Rosetta Stone V3: Spanish (Latin America) Level 1 [OLD VERSION]

As a 50+ learner I wondered how well I'd retain the information but it's been great. The format makes it fun & appealing while the word/picture association facilitates retention. We have all 3 levels and I'm currently on the last session of Level 1 (after 6 weeks). While it says it's a single user product, you CAN install the Version 3 on two computers; however both installations cannnot be running simultaniously (I called Rosetta Stone about this & we're doing this w/ husbands & my computers). The microphone set-up is great to hear yourself speak & make corrections as needed. Since Rosetta Stone provides no written Spanish (ie book) a good English-Spanish dictionary is helpful or having a free-translation window open on your computer for occasional clarification. Also it helps to look at some free websites that explain general sentence structure and word tense in the Spanish language. If you're consistent in it's use, quiz yourself mentally during daily activities, and proceed at a comfortable pace (too slow & you lose momentum, too fast & you forget) you'll be speaking Spanish in no time. I've learned far more in the past month with this product than I did taking a weekly conversational Spanish class at the local community college.

Rosetta Stone V3 Spanish (Latin America) Level 1 Personal Edition (Win/Mac)

I was about halfway through the old version when this came out and decided to try it.

It is really good, and although the old version was also quite good, this one is much more so. The lessons and the review management are particularly well designed. The language method is much improved and more realistic. The immersion method they've implemented is so good that I don't use the notes I used to use, and also don't refer to my Spanish dictionaries as often as I did with the old version.

It is so pleasant to use that I'm not taking as many breaks as I did with the old version. In fact, my progress is so fast I'll have to order Level 2 much sooner than expected.

Tom in Arkansas

Installed product, got the microphone hooked up, and then needed to not do the speaking portion of the lessons. Just felt overwhelmed with learning the words, and trying to speak at the same time.

I like the immersion concept. Just look at the pictures and see the words/phases and try to recall them. I'm a visual learner, so this is great for me. If you are not a visual learner this may not be for you.

I have images of pictures in my head now, with spanish words/phrases to go with it. Which is much better for me than grammar drilling, etc.

I'm NEW NEW NEW to spanish. I've never taken any spanish classes in school or anywhere else, and would appreciate it if those who HAVE prior knowlege of spanish or have taken Spanish formally in a classroom situation, or are a native spanish speakers, do not try to tell a NEW NEW spanish learners if this product will be good or bad for them, you don't know because you already know the language basics. You have a context to base your learning on, whereas an over 40 person who has never taken spanish is learning very differently than you, and is like a baby learning a new language. Which is what I'm hoping this product helps with. I'm learning like a new baby. Hear it, connect it with some images, and hopefully I'll integrate all this in and be able to speak it.
I've watched my infant/toddler learn, and they don't start speaking immediately with understandable words until they have a vocabulary foundation, and see the words in action, and they are looking at you and what you're saying and visually what its connected to. Then later they start to speak or repeat. Why people who create language learning product for adult beginners think adults should not learn like babies do is beyond me, but I think the Rosetta folks get it!

But who knows for sure. I'm giving it a shot with this product.