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

1. My daughter loves Sims so I got this to help her improve her Spanish. It is fun to play for adults, too. The complete immersion method is more effective for learning a new language.



2. the software freezes up on your computer and once you get it running... the lessons are so boring.
   
   You follow a cartoon character around and he says things in spanish but it would be better if he said it in english then spanish.
   
   I can't figure out some of the graphics so I have to translate what the character says to english just to figure out what is going on.



3. This is a good little program that can help you speak basic Spanish, but not by itself. While it does a good job teaching phrases and vocabulary, it's "immersion" approach means you should arm yourself with a good Spanish/English dictionary. It would also be a good idea to get a book and use them in concert.



4. very entertaining. The pictures and voices make this a fun way to brush up on your Spanish speaking skills. Some knowledge of the language is much needed though. You have to know some basics or be near to someone that does.



5. I'm very disappointed in this product. I'm a homeschooler who wanted her children to learn a second language. Little did I know navigating through this program you would need a computer class just to figure it out. We've had this for over a month & although we did figure out how to use it eventually I don't think the program was worth all the hassle.

1 comments about Learn to Speak Spanish: The Complete Interactive Learning Solution (4 CD-ROMs, Version 8.0).

1. This stuff is a bit outdated, but I have no trouble using it with Windows XP. Suffice it to say that this software is actually quite good, especially now that it's so cheap. There are a lot of listening activities, vocab, etc. In fact, it's oddly similar to the newer Transparent Language products... hmm.
   
   Anyway, give this program a try - it's a great buy and a lot of fun.
   
   Also, look for the Practice Makes Perfect vocabulary software - they sell it on eBay for <$10 and it's just as good as Transparent's $50 equivalent (or Rosetta Stone's $500 version).

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

1. I really enjoy version 3 program. This version is geared for any level learner of portuguese and focuses more on real life conversation and situations. Version 2 was somewhat disappointing in comparison to Version 3. Version 3 gives the learner scheduled memory adaptive recalls, lots of repetion, more interesting graphics, and well structured easy paced lessons with pronounciation guidlines. I love this fun version of Rosetta Stones and highly recommend using this program for a variety of needs. Learn a new language just like a child. I have not seen anything better. Well done Rosetta Stone!
   Angelo



2. 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.



3. Version 3 of Rosetta Stone allows for installation on two computers, unlike the previous version which require the CD-ROM to be inserted for use. That said, from a licensing standpoint I believe it is still only for use by one individual and should not be lent!



4. Excellent product, working with it is addictive and fun. Cost is too high for only two licenses.



5. I have not used other products like this so I have no way to compare it to similar products. However, and I very impressed with how easy it is to use, and the quality of the instruction. One of the best features is if you don't understand something you can go back and review it. New information comes out you so fast sometimes I had to go back and review some things a few time to understand the correct meaning and the word usage. But the program allows for that. I recommend this product.

5 comments about Rosetta Stone V3: Spanish (Spain), Level 1, 2 & 3.

1. This is what my 22 year old daughter asked for her birthday so I actually cannot comment on it.
   I, also, look forward to using it.



2. 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.



3. I assumed (incorrectly) that this was the same item as sold on the Rosetta website, but for 49.00 cheaper. It is not. It does not include the audio companion, which was one of the main reasons I purchased due to long commutes.
   
   I had to call Rosetta Stone (cannot order seperately on-line, must go through sales via phone) and paid $55.00 for it. I therefore spent more with Amazon, not less as they advertise (they are doing a price comparison with Rosetta Stone, but not comparing the same products!) and had to wait several weeks and go through a lot of trouble just to get what I could have gotten for less with an actual guarantee through the website. Don't buy from Amazon - go through Rosetta Stone!



4. Great program. Does not thrust one into conversational Spanish as many other tutorials do. RosettaStone starts at a very basic level as a young child learns language and then progresses from there. After many years of trying books, recordings, and other computer programs, am finally learning Spanish with RosettaStone.



5. I have taken a couple Spanish classes at the high school and college level. For the amount of money you will pay for a three credit hour Spanish class at a junior college or university, which is about $400.00, you should decided to invest in this program instead. This program is worth every penny that you spend to purchase it. I have learned more using this program, and faster, than any other class or program I have been in. I have even used "Speed Spanish" by National Dynamics, which is a good program too, but not as good as Rosetta Stone. You do learn how to conjugate in the present, past and future. You learn tons of vocabulary words and yes, you learn some conversational skills too. However, it is complete up to you to leave your comfort zone and practice it in the real world. I use it every day with other employees in my office that are fluent in Spanish. You need to find ways to immerse yourself in the language even though you may live in a country that does not use the native tongue you are learning. Take a chance on Rosetta Stone, you will not regret it.

2 comments about Rosetta Stone V3: Spanish (Spain), Level 1.

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 assume it is a great product. I had never order with Amazon. Although I was quite satisfied with how speedy the product arrived.
   Also I was amazed at how easy it was to place the order, pricing and availablilty of the product. In the future I hope to use Amazon again.

5 comments about Spanish (Latin America) Level 1 & 2 [OLD VERSION].

1. It is simple to use and makes learning Spanish much eaiser and you can progress at your own pace



2. 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 Spanish course is Behind the Wheel Spanish 8 CD. Free up your computer and learn Spanish while you drive is my recommendation.Behind the Wheel Spanish/Complete Illustrated Text/Answer Keys/8 One Hour



3. I would love to do a review a product I've heard so many wonderful things about, but it never arrived. Called customer service (somewhere in India apparently) only to have their computers either "broken down" or "updating". All this for a week straight. Also, they would say their systems are down and just hang up on you on a few occasions. There is another language I'd like to use....



4. I spent a lot of money on this program, and, so far, all it's doing is MAYBE teaching me to RECOGNIZE what is being said - not to speak it. There is absolutely no English translation (in Level I anyway), no breakdown of pronunciation, and no opportunity to construct NEW sentences with words I've already learned. All you do is look at pictures and repeat what is already written or spoken to you. I've already made it through Pimsleur Spanish I and I'm into II and I've learned so much more. Pimsleur is slower on vocabulary, but when you learn it, you learn how to conjugate and incorporate it into an original sentence. The bottom line is, I feel Rosetta stone can only be used as a supplement to other programs I'm studying - a very expensive supplement.



5. From Montgomery County Maryland Public Library website:
   
   
   Effective January 31, 2008, Rosetta Stone is no longer available via the Montgomery County Public Libraries' website. Rosetta Stone has made the business decision to discontinue providing this resource to all public libraries as current subscriptions expire. We are disappointed by this news and we regret the inconvenience that it may cause our customers.

5 comments about Instant Immersion Spanish Deluxe v3.0.

1. I found the lessons to be pretty straight forward & easy to follow. There is essentially one major learning componant which are the DVD-ROM's. I've seen this same product sold for $100+. In addition to the DVD-ROM's there are 5 bonus audio CD's to learn in your car + an interactive CD-ROM language learning game & an additional interactive language learning DVD.
   I think you'd be hard pressed to find anything equal in terms of content & price. Personally, with the money back gaurantee, I would rather spend $40 with the option to return it, than pay $200 & get stuck with something that isn't as good, or not much better.



2. It is exactly what I ordered. I received it in even shorter time than they said. Great service!



3. This software is terrible. Not only was the content not completely accurate and lacking the quality of the cd was terrible. Talk about cutting corners to make a buck. They might as well have used tin foil to burn this language tape one.
   I have taken Spanish and wanted a quality emersion set I could refresh my skills with. Seeing this was called deluxe I hoped it would provide additional learning's as well. Pull out your old text books they will do a better job than this set did.
   I have never heard of this company but Buyers Beware!!! I would think twice before buying anything from Topics Entertainment.



4. I would NOT recommend this program to anyone. The set up is terrible and makes no sense. There are no directions and no guidance. It just randomly speaks spanish and I guess expects you to pick up on it. Don't buy it.



5. The product is worthless. Sound cuts out on many lessons. Little organization to the product and from lesson to lesson. Most of the lessons are: repeat this, now say this, now repeat this. Vwery limited interaction.

5 comments about Rosetta Stone V3: Spanish (Latin America), Level 1 & 2.

1. Excellent product and very effective. My first reaction was it was too redundant and the vocabulary was far too limited. Then I realized this was intentional and part of the program. They use a limited vocabulary (nouns) to walk you through reading, writing, and speaking different contexts and to learn how to conjugate the verbs. The adding vocabulary becomes quite easy. It is absolutely full immersion so that you are thinking and responding in Spanish without translating back and forth. I learned twice as much in half the time than I have with any other system I've used.



2. I was amazed at how quickly I picked the language up, the thing is it doesnt tell you what you are saying it just shows you. That's why I gave it 4 stars.



3. My oldest daughter is taking Spanish (latin American) in school and was having a tough time with the way the teacher presents the material. I initially bought Rosetta Stone for her but now the whole family is getting into it. The kids treat it like a game; who can get the best scores, and my wife and I can now actually understand what they say when they practice. I highly recommend this product for the whole family.



4. I have tried almost every single product on the market to help me learn a second language and nothing really worked. Rosetta Stone V3 is so far the best product I have tried. I am not speaking fluent Spanish yet and if you're in a huge rush this might not be for you. However, I am making slow and steady progress in the right direction and enjoying the process.
   I love the way the program is repetitive and has you learning in several different ways. It will say the word and you have to match up the picture. You hear the word and then must find the correct picture. You are also required to say words and it evaluates and can really assist you in working towards saying the word correctly. At times, you are also required to choose from a list of two or three words to finish a picture.
   A major complaint that many people have had is that the program does not tell you what a word means, but just shows you a picture. This is true, and makes learning tough at times; but I do believe it may be a wise and effective method. Most languages do not translate word for word. This does requires you to think a little harder, but I believe that only enhances your learning. Despite the fact that I have 3 or 4 Spanish translation books lying around, I have never felt it necessary to look up any words. That alone speaks volumes.
   I find the sessions enjoyable, especially compared to all the CD's and books I own. You get a score, can repeat lessons and there is loads of review and feedback that makes me stick with the program longer then other methods I try. No matter any perceived faults, my desire to continue working on my language skills is the most deciding factor in my approval of Rosetta Stone V3.



5. I have never tried any other way of learning spanish, so I was reluctant on buying this product. I am running Windows Vista Home Premium so when I read the reveiws about it not working with Vista I was not going to buy it, but I decided to, there were no problems what so ever with installing it or running it. With only knowing little ammounts of spanish I have already (at this time have only had it for 3 days) learned enough spanish to start a conversation. The way it is taught is great, fun and very interactive. There were no things that i found (so far) that were bad, accept that i does not tell you what some words are. (so i recomend getting a pocket translator or something) This is a great product, if you are trying to learn another language this is the way to go.

5 comments about Rosetta Stone V3: Spanish (Latin America), Level 1, 2 & 3.

1. This is a good solid program but without my having taken a Spanish course before, this would have been a lot harder. Taking a begining Spanish course either before or in conjunction with this would help a lot. I would recommend this as a supplemental program. Covers a range of skills needed to learn a new language.



2. I'm sorry, but this isn't a review of their actual product. It's a tale of virus infected software and terrible customer service.
   
   I purchased Latin American Spanish Levels 1, 2 and 3 from a Rosetta Stone Kiosk. When I loaded on the first level, my virus software (BitDefender) notified me that 7 of the content files were infected with the Exploit.SWF.Gen virus. Not a huge deal, but it quarantined the files so they couldn't be used. I sent an e-mail to their customer service asking if they had received any other compliants like this and what I should do. Their response? (after thier automated "thanks for your question, we'll get back with you as soon as possible") Nothing. Sent a follow-up e-mail. Nothing. Call me crazy, but when you spend $450 on a software package, a little customer service would be nice.
   
   I'm in the process of returning the software. Can I return it to the Kiosk? Nope. Company policy. I have to mail their junk back, on my own dime. To rub salt on the wound, you have to jump through several hoops to return the software and have to listen to their unbearable customer service recording (over and over since it takes quite a bit of time to actually speak with a person) about how much Customer Satisfaction is important to them, how they understand how valuable my time is and how an easier way to contact them is through e-mail. Hah!



3. I took 17 hours of Spanish during my undergraduate degree, but could not speak Spanish. I could read Spanish, but I could not understand it when spoken. Rosetta Stone takes a different approach to teaching Spanish than my university. It has made understanding and speaking Spanish within my reach. I had a strong vocabulary base, but Rosetta Stone has helped me to be able to speak and use this vocabulary in everyday conversation. This is a great complement to any Spanish curriculum. It is a wonderful option for those who couldn't learn Spanish "the old fashion way."



4. I purchased this for my college-aged daughter so that she could become proficient in Spanish. This has given her the practice she needs that the classroom (high school) did not.



5. You have to commit to this program, at LEAST 2 hours a day, or you won't learn anything. If you are commited to learning a new language and have the time to sit down with the program, Rosetta Stone is a great way to go. There is no english at all throughout the program~ You will have to use a translation method if you don't understand the meaning of a word by the clues/pictures provided.
   
   Grab a pen and paper, memorize, speak, and learn a new language.

5 comments about Rosetta Stone V3: Spanish (Latin America), Level 1.

1. I have really been trying hard to learn Spanish over the past 5 years. After purchasing Rosetta Stone, I feel like I've learned more in the last few weeks than in those last 5 years I have been studying. The layout and the structure of the way they teach you helps you retain the vocabulary (which some say is most important!) and Spanish language structure.
   
   If anyone is looking to learn a new language I would highly reccomend this product!



2. I wholeheartedly endorse Rosetta Stone. I have learned more in a month with this program than I did in years of Spanish classes. The total immersion method makes it easy and fun!



3. You cannot legally sell this software when you are done with it. They threatened to sue me when I did - they said I had not bought the software, but a license for the software and it was nontransferrable - that I did not have the right to even GIVE it away.



4. Rosetta Stone is very simple to use. However having a Spanish book, or obviously a native speaker to supplement the software would make it much more effective. This is because of being tossed directly into the language without a clear translation leaves the door open for some confusion. Overall a great interactive product that is a strong foundation to start learning a new langauge.



5. I'm mainly writing this to give an alternative to some of the other reviews I've read. First, I'm 60 years old, and using an Imac and a PowerBook g4.
   
   I had no trouble installing this on either machine. I have a simple set-up, just a home network, so maybe that's why, but it was no trouble.
   
   It is not a "mac-like" interface, but it's also no trouble to use. I understood it from the get-go. I want to emphasize that I installed--and use it--on both computers.
   
   The software itself is both fun to use, easy to "get" and in depth so far as the language is concerned. If you just do it in order, you'll end up being able to read, speak and write Spanish in a grammatically correct fashion. Even though I'm 60, I have zero trouble remembering and understanding things. Of course, I have it on two computers, so I do a lesson on my Imac at night before bed, then do the same lesson again the next day on my PowerBook. I also bought the audio disks. I put them on my Ipod and use them to review each lesson once during the day. I can do all this because each lesson only takes a few minutes.
   
   I plan to start reading one of the Spanish newspapers in our area, even if I don't get most of it. I try out my skills every time I go to a Mexican restaurant. They are very nice about helping me.
   
   This is excellent software. Don't let reviews scare you off. You'll learn from it, and you'll enjoy doing it.