Has anyone here used the Rosetta Stone language system, specifically Italian?
I've been thinking about getting it for awhile, but I wanted to hear from someone with FHE before dropping the cash.
Due to the wonderful world of facebook, I'm "meeting" all of my family in Italy. I've got more family there than I do here in the U.S.! :o Anyway, I was never taught Italian as a kid, because the family was "American" and American families spoke English... [roll]
I want to be able to communicate with my extended family more easily, instead of running my emails and messages through Google translate all the time.. I mean who knows what Google is saying to people... :-\
Anyway, thanks for all your input in advance, and if anybody just happens to have a spare copy lying around unused, feel free to send it my way... ;)
[bacon]
If you have any Marine friends, I think they get Rosetta stone programs for free.
Italian is 50% pantomime. Just use Skype and video chat with them. ;D
Immersion program.
6 months living in Northern Italy and you will be forced to pick up the language. [thumbsup]
Quote from: Scotzman on January 08, 2011, 06:01:24 PM
If you have any Marine friends, I think they get Rosetta stone programs for free.
Unfortunately, no...
Quote from: sugarcrook on January 08, 2011, 06:04:17 PM
Italian is 50% pantomime. Just use Skype and video chat with them. ;D
[laugh] Tell me about it! That means I'm halfway there. I've been told that if my hands were tied behind my back, I wouldn't be able to talk! ;)
Quote from: IZ on January 08, 2011, 06:05:34 PM
Immersion program.
6 months living in Northern Italy and you will be forced to pick up the language. [thumbsup]
I wish I could... :-\
Thanks, guys... [thumbsup]
[bacon]
Quote from: The Bacon Junkie on January 08, 2011, 05:57:29 PM
Has anyone here used the Rosetta Stone language system, specifically Italian?
I've been thinking about getting it for awhile, but I wanted to hear from someone with FHE before dropping the cash.
uh, ping me offline sometime and, uh, yeah...
Quote from: derby on January 08, 2011, 06:35:53 PM
uh, ping me offline sometime and, uh, yeah...
pm sent [thumbsup]
If you look hard enough, it ain't that hard to find anything digital online... Not that I'm telling you to steal or anything but if you want to take it for a test spin and then put out coin for legit later...
it's simple, just grow a mustache and it will come natural
Quote from: lethe on January 08, 2011, 06:55:21 PM
it's simple, just grow a mustache and it will come natural
Family Guy - Speaking Italian (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JhuOicPFZY#normal)
Not intended to offend anyone
[laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
Yeah, yeah.. I've heard 'em all! ;)
[bacon]
How much time do you have? Do you want to pick up phrases, or be able to have a basic conversation? That whole thing about Rosetta Stone being used by the State dept is a load of hooey, so don't go downloading investing in it based on that endorsement. I am saying if you have time to take a semester of it, you'll get something closer to immersion. But Pimsleur or RS also may work for you - I read a book called "How to Learn Any Language" written by a guy that had learned nearly all of them and the overarching lesson is to use/try every resource at your disposal. Seems like a good strategy.
Also, a first good step to learning Italian would be to change your name to Pancetta Junkie. ;D [bacon]
I already know some basic phrases, just what I picked up from family, but nobody spoke it around us kids when we were growing up. So, I'm really looking to learn everyday conversational Italian.
"Pancetta Junkie" [laugh] I like that... :D
[bacon]
What about a few courses at a local community college?
Rosetta Stone is a good system. You need to be diligent with it and practice on a regular basis (daily) with a native speaker of the language. It is used by the Military like they say in the commercials.
Taking classes at a school is a waste of time, unless you are trying to learn grammar. That is not how you learned English. You did it through listening and repetition. Then you went to school to learn to read and write.
Immersion is the key.
We bought it a couple of years ago. I was very skeptical and thought I was going to take advantage of the return policy.
I used it as a refresher. My five year old picked it up very quickly and enjoyed it. We pull it out every now and then but otherwise she's forgotten most of it.
You do have to be diligent about it. And a class at a local community college will give you a chance to practice what you've learned.
Quote from: lethe on January 08, 2011, 06:55:21 PM
it's simple, just grow a mustache and it will come natural
no he'll just look the part of an Italian woman and won't know how to spurn all the unwelcome advances
;D <ducking for cover>
Quote from: RAT900 on January 09, 2011, 05:38:12 AM
no he'll just look the part of an Italian woman and won't know how to spurn all the unwelcome advances
;D <ducking for cover>
I hate you...
( I mean that in the nicest way possible... ;)@ kopf - Thanks, that's kind of the answer I was hoping for. I can Skype with my family in Italy to practice. I want to go over there for a few weeks to visit, so that will be a good opportunity to test things out. [thumbsup]
[bacon]
The State Department uses Pimsleur. I used that and took a class. Look for a native speaker that teaches outside of the community college system. I had to take the beginning class twice, but it worked.
Quote from: Scotzman on January 08, 2011, 06:01:24 PM
If you have any Marine friends, I think they get Rosetta stone programs for free.
I don't think he has any friends. :-*
he will when he grows the mustache
Quote from: humorless dp on January 09, 2011, 07:01:28 AM
I don't think he has any friends. :-*
You're pretty close to the mark, actually... By choice though. I hate most people. [evil]
Quote from: RAT900 on January 09, 2011, 07:03:21 AM
he will when he grows the mustache
[laugh]
I look very silly with a mustache...
[bacon]
I took the first few lessons for japanese a few years ago before I lost the time to do it daily, but I really think it works if you do it on a daily basis. I remember most of the phrases and sentences in the early lessons, and the pictures attaached to them. Enough for me to string a few sentences together.
I may get back into it.
Quote from: The Bacon Junkie on January 09, 2011, 07:23:04 AM
You're pretty close to the mark, actually... By choice though. I hate most people. [evil]
[laugh]
I look very silly with a mustache...
[bacon]
perhaps but the men will croon sweet nothings like: basette di solletico...... at you
I would also recommend the Pimsleur program. Half hour a day. Every day. It weirds some people out because there isn't much written material. But it gets you SPEAKING the language, which is more important.
QuoteI look very silly with a mustache...
You're probably not driving the right type of van.
The wife and I use Rocket German. [thumbsup]
Here's a link to Rocket Italian.
http://learn.rocketlanguages.com/italian/premium/ (http://learn.rocketlanguages.com/italian/premium/)
I've been using Fluenz for French to some success. They put more of an emphasis on incorporating our previously learned language into the process, as opposed to Rosetta Stone's more immersion method. As a consequence, you don't pick up vocabulary as quickly, but you get the building blocks of grammar quicker. Your mileage may vary though.