Hello everyone.

I am planning on moving to Florida in August 2009 and I would love to learn a second language by the time I move down there. I want to learn to speak Spanish and I keep hearing about this RosettaStone language software that's suppose to be pretty good about teaching languages.

I just wanted to know has anyone on here had any experience with the software personally or knows someone who has? The software is rather pricey ($200 bucks) but if it works the way they say it does then I'll get it.

Thanks.

From a loyal degree seeker,

Marshall

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Marshall L. Williams IV
Excelsior College (enrolled)
B.S. General Business (42 credits down, 78 to go)

CLEPS:
Social Sciences & History (60)-Principles of Management (68)-Principles of Marketing (72)-Introductory Sociology (69)-Financial Accounting (53)-Introductory Psychology (66)-Intro to Educational Psychology (56)-Human Growth & Development (59)-Analyzing & Interpreting Lit (64)

Courses:
Real Estate Principles & Practices (A)-Real Estate Law (A)-Real Estate Finance (A)-Real Estate Appraisal (A)-Information Literacy (B)

Quotes:
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us" - Oliver Wendell Holmes
"Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least." - Goethe

I used the Spanish one and liked it. It was really easy to use and I actually learned a lot. I didn't stick with it as I found out about CLEPs, but it was worth the time I put into it.

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Jesse
BA in Liberal Studies, Thomas Edison State College, 2008

Marshall, sent you a PM

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Jesse
BA in Liberal Studies, Thomas Edison State College, 2008

I, myself, have not used the software, but I know someone that did, and they did great with it. You have to stick with it consistently.

I learned Spanish through Dime! software & books, StudySpanish.com, and some Spanish books.
After I finished learning, I realized StudySpanish was more thorough than most spanish books, materials, and courses. It also has listening on it, and its free. I would definitely recommend starting with that. It is almost addicting, and it has quizzes & tests, not to mention lessons. Most courses and such try to just teach the basics and then leave ya in the dust. A software that is challenging is always going to provide a better education in the language department. I live in Tx, so ordering food in another language is usually necessary. Florida is even more like that than any other southern state because of native fruits, different local terms, and (of course) for the fact Spain used to own Florida.

Is there any way you can get a free-trial version of RosettaStone to see if you like it?

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Credits Racked Up.....71
Peers: (Still) Not Even Outta High School Yet.
No More CLEPs left. I've taken them all!
Spring 2009: Managerial Accounting, Business Cal, Statistics

I've never used Rosetta Stone but I am studying for the Spanish Clep in between studying for my other exams.

I particularly like the Michel Thomas method, although he is not a native speaker. You'll be able to conjugate verbs at the drop of a hat after doing his courses.....Granted your Spanish may sound German accented after the course but that can be corrected!
I got the Michel Thomas Cd's at the library but liked them so much I went out and bought them!

I also went through Margarita Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish book since the teaching methods were very similar. This book was recommended on foreign language forum as a f/u to the Michel Thomas courses. It was published in the 50's and some of the vocab is dated i.e. words like telegram, record player,etc. Aside from that I found my understanding and usage of Spanish multiplied exponentially.

Now I'm using the Learning Spanish like Crazy downloads I and II. I got it for super cheap since I am an Audible member. I enjoy it but not really good for a visual learner. Alongside that I am also doing Platiquemos which is a revised FSI course, a bit dry ,but hands down a great course for the serious learner. Also am talking to as many Spanish speakers as opportunity allows and also using Speakshop.com for extra converstational practice with tutors from Guatemala. No English is used during my speakshop sessions. It's a truly interactive immersion experience. I highly recommend Speakshop. I am hoping all of this prepares me for the Spanish Clep.

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PURSUING BS in LIBERAL STUDIES @ Excelsior

Completed so far:
Military - 58 credits
Traditional - 12 credits
Clep - 15 credits
Excelsior Exams - Organizational Behavior(B), World Population (A), Ethics (A), Cultural Diversity (B),Psychology of A&A (A), Gerontology (B)
DSST -Drugs & Alcohol (A), Civil War (A), Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union (A)

8 more credits and info lit left!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marshall, my husband and kids use it- I on the other hand suck at foreign languages
Go to their website, you can try any of them (all of them!) for free! It's an immersion program- meaning they never really do tell you "gato is cat, cat is gato" they just show you the pic of a cat and say the word! It's kinda cool actually.
I can only tell you what I know second hand (my family is in level 1) but apparently the military uses RS and I know for a fact in the homeschool community is is rated the most popular.
Good luck to you! (you could always change your major to...oh i don't know ....French....or Spanish..... )

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Jennifer
ALM, Master of Liberal Arts, Harvard University, 2099 or sometime sooner
AA & BA, Social Sciences, Thomas Edison State College, 2008
AOS, Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America, 1990

How to do your own Unofficial Evaluation http://www.degreeforum.net/general-e...ighlight=alpha

InstantCert WORKS! http://www.degreeforum.net/general-e...g-members.html

"Brick walls are there for a reason....They’re there to stop the other people.” Randy Pausch

This curriculum did not have the grammatical parts that are necessary to learn the language; it was missing instruction on declensions and conjugations. MAKE SURE YOU SEE IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT. We didn't end up finishing it- too much money to waste at that price! Try videos from the library of real language users as they have for American Sign Language instruction.

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Studying in Idaho!

I have, and don't use Rosetta. I prefer pimsleurs for initial language aquisition.

I second the Michel Thomas method. I knew very little spanish when I went to Spain and ended up fooling natives at times, as long as it was a short sentence and not a long conversation.

I've always wanted to try Rosetta Stone but it is way too expensive. I've used Pimsleur's for Italian and didn't really care for it too much.

Another free podcast is coffeebreakspanish. They are short 15 minute lessons that remind me a lot of Michel Thomas except this guy is Scottish but has a pretty good spanish accent. He's a bit more entertaining than Michel Thomas. I think there is around 80 podcasts available. I'm not sure how in depth it gets because I haven't finished it.

On a side note, if you don't know the story of Michel Thomas, you should look it up. He's a pretty interesting guy. michelthomas.com

On notesfromspain.com, in the forums, they have an area for "intercambios". You get yourself a skype account that lets you call other people throughout the world that have an account for free. Hook up with a native spanish speaker and help each other out. Talk in spanish half the time and english half the time.

I also love Coffebreak Spanish! Listening to Mark and Kara is like being amongst friends. Plus- I adore Mark and Kara's scottish accents.

I get the same thing--fooling people. After doing the Michel Thomas course when I would talk to Hispanics around Chicago they would think I was more advanced than I actually was. Thus, the reason why I am immersing myself in more courses so my listening ability catches up to my speaking and reading.

I've always wanted to learn French. I think after I'm finally done with my degree I'll reward myself by buying the Michel Thomas French course since the Spanish course was so good.

__________________
PURSUING BS in LIBERAL STUDIES @ Excelsior

Completed so far:
Military - 58 credits
Traditional - 12 credits
Clep - 15 credits
Excelsior Exams - Organizational Behavior(B), World Population (A), Ethics (A), Cultural Diversity (B),Psychology of A&A (A), Gerontology (B)
DSST -Drugs & Alcohol (A), Civil War (A), Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union (A)

8 more credits and info lit left!!!!!!!!!!!!!