market. It's used by branches of the US military, government agencies, learning institutions and top businesses around the world to help bridge language barriers.

Rosetta Stone offers 30 different language courses including:

  • French
  • Italian
  • German
  • Spanish

What’s Included?

Rosetta Stone utilizes technology to complement its pattern-based learning method to enhance the learning process.

Learning is divided into 5 levels which determine the content of each package

This includes:

  • Voice Recognition Software
  • Online Coaches
  • Mobile Apps (that provide students a wider choice of media to learn from)

The complete course is available as a digital download. It comes with a headset, microphone and voice recognition software that adds that extra touch to help polish your speech.

Live Conversation sessions with native speakers help you refine your conversation skills.

The course is available online through a subscription with its TOTALe offer. It includes interactive software similar to those found in CDs. Online-only features include group/ solo games and the ability to learn with others.

It is supported in major computer operating formats (Windows, Mac) and comes with a free App (iPhone, Android) for online subscribers.

Courses

  • Courses are divided into 5 levels
  • Up to Level 3 only available for:
    • Arabic
    • Dutch
    • Filipino
    • Greek
    • Hebrew
    • Hindi
    • Japanese
    • Korean
    • Persian
    • Polish
    • Portugese
    • Swedish
    • Turkish
    • Vietnamese
  • Courses are available for Business, Personal, Public Sector, Education, Homeschooling

Format

  • Online support/ coaches
  • Software
  • Mobile App
  • Voice Recognition (Mic and headset)

How Does It Work?

Rosetta Stone’s language learning course mainly focuses on the connection between images and language.

Unlike other language learning courses, Rosetta Stone is ideal for entry-level or people who don’t have prior experience with the language. Learning is achieved through a steady stream of images, games, and flashcards.  

Rosetta Stone’s methodology allows you to discover patterns. It starts by building a simple vocabulary that progress into phrases. The course feels light and easy with learning heavily reinforced by images. But it is highly structured and is designed to teach through a pattern of learning.    

There are five levels of learning. Level 1 contains basic conversational skills such as greetings and how to go around a new city. Your communication skills steadily progress until you reach Level 5 which by then has given you enough skills to reach a native-speaker level and even live comfortably abroad. 

Costs

Some may say that Rosetta Stone is pricier compared to other products. But some packages allow the program to be installed on two computers and access to 5 users.

Rosetta Stone offers users a 30-day no-risk money back guarantee. This gives you a great overview of what the learning programs are all about and determine if this would work for you.  

  • $179 for level 1 and $299 for the complete set (level 1 to 5) 
  • TOTALe Online 36 month subscription ($499), 12 month subscription ($299), 6 month subscription ($239)

Bottom Line

Rosetta Stone is a language course that continues to deliver a simple yet effective way of teaching foreign languages for those with little or no prior experience.

It is widely used by government agencies, educational institutions and large corporations for training. The method uses great use of images and interactive learning exercises that are so effective that could even be used to teach children.

Some critics might contend that this learning approach is too rudimentary and basic that it is more attuned for teaching children. But this is exactly how learning a new language should be approached whether it is a child or an adult.

For more seasoned or those with a working knowledge of the language, Rosetta Stone does offer advanced levels to help reinforce and fine-tune their skills. 


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Customer Comments

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jacobson.randycandy
10/25/2023
I advise against the purchase. I bought a lifetime download and when it couldn’t support software changes I was out of luck. Offered an app with level one. So basically money down the drain.
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J
James
9/25/2018
Really good for Espanyol especially. Worth it to get the yearly subscription.
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