Rosetta Stone Spanish Language Software Review

Learning a new language can be challenging and rewarding experience. Rosetta Stone Spanish is designed to directly emerge learners into the world of the Spanish. Hopefully this review will help guide you in deciding whether Rosetta Stone is the right language learning software for you.

The Spanish Language

The Spanish language is one of the most spoken languages in the world. The language is primarily spoken in Spain, Central and South America, and various regions in the United States.. According to the CIA World Factbook, nearly 5 percent of the world's population speaks Spanish. In the US, nearly 11 percent of the population consists of native Spanish speakers.

The Rosetta Stone Learning Method

Rosetta Stone Spanish focuses on teaching using a natural immersion process. The software is designed to allow students to learn Spanish the same way that they learned their native language. Rosetta Stone uses images combined with spoken and written words to help students connect with the Spanish language without the need for translation. For this reason, there is no use of English in any of the lessons. This allows students to learn Spanish instead of learning to just translate words and phrases in the context on one's own native language. The concept is similar to the way young children learn their first language. They must rely on visual and audible sources to create meanings for words and phrases without having the knowledge of a prior language.

The Software and Tools

Rosetta Stone offers two versions of their Spanish program. Spanish (Spain) focuses on a dialect that is primarily used in Europe while Spanish (Latin America) focuses on dialects used in Central and South America.

There are also two choices for accessing the language learning software. One option is to purchase the software CDs and install them on the home computer. This allows you to have permanent access to the software as long as you still have the disks. The other option is a 12-month online subscription to Rosetta Stone's TOTALe course. Both options also come with audio CDs to play or download to an MP3 player for additional learning on the go.

The lessons primarily consist ten sets of four images. A Spanish word or phrase is shown at the top of the screen and spoken. You then have to match the correct image with the word or phrase used. Beginning lessons start with simple words and phrases and eventually build on them to create more complex sentences. For example, one lesson may use the phrase el gato (the cat) and show a picture of a cat. Later lessons will build on this simple phrase to create a sentence like el gato está debajo de la mesa (the cat is under the table) with a matching picture.

My Experience

I've always had the desire to learn a new language. I soon realized that Spanish would probably be the most beneficial language for living and working in the US. I first purchased the Rosetta Stone Spanish about 2 years ago and have been using it fairly consistently since then. I have completely finished level one and am well into level two.

I found the lessons to be easy to follow. The images really help Spanish students to connect the meaning of words with the visual reinforcement.

The vocabulary easily is easy to learn, but sometimes it is necessary to refer to a Spanish-English dictionary for help. There are thousands of words and sentences that can be learned from using Rosetta Stone. However, if you are planning on becoming completely fluent in the Spanish language, you need more than just this language learning software.

In addition, it is important to also engage actively in other activities that require you to exercise your newly acquired Spanish vocabulary. Try having a conversation with a coworker who speaks Spanish, watch a Spanish television channel, or read a Spanish newspaper. While fluency will require more than just Rosetta Stone, it can provide an easy-to-learn, sturdy foundation on which to build.

The hardest thing to learn from Rosetta Stone is comprehension during conversations. When someone speaks to me in Spanish, I often find it hard to keep up. From using the program, I can understand the words that they are saying, but it sometimes takes a moment to interpret it. I know that this will get easier with time, but my ability to speak, read, and write Spanish seems to have developed quicker.

Overall, my experience with Rosetta Stone Spanish has been excellent. Before getting Rosetta Stone, a friend of mine who is Mexican was tutoring me in Spanish. A few months into the program, he complemented me on how much my ability to speak the language had improved.

Learning a new language can allow you to travel to new places, enhance your career, and engage people from other cultures. While the language learning software can be a pricey investment, this review will hopefully help you determine the learning value of this program.