Language Software

[spyder003]

Does anyone have recommendations for any home use language software / programs? I've seen and heard about Rosetta Stone, and hear it's good. I'm specifically looking to learn German.

I'll be taking a beginner's German course in the next 2-3 months, but for now I'm just looking for something to get me started.

I've been in Germany for a week now and will be here for the next 3-5 years. I'm sure getting out and mingling with the locals will be the best way to learn, but that's easier said that done. For the first time, I am the ignorant foreigner that can't speak language X and let me tell you... it's not a good feeling.

I went to Luxembourg (French speaking) the other night to catch a flick and it sucks when you can't understand someone and can only give back a blank stare and shrug.

Thanks for any recommendations.

~J

[shadowpr]

I know this is an old thread, but was just wondering if you ever did get that Rosetta Stone, and if so, how did you like it?

I'm thinking of trying to teach myself a new language.

[mattaggie]

Ive used Rosetta stone on a few different languages. You will not learn a langauage using it, nothing like the commercial claims. With that said, i still recommend it. It is an innovative way to learn, but I would use it in conjunction with a textbook.

[EzyStvy]

Learning a new language takes some serious dedication – time and effort. Couple hours a day – every day for a few YEARS.

The Rosetta Stone commercials give the impression all you have to do is pop in the cd and boom – you’re done

[David M]

I wish Rosetta Stone had Romanian. Oh well. Anyways, I was playing around with someone elses Rosetta Stone in Italian for about an hour. I found myself learning Italian words that I still remember today....just for one hour of messing around with the software.

[Khalil]

Software works OK but the best way to learn a language is to be around people who speak it full time. I am trilingual but I have also picked up other languages rather easily when I was in the countries I was visiting, over time you feel like you forgot the language.
What is funny is that as soon as you are back in that country again all of a sudden all the words and phrases you learned come back real fast.
Interaction is the fastest way to learn a language. Also depending on what your mother tongue is, it will effect how fast and well you can learn other languages.

[shadowpr]

I speak spanish already, but was thinking of trying to learn japanese. I don't know anyone that speaks that, but I do like to watch anime, and they are mostly in japanese I believe, so I think that would help a bit. (And the reason I want to learn it).

[Khalil]

A friend of mine loves Bollywood movies LOL he ended up learning hindi just from watching the movies and singing along.

[shadowpr]

Nice.

[spyder003]

Originally Posted by shadowpr I know this is an old thread, but was just wondering if you ever did get that Rosetta Stone, and if so, how did you like it? I'm thinking of trying to teach myself a new language.

Hi, old thread and my response is about on par :P

I ended up borrowing Rosetta Stone from a library and didn't like it. It just seemed too gimmicky for me and wasn't didn't seem to flow right. The first few lessons were things like, "The boy is on the plane, the boy is under the plane, the boy is in the plane". It bored me to death.

Check out Pimsleur's... I borrowed this from a friend. It's just straight audio that starts out as practical conversational German and progressed from there. Starts out like "Excuse me, can you help me?" Things like that. Eventually it progresses to everyday things like asking directions or ordering a meal. I really liked it and learned enough to get by. I eventually lost interest though. I guess I'm just a typical American. I don't really have any desire to be fluent in anything but English. It doesn't help that when you try to speak the local language, they reply in English anyway... I'll learn enough of whatever local language to say Please and Thank You, and to order a meal and a beer. Good enough for me!

[EzyStvy]

To really and truely learn a language ya gotta get into the guts of it - nouns - pronouns - verbs - etc bla bla bla. I used to sleep through the 7th grade Spanish class I was in. (it was right after lunch) We weren't allowed to speak English at all....Had to guess a lot of the time what it was we were trying to learn to speak

I've gone to Puerto Vallarta a dozen times and pickup a little bit each trip...But as you said - they too speak Engrish pretty good.