Rosetta Stone?

The Architect · January 09, 2011, 05:21:38 AM

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.

RAT900 · January 09, 2011, 05:38:12 AM

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

The Bacon Junkie · January 09, 2011, 06:50:43 AM

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

<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.

LMT · January 09, 2011, 06:58:34 AM

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.

ducpainter · January 09, 2011, 07:01:28 AM

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.

RAT900 · January 09, 2011, 07:03:21 AM

he will when he grows the mustache

The Bacon Junkie · January 09, 2011, 07:23:04 AM

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.

Quote from: RAT900 on January 09, 2011, 07:03:21 AM
he will when he grows the mustache

I look very silly with a mustache...

671M900 · January 09, 2011, 07:44:29 AM

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.

RAT900 · January 09, 2011, 07:52:19 AM

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.

I look very silly with a mustache...

perhaps but the men will croon sweet nothings like: basette di solletico...... at you

Grappa · January 09, 2011, 08:48:41 AM

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.

Scotzman · January 09, 2011, 09:38:02 AM

QuoteI look very silly with a mustache...

You're probably not driving the right type of van.

sno_duc · January 09, 2011, 02:08:05 PM

The wife and I use Rocket German.

Here's a link to Rocket Italian.
http://learn.rocketlanguages.com/italian/premium/

superjohn · January 09, 2011, 04:02:02 PM

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.

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Rosetta Stone?