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Tuesday, February 18th
Allen Stoltzfus, the founder of Rosetta Stone, had struggled to learn Russian in the 1980s when textbooks used the traditional method for teaching languages. He realized that he (and the rest of the world) had learned his first language quite well.
It's the method
So if we can learn one language easily, why do so many struggle learning a second language? It's the method. How did we all learn as young ones? Our parents used sounds and images in context, not translation and endless conjugation charts. When Stoltzfus realized that this first-language technique was so groundbreaking for second languages, he named his language lessons after the artifact that broke the code for learning the Egyptians' hieroglyphics, called the Rosetta Stone. Stoltzfus perceives both Rosetta Stones as the key to unlocking the code for learning language.
You determine your placement
If you don't know any Spanish or can just count to 10, start at the beginning of the Rosetta Stone curriculum. If you know some Spanish, you'll choose where you want to start. If you have a purpose for studying Spanish, such as work, travel, or communicating with family members overseas, there are specific lessons designed for these purposes. Rosetta Stone is not only for the individual learner: they can also cater to schools and businesses.
Learn Spanish like you learned your first language
Since we all did pretty well at learning our first language - thanks, parents! - Rosetta Stone uses this method for teaching your new languages, namely, repetition and images. Think about it: when you were tiny, you didn't use a textbook and your parents didn't give lengthy grammar explanations. Neither does Rosetta Stone. You'll learn Spanish words and phrases with images so you make connections naturally.
Speak right away
Because with Rosetta Stone, you get straight to Spanish words and right into phrases and sentences, you'll speak Spanish right out of the box. There are twenty units to cover, each with pertinent topics like travel, friends and social life, shopping, style, personal wellness, arts and academics, and even emergency situations.
Their method isn't for everyone
Since you aren't an infant and you do have at least one language under your belt, you might want to know why Rosetta Stone's lesson you're in is using different versions of a word, let's say a verb - maybe this is the future or the past of this word, or maybe this is the "he” form vs. the "they” form.... You'll have to catch on using the changes in the image of the photo. One example is that you will see a man running and then see people running. Not so challenging if it's beginning Spanish, but for more advanced phrases, you really have to use your noggin. Besides, in the earlier lessons, they'll use English if you need it, and then gently wean you off.
The key may be patience
We've mentioned that this is a method that might not sit well with you... at first. But Rosetta Stone has a great track record of helping people become fluent, and they've been doing it since the 1980s. So what's the secret? Patience. Don't get upset if you haven't caught on to the connection between what's happening in the picture and what you're saying. These days, everyone wants an immediate answer - how did anyone survive without Google? But if you give yourself some patience and take a deep breath, the light bulb will go off. Those who have given Rosetta Stone a good shot have not only loved it but communicated well and clearly, actually thinking in Spanish before they knew they could.
Serious learners only
If you're looking for dancing bears and the extrinsic rewards of gold stars gliding across your screen each time you complete a 10-minute Spanish lesson, you won't find that with Rosetta Stone. Lessons aren't 5 or 10 minutes. They may seem like they would be shorter, but if you want to absorb the lesson, it might take 30-45 minutes. And that's okay, because you'll learn something important that will stick with you.
Their "cutting edge” speech-recognition software isn't the best
Rosetta Stone will tell you that they have the leading speech-recognition technology to help you perfect your Spanish pronunciation. If that were the case, they would include it in their demos and show examples. Unfortunately, there's no sample in their demos, and those who have tried it will tell you it's really not the best out there. While their speech-recognition program gives you the general idea if you'll be understood, there's no specific feedback telling you where to improve. If you'd prefer cutting edge, we have a few highly recommended online Spanish-language courses that have much better technology.
Use the 3-day trial
Give them your email and you can try their lessons. Because Rosetta Stone's method is unique or unusual for those who have gone through school and learned at least somewhat about how language works, you'll need to let go of how you have learned language in the classroom. You should figure out if you can learn this way in the 3-day trial. Also, if you've ever used their 3-day trial in the past, whether for Spanish or another language, you don't get another try. You'll have to purchase the subscription and cancel promptly if you're not happy.
30-day satisfaction guarantee
If you're not happy with Rosetta Stone's method or material, contact them within 30 days and you'll receive a full refund.
Rosetta Stone is excellent, but may need to modernize
Everyone still wants to know if any given online language program is better than Rosetta Stone, even if they don't know a thing about how Rosetta Stone works. That's because Rosetta Stone has a long-term, excellent reputation as the "one to beat.” It creates proficient Spanish speakers who can think in the language. That said, there are features and factors we wish they would update. First, they need to give people a second or third chance at the 3-day trial. Second, the speech-recognition technology isn't the best out there, even though they want you to think that it is. Rosetta Stone is fantastic, even if it's not the right fit for absolutely everyone who wants to learn Spanish.
Have you ever wanted to learn Spanish? Maybe you would like to interact with native speakers while traveling. Or perhaps you would like to speak Spanish with your contractor or other people you do business with.
Here are some fun facts for you to consider. According to a recent US census, Spanish is the most common non-English language spoken in US homes, 12x greater than the next four most common languages. The US is the world's fourth-largest Spanish-speaking country. And, as such, jobs in the US are always looking for bilingual (English-Spanish) speakers.
No matter why you want to learn Spanish, the real question is which online Spanish lessons are right for you. With so much of our life being digital and using apps regularly if not daily, it's only natural to want to explore apps or online methods for learning Spanish. There are many to choose from, and we can help you sift through the options.
The first thing to consider is how much Spanish you already know. If you're just getting started, your choices are almost endless, as many programs have an abundance of material for beginners. In fact, some of these programs focus so much on the beginners that they seem to run out of steam when creating material for the intermediate students, and then there's none if you want to hone your advanced Spanish with them. There are those who cater to all levels of proficiency, but it's certainly not all, and you have to know which is which. No worries - wherever you are on your Spanish-learning journey, we have excellent online programs and apps to recommend for your needs.
Another consideration is your learning style and preferences. Some learners need motivation through lessons with animation, gamification, and prizes. Others find animation and gamification overwhelming and would rather get straight to business, preferring the old-school grammar lessons and vocabulary flashcards. Consider if you want your Spanish curriculum to tell you where to start and then follow those lessons in a linear fashion. If you do, great. However, other people want to choose their own path and select lessons where the theme is of interest to them. Either way, there are plenty of online Spanish lessons that will suit you.
Once you're more aware of why you're learning Spanish and how you want to learn it, there are a few more aspects you should consider as you choose where to take lessons:
The experts at Top Consumer Reviews have evaluated, rated, and ranked the best choices for online Spanish lessons. We're sure that with this information, you'll have what you need to make the right choice for your goals in learning and becoming fluent in Spanish. ¡Ya vamos!
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