5 comments about Instant Immersion German Deluxe.

1. I purchased this software on the premise that it was for "beginners" as the box had indicated. There are no basic fundamentals at all for someone new to the language, it throws you right into complex phrases as their starting point. No basic numbers, greetings, phrases, or anything. I did not bother to explore any further because if I cannot say "hello" how on earth am I supposed to learn "Do you have any grandchildren" as my first phrase? The interface is horribly designed as well. My advice is to save your money and keep looking. However, if you are familiar with the language already and need a refresher or advanced topics, then this may be for you. Otherwise avoid it and look for a true beginner program.



2. This is really a great tool that fits a variety of needs. First of all, it helps someone like myself continue my study of the language that I never got to finish in high school many years ago. Second, it is a great supplemental tool for anyone taking German at either the High School or College level. One can program the skills that need attention, such as reading, listening, dictation, speaking. Wish I had had this tool 3o years ago. Third, it would be great for someone planning to visit a German speaking country and has some advanced notice.
   I say this because it is not something that one can use in two or three days, and be able to know what is going on.
   
   Overall, this is a great product. The speaking graphs of one's voice inflection are mind boggeling! But it is just like having a private tutor there with you. The only thing that I would recommend is that one could well benefit from even a brief introduction to the language prior to using these CDS.



3. I received a B.A. in German in 1998 and spent a year in Kassel on a university exchange in 1996-1997. Since I haven't used my language skills in several years, I wanted to get something to help me get my skills back.
   
   I seriously doubt a beginner will enjoy this software. The beginner disks don't have any introductory phrases, doesn't discuss the alphabet, or numbers until you have already been forced to learn that hundreds of people get off the train everyday, creating a large crowd. How about teaching, "Guten Morgen," "Guten Tag," and "Guten Abend," or "Mein Name ist..." before learning "Erscheinung des Totes" is a "Gespenst"?
   
   As for the person who said "...the software recognizes your voice and can correct your pronunciation mistakes." Not true. I can say "Morgen" with a thick Southern accent and poor inflection and still receive 7/7 bars!
   
   If you want the ROMs for your computer, save yourself some money and buy the 5 disc set for $20. If you are a true beginner, listen to the additional 3 audio CDs in the set to get some basic "listening/speaking" skills, before using the ROMs.
   
   As for someone who already has a background in German and needs to brush up, this software will do.



4. I don't know any German and I am really struggling with these CD's. They don't give you any instructions on which CD's to use first. I installed the beginner software and tried that first - I couldn't understand most of what they presented. Then I listened to the audio CD's (there are three, each with different content,) and that helped a little. The audio CD's are more helpful and I think you're actually supposed to listen to those first before trying the software. I hope to use this software when I become a little bit more familiar with German.



5. I am trying to learn german and I am finding this software almost impossible to remember anything at all.They just start you right off with long sentences and nothing basic for the beginner.Avoid this product I wish I had researched more into what would help me learn another language. I give this three stars for the cultural activities that were fun.

No comments about Rosetta Stone German Level 3 with Audio Companion.

1 comments about Tell Me More German Performance Version 9 (5 Levels).

1. I found it to be very complcate and frustrating
   
   I hope to learn how to use it. In the meantime I bought two other german programs.
   
   Paul

5 comments about Tell Me More German Premium Version 7.

1. I picked this product to purchase because I thought it was the best. I didn't go off any bogus reviews, (like the one's on Amazon). I thought it had the most features and seemed all inclusive. I got the Performance version which includes 10 levels.
   
   Let me start out by describing how the software starts you out:
   
   The first thing you do is listen to two people meet each other for the first time. Seems simple enough. Next, you begin doing exercises, crossword puzzles, fill in the blank, identify the object in a picture, type in conjugates (her, she, is, it, ect). Again, sounds good right?
   
   Not quite! At no point did the software teach anything about grammar, what the meaning of the words are in the crossword puzzles, ect. For example, the crossword asks you to fill in the crossword puzzle for CAT, never at any point, were you exposed to the word CAT! So you have no possible way of doing the crossword puzzle since you don't know the German word for CAT! I seriously don't understand how one is expected to figure it out! Dictionary?
   
   This is how the entire software is! It is almost like it was meant to be a bunch of exercises, without any teaching. If you had a private tutor with you, I can understand how this software would be pretty good. Your tutor teaches you, when he/she leaves you do your exercises.
   
   To top it all off, Auralog, Inc tried to prevent me from returning their software! It took about a week of phone calls and emails to get them to honor their return policy.
   
   Remember, when you are comparing language software, Tell Me More does not have "teaching" anywhere in it's product!



2. I ordered this product because there wasn't much to choose from in learning the German Language. I am amazed how other reviews can give it 5 stars. But then again after reading their reviews I understand why. I had this product for over a year and I listened to all four CDs. The first CD was impressive and if anyone rushed to review it, they will give it 5 stars. The other CDs 2, 3, and 4 were terrible. The main thing in learing any language is not fun exercises, it's pronunciation. This is the main reason for me purchasing this product - to hear the correct pronunciation spoken clearly and loudly without causing distortions as in CDs 2, 3, and 4.
   
   Some of the speakers sounded as if they where shouting into the mic others where just to close to the mic. Then the girls sounded as if it was bedtime for them. The audio level was never level, mostly all distorted. This makes you wonder if anyone checked the audio before releasing it to the market.
   
   Pronunciation is the main thing, the avant-garde, to hear the language spoken and to see it in written form is worth paying top dollars. The grammar part I can do on my own once I've learned how to speak and read German. Just pick up any German grammar book and start reading. The exercise part is fine, but structuring any exercise program however you want will still get others to learn. So I really can't rate exercises or rate it's ability to evaluate your own voice. These are not important to me. I just need to exercise the muscles in the back of my tongue and throat to imitate the pronunciation (words) correctly. Practice makes perfect. We all have the ability to mimic any language, we just need to concentrate and practice.
   
   For a beginner like myself I recommend Pimsleur Level 1, 2, and 3. You can purchase Tell Me More as an addition to enhance your learning, just don't expect Tell Me More to be a professional product. Try Pimsleur first.



3. I noticed some of the one-star reviews here and had to comment. First, the bad news: the videos and music, etc, are a little dated. Second, it definitely expects a lot out of you. Sometimes it seems a little daunting. The good news: it's in depth. This is no flash cards, memorize some phrases nonsense.
   
   I set my program up to do 5 hours a week and by the time I finished my first CD, I felt like I'd just gotten out of a semester class. I guess this is my way of saying it's not for the faint of heart.
   
   If you're hoping to casually learn some words and phrases before your Oktoberfest trip, don't bother with this program. Truly, this is something you could spend a year or more on. I've had it for over a year and I've only finished the first two CDs. Why? Because there was so much information I did the first two CDs twice.
   
   Now with all this effort behind me, I can tell you that I know a lot more German now than I did when I started (which was basically nothing). All in all, I'm glad I bought this program.



4. The program teaches through giving you exercises to do, but like other 1-star reviewers commented, the program does not actually teach you anything. You have to go to different screens to find out any grammar explanations or word translations. My biggest beef about it was that you have to answer many of the questions orally & if you don't have near perfect pronunciation, the program will not let you progress to the next question (even if your answer is correct). I was really hoping it would help me practice German grammar in an interesting way, but there was not a lot of that. Save your money, DON"T BUY this product.



5. I've been using Tell Me More now for a few months, and I've finished the Complete Beginner and most of the Beginner courses. I've also been able to recently try out Rosetta Stone's French course (next year's goal). I took a ten week summer German class about five years ago, taken about two years of ancient Greek, a year of Hebrew, a semester of Latin, and two years of high school French. Which gives me a strong familiarity with language teaching, even if my discipline has not given me entire familiarity with all these various languages.
   
   My German was so fleeting and not kept up that I felt I needed to go back to the basics. Only I couldn't justify spending the money for Rosetta Stone, especially as I saw a lot of really great reviews for Tell Me More. Some of the one star reviews here almost dissuaded me, but I went ahead and bought it. I couldn't be more happy.
   
   First off, in response to some of the reviews, there's a lot more function to this software than apparently they have found. While the great, great majority of the text is in German, and vocabulary is introduced often without context or preparation, there is a handy little button that opens a German/English dictionary. Click a word, and that word is immediately defined. Meaning every lesson type becomes source for, and reinforcement of, vocabulary. It seems that most of the attacks on this software have come out of an unfamiliarity with it.
   
   Get to know it. Hit buttons. See what they do. Admittedly, the documentation provided is fairly poor, but do what you'd do in a different country. Explore! Do that and you'll find a very great learning tool.
   
   And that's what this is, a tool. It will not magically impart an understanding of German. Learning a language takes work. It takes a lot of work, a lot of repetition, and a lot of discipline. Most of the time tests and grades force that discipline, but this software demands a lot more self-discipline than most people possess. It leads you along a learning path, it does not insist you do what it takes to follow that path.
   
   To me it feels very much like an interactive class, offering a steady variety of learning approaches that never bog down. Indeed, sometimes it feels a little too random but I think that's a good thing. It doesn't get boring, even if it does keep at a steady level of difficulty.
   
   There is a strong emphasis on reading and voice recognition. The software has as good voice recognition as Rosetta Stone, though the provided headset is not as good. I'm using my USB Logitech headset and it works perfect.
   
   Rosetta Stone, in contrast, tends to move along by using a lot more images and expanding conversation--certainly an effective approach. But, the price difference doesn't seem to be justified. For what you get the more layered and varied approach of Tell Me More is quite effective in every way.
   
   There are some occasional bugs in the software, but not enough for me to knock any stars off it.
   
   Overall, I'd say Rosetta Stone is a great choice if money is no object. But, if you are on a budget I'd heartily recommend Tell Me More as a very good alternative.
   
   Is it worth paying the extra money for "absolute beginner"? I'd say yes. I'm glad I did. Even though I had a class before the shorter, basic level was a great way to get my mind started on German, introducing vocabulary and concepts--and the software--in a very approachable way. Indeed, I thought Absolute Beginner was a little harder in some ways, not that it introduced more, but that it pushed a little more in advancing. So, unless you have a strong beginning knowledge of German already, I think it's a good choice.

5 comments about Instant Immersion 33 Languages.

1. My dad got this for me because i like to learn languages. It was misleading for me what is says on the package "each disc a complete course". It is useful for you if you want to learn basic things like phrases for traveling but NOT if you REALLY want to learn the language. If want to learn basic travel things this WILL be for you. But if you want to REALLY Learn the language you better get the Instant Immersion Laguage course devoted to one language.
   
   From Paul
   
   Florida



2. I am teaching myself Japanese. I want to learn more languages. I learned German, French, and Korean. I want to learn Korean. Because I have a friend who speaks Korean. This software is very awesome!!! This can really help students who are taking French or Spanish to get a good review.
   
   If you find a language you want to learn from this software... good luck with your studies and have fun!



3. I have lived in Japan, Korea, Chile, Egypt and Panama. I work overseas. Getting a quick grasp of basic vocabulary is critical to my work and lifestyle. This set is the perfect software for an introduction to any language. It's true that it is rather simplistic in design and uses the same graphics for every language. However, it has engaging interactive games that help build the few hundred vocabulary words and phrases. From there, to reach a higher level, you'll have to continue in a regular course. If you are already enrolled in a introductory course, this is great way to keep from getting overwhelmed as it develops enough vocabulary to begin using sentence structures and grammatical structures that professors typically teach.
   For those familiar with the DoD and DoS language scoring system, my Spanish is 3, Japanese, Korean and Portuguese 2 and Arabic 1+. I used this program on Korean, Portuguese and French.
   If you need a basic familiarization with a range of languages, this software is cheap and fun.



4. Good package of languages at a reasonble price. Algo good instructions on the cds



5. I bought this set of CD's to help me with basic Italian before visiting Italy and they were a great overview. I will also use them for Spanish, Swahili, French and other languages for countries that I plan to visit soon.

5 comments about KidSpeak 6-in-1 World Pack: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Hebrew.

1. 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.



2. 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.



3. 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.



4. I would rate it zero stars if I could. This is a horrible program. The graphics stink, and the audio is terrible! STAY AWAY!!!!



5. I was very disappointed in this software. The voices of the animated characters are squeeky and they're annoying to watch. The image on our screen is too small. Some of the activities are too difficult for an adult (the pick a door to find the correct animal is pointless). My kids were bored quickly as was I and we learned very little. Now hunting for better software.

3 comments about Rosetta Stone German Level 1 & 2 Set with Audio Companion.

1. I have had the rosetta stone now for a few weeks, before getting it I knew barely maybe, 4 words in German. After 2 weeks I felt like I knew so many words, and was even thinking German words as i slept.
   Strange but true.
   You learn so much, so quick and it is effortless. I am absolutely going to get another language in rosetta stone after this one. Even my kids are learning German with me and my youngest is 6 years old. Super easy, progressively getting harder, if you want to learn a language quickly I would strongly encourage you to use the RS it is a bit pricey but you will definitely finish the course and once you do; it is money well spent because the whole family can learn at their own pace, via separate identities . When i work out i listen to the audio companion which i downloaded into my Ipod, and take with me wherever i go. I really love it..................



2. Easy to use. targets language learning through visual, auditory, verbal, and written means. learn at your own pace. wonderful! worth the cost.



3. After several attempts to install on Windows 7, I'm giving up - it keeps returning the same error, and the Rosetta Stone support pages only advice is to wipe and reinstall. There is a "highly recommended" update that seems to take an hour to download and install on what is normally a fast connection, and then it wipes. (It won't let you just download a patch and save it, I've had to redo with each install.)
   
   Overall, a frustrating experience with no reward - just hoping I can get a full refund for this disappointment.

5 comments about Rosetta Stone German Level 1, 2 & 3 Set with Audio Companion.

1. Last February I purchased the complete Rosetta Stone German Set in preparation for an overseas job in Zürich. I am 27 years old, and at the time I spoke no German. I worked through all the levels, thinking that by the time I got to the end I would be at least somewhat conversant, and ready to start my new job in an architecture firm. How naive! I was completely unprepared despite having bought this very expensive software, and upon arrival basically started learning German from zero (in a class). At this point I have lived in Switzerland for eight months, and am only now becoming proficient enough that I can speak only German at home and work. I think true fluency is still another six or eight months away. I understand now that learning a language, especially German, is REALLY HARD. I take classes, do a lot of homework, and ask people a lot of questions. This is the only way to really learn, and Rosetta Stone is NO substitute. This program will neither make you fluent nor even remotely conversant. This is because you don't get real communication practice, but just learn how to ape its built in recordings. Furthermore, its idiotic insistence on learning the 'natural' way (i.e. by refusing to explain the rules of grammar, forcing you to intuit them instead) only drags out the learning process. And despite its claims of 'immersion', in the end you are still sitting in your living room in the USA or some other English speaking country. It is no more immersive than watching Run Lola Run with the subtitles turned off. Immersion means living in the place where the language is spoken, not being suckered by Rosetta Stone's slick marketing (Dynamic Immersion, "TM"!). Don't buy this program. Get the 30 dollar one from Borders instead- you will learn just as much, I promise.
   
   I hope this review is useful to you. Take it from me- I know. And I want my 500 dollars back.



2. I consider myself intermediate in German, and I purchased the third level to continue to improve. I found the third and highest level to be very easy. The voices speak extremely slowly, and only simple sentences are covered.
   
   I have been to Germany so I know that RS does little to prepare you.
   
   Don't get me wrong, the RS method is unique and works well, but the ads that imply it will make you near-fluent are entirely false. If you want to impress some friends with a few phrases, RS would be ok, but if you plan on communicating with native speakers, don't bother.
   
   Either way it isn't worth the hundreds of dollars RS costs.



3. I tried this software out in several languages, and found the learning process to be very easy and intuitive. I'd recommend it for learning a language, although it will never compare to living in a foreign country and speaking only that language.
   
   Pros:
   Rosetta stone's process is a lot better than traditional "current language word = foreign language word" learning processes, which rely on memorization and lead to internal translation from the foreign language to one's native language while speaking. Rosetta stone converts foreign words straight to pictures and ideas, eliminating internal translation to one's native language. There is plenty of repetition of previous words, but at no point does the process seem like rote recitation.
   
   The software is divided into "lessons" which introduce new words, and have several exercises including matching, pronouncing each part of the word, verbally filling in blanks with your new words, etc. There is plenty to keep you interested and ensure that you learn new words and phrases.
   
   The voice recognition was decent, a simple training has the program hearing you correctly ~90% of the time, and an adjustable slider can reduce the pickiness the software has if you're having issues, although that also controls how strictly you want to be held to pronunciation.
   
   Cons of Rosetta Stone:
   -It's expensive
   -The approach in rosetta stone does not use conjugations or grammar rules, you just learn words and phrases. Some maybe bothered by this.
   -Many other reviews note technical problems, I had no issues on my PC running windows XP.



4. We have used the Rosetta Stone products for French and
   Italian with good results. We speak some German and
   using this product is really helping to increase
   our fluency. It is a bit pricey but very well
   put together.



5. What more can I really say that hasn't been said before about this product? Nothing really, except to say that it is easy to use and it works.
   
   Rosetta Stone's German levels 1, 2 and 3 are in this set, with the audio companion and earphones/microphone. This set allows an individual to emmerse themselves in the German language immediately, and learn the language as a a child does, by hearing it and repeating it, building upon the basics and moving forward.
   
   If you want the best learning language software... for German, or any other language, Rosetta Stone is the one. Yes, it costs more, but if you devote the time to using the software it will work for you.

5 comments about Rosetta Stone German Level 1 with Audio Companion.

1. I have learned more in the few weeks of having this program then I have in the two years of taking classes



2. I have tried diferent softwares, courses, books,.... this is the most interesting way. I'm really learning German.



3. I am very pleased with this product so far. I like the fact that even though I am finished with a section it can review it as many times as I like to reenforce the lessons.



4. ok, I get that the format is all pictures and only in German. still, the way articles and how various words conform to gender is completely unexplained and arbitrary. and a lot of the exercises are mindlessly repetitive, you go back over the same thing 20 times, and it just isn't necessary. very annoying.



5. Future son in law is German. This has helped me to try to communicate more with him and his family. Thanks,

5 comments about Instant Immersion German Deluxe v3.0.

1. I loved this product. By the time I had gone through the tapes I felt that I had a good grounding in the fundementals. But I want more!!! It stops short I think of completely getting you ready for conversations. I need them to come out with a next step edition.



2. The Instant Immersion German Deluxe v3.0 (IIGD) is great. We saw a live demonstration of Rosetta Stone software in the mall and the IIGD software seems to give you way more bang for your buck. IIGD lets you click on a word and hear it in German so you can practice repeating it. It also lets you look up the word's english meaning on the same screen. We like this feature because you do not have to go to different places in the software to practice the vocabulary and hear what the words sound like.
   
   If you are serious about learning German I would heavily suggest getting a few textbooks in addition to this software. I would suggest getting a book that covers verb conjugation (i.e. "The Big Yellow Book of German Verbs") as well as a dictionary that includes the phonetic spelling of german words.
   
   The voice recognition part of the software is done in the same fashion as other language software. I.e. the software does not recognize actual sounds but instead recognizes tone/inflection. In other words, the software does not ensure you create the correct sounds but only that you use the correct inflection. The user can practice creating the proper sounds by repeating the spoken vocabulary included in the software. To my knowledge this is the same method used by other language software programs.
   
   The audio CD sessions are as follows:
   1: Greetings, 2: My Name Is..., 3: The German Alphabet, 4: Special German Sounds, 5: Spelling Your Name, 6: German Numbers 1-10, 7: German Numbers 11-20, 8: Numbers Beyond 20, 9: Pronouns and the Verbs "To Have" and "To Be" / Learning Nations and Nationalities, 10: The Verb "To Come" / Forming Questions, 11: Gender of German Nouns / The Nominative and Accusative Cases, 12: Present Tense Verbs / Small Talk with Colleagues, 13: Telling Time / Modal Verbs, 14: German Nouns in the Dative Case
   
   
   Cons:
   Two of the audio CD labels were mixed up. That being said, the labels aren't good for much as they don't really tell you everything that is on the discs. There is a lot more covered in the discs than their label says.



3. This is not for beginners. German is difficult enough. Should have basic knowlege before setting out on this one. Perhaps I should review it again once I've learned a few things. Might be great then!



4. It is a very useful tool for those new to the language to grasp phrases solely by repetition. The online activities cover material for the beginner through those very familiar with the language. I studied German for two years in college (three years removed) and wanted to pick it back up, but found this to be a little too basic to be any help... however my roommate found it very easy to use as he began to study the language.



5. I will say that this is good at an entry level, and that is all. I have used better products in the past, but this one was to basic.