3 comments about Rosetta Stone V3: French, Level 3.

1. This product is sold as licensed software. Users will NOT be able to load it onto more than one computer. This aspect of the product is not clear from the blurbing on the Rosetta Stone website. It is a "single-user" product.
   Don't think that you can share this with friends, or that it is appropriate for a lending collection.



2. I am enjoying this software. It was a snap to install and I appreciate listening to the native speakers and also seeing the written French appear on the screen after each example is successfully completed. I would recommend this product. -- Learned some new vocab the first time I used it.



3. Delivery was very prompt. The product is fun to use with built in reviews of previously learned material. I find the writing section most difficult as the tasks at the beginning of the exercises are very difficult and offer to assistance. The reading, speaking and listening skills are very well done.

5 comments about SmartFrench CD-ROM 1.

1. I too should have been suspicious of the glowing reviews for this product BEFORE I purchased it. If you are new to French you will not learn ANYTHING! First you have to read the translation to get the gist of the conversation, then you listen to the same dialogue several times. There is no grammar. All you will learn is how to pronounce words properly and which words are omitted in spoken French. However, in French, many times words are not pronounced as written -ex: "dois" the "s" is not pronounced. But this is not pointed out. The commentary is the same for every lesson. Not very helpful. This cd-rom is good if you already have a working knowledge of French and want to learn how to pronounce the words correctly. But nothing else. Only for pronounciation. Let me repeat myself. You will only learn to parrot the correct way to speak French but you will not know their meaning. If you are looking to learn the basics and progress from there this is NOT the way to go.



2. It's amazing how fast one can improve with the right tools and SMART FRENCH is one of those essential tools. The operative word here is IMPROVE. To learn this language you'll of course also need to learn the grammer but in order to HEAR this language you'll need this program. It has improved my understanding of FRENCH beyond my expectations. I can't thank Christian Aubert enough! If you are already studying FRENCH and need a jump start, this is it! You'll be sure to go back to your class room and run rings around the other students; or you'll go back to your company and thoroughly impress your boss & co-workers. For me --> This is the program that is finally getting French to click! Think of it as an addendum to your other FRENCH studies, albeit a crucial one. Without something like this you'll know the grammer but won't be able to understand a WORD SPOKEN and won't have the confidence to SPEAK FRENCH.



3. What I LOVE about this SmartFrench CD-rom is the video interviews with 19 different people (chef, fashion model, musician--you get the idea). You can watch a video of each person talking about their career (very interesting!) to see their mannerisms, hear them speak, and you can choose to click on "translation" so that the English translation appears on screen above the video simultaneously. You can also choose to see the text in French above the video to see how French is written. The French words are color coded so that whatever is not pronounced (silent) is printed in another color. That is SO helpful to me! Now I am able to read a little, too.
   
   It's one thing to learn French in a classroom, but it is different thing entirely to hear it spoken by native French speakers. This CD-rom helps to tune your ear so that it makes sense.
   
   I also use the PDF booklet a lot. It goes over how to pronounce the alphabet, numbers and silent letters. It has charts of `sounds'. I have a lot of materials at home to help me learn French, and most methods forget to teach/review the basics.
   
   Also included are "Useful dialogues when you visit France" for use in the subway, on the street, in the taxi, café, at the concierge's desk, restaurant, a friends wedding, post office, museum, hotel and airport.
   
   I really love using this SmartFrench CD-rom. I was a beginning French speaker before our trip to France 3 months ago. Being in France helped attune my ear to the language, but I could only pick up a few words. This CD-rom is helping me to comprehend a LOT more French when I hear my French friends talking, and I am beginning to speak so that I am understood!



4. My investment in SmartFrench was the best money I've spent in a long time. I'd had some French experience in my growing up years while living overseas, and some high school and college French. But though I had a basic understanding and comprehension of the language, I didn't feel comfortable enough to actually open my mouth and attempt an actual conversation! About three months ago I purchased the Intermediate/Advanced cds from SmartFrench. The best way to describe the effect that my exposure to these cds has had, is to say that my mouth feels comfortable (and even rather delightful) with French rolling about in it now! After all the listening and repetition (the cds have been my constant driving companions), I'm no longer feeling tentative about pronunciation, or even the rhythm of the language. It's as though I've learned some dance steps and am now free to, albeit somewhat tentatively, move about the dance floor!
   It's also very enlightening to listen to the French interviews and learn to understand what is being said by the non-teacher-types!
   In addition to the new freedom I feel with the language, SmartFrench has clarified a lot of what categorizes a non-French speaker as just that - and has given practical advice on how to sound more French and less obviously foreign.
   French feels approachable and adventuresome to me again, and I'm excited that I discovered these wonderful cds.



5. I have MA in linguistics and intercultural communication and I went through many programs and sources during my studying other languages (Russian,German and English and Italian) that now I can state with full right : Learning foreign language is 80% faster when you learn it with your ears. There is no other source like this one! When I opened the software on my computer and started to click on options, I couldn'tbelieve the choices you get there. You have so many of them to learn authentic french (offered to you in three level choice!), each of them is like served on the plate for you, just open your mouth.
   It is designed very entertaining and you don't get tired and exhausted, like in many other sources, after you listen to the dialogue you have to take a book and read on your own and read examples (which pronunciation is not guided for you), not here: Christian explains grammar as it is met in the offered dialogue, reads other examples with these structure usage! while he voices over with extremely correct pronunciation (like no other source!). You have options either listen to him in french and repeat, or if it is comfortable for you to have translation at the same time, he actually translates it and then gives french equivalent for you. Your memory for correct reproduction of foreign language increases this way amazingly! When I would tutor my students, my main method was to make them translate into foreign language form their own on the fly or in written form. Works wonderful as they would improve their skills in no time, they were even surprised without putting that much effort as you have to put for traditional learning.You have to have it if you are serious about the language, all 3 levels in onepackage, it is amazing!

5 comments about Eazyspeak French Levels 1 and 2 (PC & Mac).

1. The complete immersion method, using a Sims type format is great to improve in a new language.



2. I was pretty disappointed with this software. It's good for people who really want to learn the language, but I was looking for something I could use for my trip, and it hasn't been that helpful. It's also not the most user-friendly program in the world.



3. After reading the reviews for various French language programs it has become apparent that "one size does NOT fit all"! This is not for those who have studied French in school or had classes in speaking French.
   
   These are quick, fun lessons.....an easy way to pick up French words or phrases if you are visiting France for the first time. It will not necessarily teach you how to say complete sentences or paragraphs. But you will learn basic words to begin your homework and progression to more difficult skills, if you desire. You can make it as repetitive as you want without being bored to death! The lessons are presented in a whimsical way for all ages.
   
   One important note: the disc will need to be updated with free downloads from the Kutoka website to bring your software up-to-date and functioning properly. (Kutoka is the company for EazySpeak). Amusez-vous bien!



4. I got a bad taste from this software for 2 reasons.
   1. It's not for adults.
   2. The Mac version seems to be a bad port of the Windows version. It pounds the processor. It also requires the CD to be present in the drive in order to function.
   
   So this may be ok (not great) for a child on a Windows machine (with the CD always present) otherwise you can do better even with free podcasts.



5. I wouldn't say that this is a real learning tool. It's fun and a good supplimental tool to what ever language program you are using. I had problems getting the software to run on my home PC which I bought in 2001 but has windows XP. It did run with out a problem on my new lap-top. So if you have a PC that's a couple years old, you might have problems getting the CD to run too. Maybe there's a language barrier?

5 comments about KidSpeak 6-in-1.

1. KidSpeak 6-in-1 is an awesome product for kids to have fun with and learn several languages(Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Hebrew). The animation is very fun and my kids really love this. I love the fact that my child will talk to me in a different language and I'm sure other parents would agree. When it comes down to it, Transparent Language did an awesome job with this software and I couldn't be more satisfied with it.



2. I bought this software on the recommendation of some software review site, and I must say my 9 year old daughter and I were disappointed. The graphics are sometimes hard to make out on the screen. (The animation altogether isn't very appealing at all, but that's not why I bought it . . . )And my daughter kept repeating, "But I want to learn sentences!" It's just an okay introduction if you want to learn the names of fruits and vegetables.



3. The idea and format aren't bad. I would have liked it if there had been a few more words to learn. Also, instead of learning animal names, which aren't very useful if you don't live on a farm, they should have included some simple sentences. A little more material or a little lower price would have increased my rating to 4 stars.



4. We were moving to Japan and I was looking for computer software to get my kids (age 11 and 8) started with basic words. This got high marks and included other languages so I bought it. We were very disappointed and the kids gave up on it. The problem is that it is difficult to understand the pronounciation of the words. The audio is just not clear.
   
   I later ordered Power Japanese, an adult software program, and we were much happier.



5. My review makes reference to the French language section ( I have not used the other ones)
   
   I have a 7 year old, who enjoys this software a lot. I love that the sound quality is very good, and the pronuncioation is perfect. There is plenty of vocabulary to practice. I think this is a really good complement to any language program.
   
   I believe that both,beginners and more advanced students 6-10 would enjoy and benefit from it.
   
   Featured vocabulary: numbers, colors, animals, days, months, weather, means of transportations, clothing, and more.
   
   Easy to use.

5 comments about French Level 1 & 2 Win/Mac Personal Edition [Old Version].

1. Rosetta Stone is decent product for learning the basics of French. It's advertising says it will allow you to learn a language the same way a child learns. That's true as far as it goes; the process introduces you to the basics to give you a familiarity with the language. I believe that someone who just uses the Rosetta Stone might be able to gain a basic proficiency. But it doesn't go beyond that.
   
   For example, a child learning language can learn what she needs to be understood before she ever goes to school; the same applies to Rosetta Stone. However, at some point the child will to go to school to learn more. French in particular is a formal language and those who are interested will need to find some means of learning beyond the basics if they want to progress to a higher level.
   
   The best thing about the program is the flexibility of modes - hearing, reading, seeing, speaking - which allows you to structure the process to best fit what works for you. The worst thing is it's too expensive for what you get, particularly when there is so much out there that is free.



2. In the first lecture of his intensive course in Russian at Harvard, Professor Horace G. Lunt used to compare different methods of language learning. His comment on the "learn a language as a child does" was, "Do you really want to spend five years of your life learning to speak like a five-year old child?" His point was that an adult has several advantages in a language learning over a child. The two most important of these advantages are: (i) the adult already knows one language, and can compare the working of the second language with that and thus master the second easier; (ii) the adult can grasp grammatical concepts (which explain the structure of the language) and thus learn the structure of a language and how to manipulate it without having to infer this from an endless repetition of instances-- the adult can learn more efficiently.
   
   These observations apply to the Rosetta Stone series. They are very good for teaching (relatively painlessly) basic vocabulary and the elementary working of a language. They don't go much beyond that. If you want to teach yourself how to manipulate a language and to produce responses automatically, the Foreign Service Institute courses, although a bit tedious, are far superior.



3. As I state in other product reviews, Rosetta Stone is clearly overrated but solid.
   The problem with the overall approach is that it requires that you spend your learning time in front of a computer, which is where you do everything else. Lot's of competition.
   I prefer to do my language learning during my otherwise wasted downtime while I drive. If I study a language while driving, I win because I use otherwise wasted hours. I, like most Americans, spend more time driving than ever before. When I get home, I want to do other essentials.
   My favorite car French course is Behind the Wheel French 8 CD. Free up your computer and learn FrenchBehind the Wheel French (8 CD Course) (Behind the Wheel) while you drive is my recommendation



4. A month after I purchased this, Rosetta Stone comes out with a new release. Not nice.



5. Rosetta Stone is a great vocabulary builder, but doesn't teach grammer or sentence structure. Good for beginners.

4 comments about Rosetta Stone V3: French, Level 2.

1. This product is sold as licensed software. Users will NOT be able to load it onto more than one computer. This aspect of the product is not clear from the blurbing on the Rosetta Stone website. It is a "single-user" product.
   Don't think that you can share this with friends, or that it is appropriate for a lending collection.



2. This is an excellent followup of Rosetta stone French level 1. It is fully immersive and succesfully builds upon the skills learned in the 1st one. There is more speech involved, and your knowledge of French will drastically increase. About the not installing on more than one computer, this is true, however that is not the point of the software. It is a great product and I would recommend buying the third installment in Rosseta Stone French v3 one once you have mastered this.



3. I sprung for the Rosetta Stone French level 2 in anticipation of a summer trip to France to help me re-learn the French I had learned years ago, but never spoke fluently. The Rosetta Stone programs are VERY expensive, but I have to say that so far I find that their reputation is deserved. I find the program easy-to-use, engaging, and fun. I like that it immerses you in the language: speaking, listening, reading and writing. It is a natural way to learn a language. Having said all that, I have been told that the extensive county library where I live offers these programs online (in your own home) for free! So, please look for this option before you fork over hundreds of dollars.



4. I have tried many books, tapes, CDs over the years and this is by far the easiest and most fun way to learn a language. Rosetta has managed to combine a variety of techniques that have been developed by language experts over the years into a software program that beats them all. Of course, one product can't be expected to take you to fluency but this may be the closest.

No comments about Instant Immersion French Deluxe v3.0.

5 comments about Rosetta Stone V3: French, Level 1 & 2.

1. Bought this from Amazon for my wife. It ran for two months then complained it was not activated.
   Same machine, same user.
   IMPOSSIBLE to speak to a support rep.
   Might be OK software, I don't use it, but I'm stuck trying to talk to jackasses who don't answer their phones.



2. It is mostly my wife studying French with this for a planned trip to France this summer. She has been very pleased. Rosetta's technique is more of an emersion in the language than the old rote memorization ways we were taught languages in school. (This is a 1969 HS graduate talking.) Highly recommended, but not cheap!



3. I bought French Level 1&2, and I went through Level 1 so far. For someone like me, with zero background in French and no time for going to language classes, the software does a very good job. If you have realistic expectations and don't think you should be fluent in French after Level 1, the progress is truly amazing. I like the combination of audio, visual aids, spelling and pronunciation drills- add numerous repetitions to the mix, and you will be surprised how much you can learn. I would recommend buying a separate grammar reference book though, as sometimes intuitive learning is not sufficient, and being able to see the whole structure helps a lot. I have tried some other language self-study courses before, and I can say that Rosetta is the most effective one.
   Also, I am a Mac user, and I did not have any issues with the software installation (and I am not a tech savvy person!). I think that the problems described in some previous reviews may only relate to network settings, on a single computer the software works just fine.



4. My husband and I have made a commitment to learn French. We are going to France this summer and have been there twice already. We want to be better able to communicate. We received Rosetta Stone about a month ago and have both been impressed with the program. You must wear the headphone which is synced to your individual voice. You listen to the
   pronounciation throughout the lessons and then must repeat words and sentences. It has sound indicators to tell you whether you are pronouncing correctly. The program leads you through pictures where you match words or sentences. There are vocabulary, grammar, speaking, and writing lessons. There are also review sections to keep reinforcing the material. It is like playing a game and becomes quite a challenge!
   For home based learning without an instructor, we think it is GREAT!
   Donna and Ben Lanza



5. For the first time since purchasing a variety of items thruogh Amazom.com, I can say I am deeply disappointed with this product. I purchased it for my daughter. She said she received an error message but when she went to the Rosetta site, there was no way to get support via that website. As she is out of the country, it is very expensive for her to be at a computer AND telephone as the technical support individual mentioned. Therefore, we have gone through considerable expense for her to FEDEX the software to me so that I can return it. I have done that and now I am waiting for the "verdict" from Amazon.com regarding a refund. As I said, this is the first negative experience and I have purchased a number of items and have always been satisfied, even when I needed to return an item. I hope this current incident is an aberration in the otherwise excellent service from Amazon.com.
   
   Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback.
   
   Irma I. Sprangle

5 comments about Rosetta Stone V3: French, Level 1, 2 & 3.

1. I had an extensive previous knowledge of French but had not used it in many years. I plan to travel to France this summer. I have found using Rosetta Stone quite enjoyable. I am about half way through level 2 and about 95% has been review. The method of instruction is excellent as it involves hearing, speaking, seeing and writing. The voice recognition software is very good. After completing level 3 I plan to go back and redo the pronunciation and speaking sections with a higher level speaking criticality. The levels range from 1 through 5 with 3 being "normal." I am currently using "3".
   
   I will probably use Rosetta Stone to learn a language that I don't already know. I think it will be fun as well as effective.



2. I have recently decided to learn French, and at 50 years old it's harder to learn new things. But, with Rosetta Stone's easy to use program, I've found it works quickly. I especially like the sound review, it's quite helpful in learning the pronunciation of the words.



3. I was leery about the advertising for Rosetta Stone, which makes it sound like a painless, fast way to learn a language. I bought it for my partner, who loves the flexibility of studying whenever he wants. And his French has gotten a lot better, even after just a few lessons!



4. I found this French course interesting and fun to use ... and not as hard as i would have thought . Having the pictures of items and then being taught the word makes it easy and i find i retain it better . Worth every penny , Steven Robertson



5. I hesitated for a long time purchasing these, but is well worth it. In the short time I have had it I have learned more than multiple years of 'traditional' language instruction. This teaches you how you learned your first language, it does get repetitive and sometimes you are not sure what it wants (it will prod you along). I find that I think in the other language rather than trying to translate in my head which is much easier.

5 comments about Rosetta Stone V3: French, Level 1.

1. I hesitated on purchasing this program based on the review by the Mac user. I have a MacBook Pro and it didn't sound like it was worth all the trouble. Luckily I purchased it in spite of that review and had absolutely no problems with installation. I double-clicked on the software application and the install went exactly as the instructions described. I can't give a thorough review on the benefits of the product yet because I've only had it a week, but I like the format and ease of use.



2. It's amazing how this product works. It's so effective and easy. I say anyone who wants to learn a new language, pick this item up, it's better than any thing I learned in language class in school.



3. I've never spoken a lick of French before, but do speak Spanish. This really is a great product. It makes learning the language fun. I don't really know how much I'll retain, but I leave for Paris next week, so we'll see! I wholeheartedly recommend the product. I was very surprised at the depth and creativity.



4. I didn't know what to expect when I ordered Rosetta Stone French Level 1.. I was pleasantly surprised by the ease of installation, the precise instructions, and the provided USB Microphone Headset that is needed to "talk back" at the lessons. I am still working my way through the lessons, reading, learning, and speaking. Beware.. if you don't say the phrase correctly, Rosetta Stone knows! A great way to learn any foreign language. Learn, hear, speak..



5. Rosetta Stone products are expensive, far more expensive than most of the language learning tools you'll find on Amazon or in a bookstore. But Rosetta Stone is well worth the price.
   
   Without a true immersion experience (visiting a foreign nation or cloistering yourself at a very expensive university program like Middlebury's where you must pledge to speak only the language you're trying to learn) it can be quite difficult to build speaking skills. Reading skills develop, but speaking, and listening, tend to lag pretty far behind.
   
   Rosetta Stone's French isn't as useful as a summer in Paris, but it's the next best thing. The lessons are exceptionally well-designed for a software immersion program and it's possible to begin to build real fluency if you stick with it and practice frequently.
   
   Some folks may find the program more useful if they supplement the lessons with a good textbook to garner an understanding of the grammatical concepts introduced by the software. This is particularly true if you find you are more a "book learner" than a "visual learner."
   
   If you need a two week cram session before visiting France for a week, go with Pimsleur's beginning CD course. It's more geared to travel survival French (and it's far cheaper). If you are more serious about learning French, and you want to invest some pretty serious time, Rosetta's products are well worth the cost.