Rosetta Stone Software?

[CptTrips]

I didnt like it.

Meatwad,

Can you give me some idea about what you didn't like or what you found was not effective.

Wab

[Treize69]

Thats what we said. In less kind and pc words of course.

Something along the lines of "The DoD has their craniums firmly lodged in their anal orafices yet again"?

[BlueJ1]

Something along the lines of "The DoD has their craniums firmly lodged in their anal orafices yet again"?
[/quote

I can neither confirm or deny that. 

[CptTrips]

I got the Rosetta stone Lvl 1 and so far have really been enjoying it. 

However, anyone interested learning another language should also check out:

http://www.livemocha.com/

The lessons are a good reinforcement and as I build up some vocabulary, I hope to find some live audio chat partners to practice with.

Regards,
Wab

[Treize69]

I've got an old version of level 1 and 2 Russian, not impressed so far. The whole "Immersion" thing is just irritating- they try to teach you stuff without telling you what they're trying to teach you, so I can't figure out what the heck I'm supposed to be learning in each lesson. As a result, I have zero retention. I've done the first 3 lessons five times through, and each time I do I'm starting back at square one. Almost two weeks and I haven't learned squat.

Not impressed.

[CptTrips]

I've got an old version of level 1 and 2 Russian, not impressed so far. The whole "Immersion" thing is just irritating- they try to teach you stuff without telling you what they're trying to teach you, so I can't figure out what the heck I'm supposed to be learning in each lesson. As a result, I have zero retention. I've done the first 3 lessons five times through, and each time I do I'm starting back at square one. Almost two weeks and I haven't learned squat.

Not impressed.

Really?  I’ve found it to be quite effective.  Maybe the newer version is better. 

The approach is different.  It takes some getting used to.  I have also found the voice recognition to be better than I expected at catching slight mispronounciations.

I also picked up the “Japanese for Busy People” book that Rolex suggested and it looks very interesting.  But after a couple of hours with it I feel I’ll learn with Rosetta faster.  I need to hear it and interact dynamically.  I’ve already learned more words and phrases than I had expected it.  I think it has a lot to do with the picture association and interactive process.  I also like putting the vocab/pronounciation/phrase lessons from the audio companion cd on my mp3 player and practicing while on my evening walk.

But different people learn in different modes.  I hope you find one that works best for you.

Regards,
Wab

[68Wooley]

Like watching a Quebecouis and a Parisian try to speak "French"?

Or, dare I say it, anyone who speaks English trying to converse with an American 

[Marauding Conan]

Or, dare I say it, anyone who speaks English trying to converse with an American 

Or a londoner speaking with a Scot 

[Meatwad]

Meatwad,

Can you give me some idea about what you didn't like or what you found was not effective.

Wab

To me all it taught was just objects, nothing along the lines of how/what to refer to objects/people/etc.

For example, it showes a picture of a ball, book, and automobile then tells you what they are. Nothing like "Can you please tell me what the book you are reading is about?"

I actually found some video clips from the 80's that taught me more then what Rosetta stone did

[68Wooley]

Or a londoner speaking with a Scot 

Oh come now, Londoners aren't that bad at English 

[CptTrips]

To me all it taught was just objects, nothing along the lines of how/what to refer to objects/people/etc.

For example, it showes a picture of a ball, book, and automobile then tells you what they are. Nothing like "Can you please tell me what the book you are reading is about?"

I actually found some video clips from the 80's that taught me more then what Rosetta stone did

Huh...  Did you have an older version?  I have ver. 3.xx.  Even in the first lesson of the first unit they are forming at least simple sentences.

Yeah you have to go through a bunch of object identification drills first, but that is so you will have the components to form sentence.

Example (from memory so my Romanji spelling might be off):

So first they do bunch of drills to teach you man, boy, girl, woman..

i.e. man = Otoko no histo

Then they teach you plural by showing pictures of groups men, women, etc...

i.e. men = Otoko no histotachi  (ahh so adding tachi to the end of a noun denotes plural. Got it.)

Then they teach you water...

i.e.  water = Mizu

Then they show you pictures of people drinking various beverages....

i.e. drinking = Nonde

Then they show you pictures of people running....

i.e. running = (language filter)  H a meatball t e
 
Then they start putting it all together in simple sentences along with contextual pictures:

i.e.  "Otoko no histo wa, mizu o nonde imas." or "Otoko no histotachi wa, mizu o nonde imas." or "Otoko no histo wa, (language filter)  h a meatball t e imasu."

I can infer that "imasu" is maybe like "is" or "are".

So now I can infere the simple gramtical structure from usage.  It looks like they talk like Yoda. 
I'm seeing "Subject wa, [object] verb is/are."  At least for this simple sentence pattern.

Why don't they just passively feed you all the information on a platter?  I believe it is because the act of forcing you to think and decipher the meaning is from partial information causes you to form a stronger mental association than if you were just being passively fed or just reading lists of grammer rules out of a book.

Think about how a young child learns to speak its native language.  Its shown objects and told the names.  For a long time it has no grammer to string them together but just builds a vocabulary.  Later it learns to string together simple sentences out the vocabulary components it has collected.  In time the vocabulary and grammatical complexity increases.  By the time they go to school they already have a fairly strong grasp of the language through inference and intuition long before they start to learn any formal rules.  I think that is a good approach to copy.

But like I said, use what ever works for you.


Regards,
Wab
 

[Meatwad]

Gotcha!

I stopped a while back, been working on finishing my degree at college for this spring and havent had much time in between (except today since the snow has everything shut down)

[Anodizer]

Best way to learn a language.......Watch their soap operas......

[Treize69]

I learned German by listening to Rammstein.

Consequently, I yell a lot.

[ROX]

Once you start using a program like that, there are some other VERY good ways to pick up sentance structure, slang, coloquialisms, and area/regional accents:

1)  Go there!  Let friendlies you know understand that you are working very hard to learn the language--they will help you!

2)  Start READING that language.  The internet will give you more places to practice than you will ever have time for.

3)  Watch their films, tv, and listen to their radio.  It was, in the "old" days, that most every country broadcast to North America in English, as well as their home language on shortwave.  Some still do.  If you don't own a shortwave radio ($50 bucks and another $15 to build a decent wire antenna) you can still listen on the internet.  A Google search will find any language you want.

As a kid..I mowed my aunt's yard and she gave me an old Zenith Shortwave radio.  I was in kid heaven!  Even with the crappy antenna inside it could hear worldwide.  I added a 100' longwire and it helped even more.  Radio Netherlands (Radio Nederland Wereldoemroep) did a segment twice a year for a few weeks called "Dutch by Radio", and would even send you a small plastic record for free--by request.  P.O. Box 222, Hilversum, Holland, if you asked for it.

Most all of those above can be "freebies" if you look around.

Good Luck!



ROX