Rosetta Stone?

[The Bacon Junkie]

   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.!      Anyway, I was never taught Italian as a kid, because the family was "American" and American families spoke English...   

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...   

[Scotzman]

If you have any Marine friends, I think they get Rosetta stone programs for free.

[sugarcrook]

Italian is 50% pantomime.  Just use Skype and video chat with them. 

[IZ]

Immersion program. 

6 months living in Northern Italy and you will be forced to pick up the language.   

[The Bacon Junkie]

If you have any Marine friends, I think they get Rosetta stone programs for free.

Unfortunately, no... 

Italian is 50% pantomime.  Just use Skype and video chat with them. 

  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!   

Immersion program. 

6 months living in Northern Italy and you will be forced to pick up the language.   

I wish I could...   

Thanks, guys...   

[derby]

   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...

[The Bacon Junkie]

uh, ping me offline sometime and, uh, yeah...

pm sent 

[erkishhorde]

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...

[lethe]

it's simple, just grow a mustache and it will come natural

[Scotzman]

it's simple, just grow a mustache and it will come natural

Family Guy - Speaking Italian

Not intended to offend anyone

[The Bacon Junkie]

 

Yeah, yeah..  I've heard 'em all! 

[il d00d]

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. 

[The Bacon Junkie]

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"    I like that...   

[sugarcrook]

What about a few courses at a local community college? 

[Kopfjager]

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.