Rosetta Stone Version 3: Spanish (Latin America) Level 1, 2 & 3 Set with Audio Companion | 
 enlarge | From: Rosetta Stone
Category: Software
List Price: $549.00
Buy New: $480.00
You Save: $69.00 (13%)
New (3) from $480.00
Rating:  87 reviews
Sales Rank: 19
Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Windows 2000, Windows Xp, Mac Os X, Windows Vista
Media: CD-ROM
Edition: Level 1, 2 & 3
Operating System: Windows XP
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 6.5 x 3
Model: 20988
UPC: 794678209888
EAN: 0794678209888
ASIN: B001AFFZM2
Release Date: June 16, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Rosetta Stone helps you understand everyday language through proficiency-based listening and reading activities, proprietary speech recognition and analysis tools | | • | Contextual Formation makes sure you have the confidence and the cues you need to get the words out on the spot | | • | Milestone activities quickly give you confidence to engage in real-life conversations; Adaptive Recall reinforces language so it sticks with you | | • | Audio Companion allows you to take Rosetta Stone anywhere: in the car, the gym or on-the-go | | • | Build a foundation and navigate your surroundings: learn fundamental vocabulary and essential language structure, from greetings and introductions to simple questions and their answers |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Rosetta Stone Personal Edition contains everything you need to start learning a language. It's built around our award-winning Rosetta Stone curriculum, which has been adopted by organizations around the world including the U.S. Army, NASA, major corporations such as Deutsche Telecom, IKEA, Royal Dutch Shell, and over 10,000 schools worldwide--and is available in 31 languages spoken by over 90% of the world's population. | The comprehensive language-learning solution that fits your life. 
Learn Naturally
Learn your next language the same way you learned your first language. Dynamic Immersion empowers you to see, hear and comprehend without translating or memorizing. You already have this ability, Rosetta Stone simply unlocks it. Engage Interactively
Get feedback to move forward. You learn best by doing, and you'll apply what you've learned to get to the next step. Rosetta Stone adapts to your individual needs and skills, because you drive the program with your progress. Speak Confidently
Start speaking immediately. From the very first lesson, you'll speak. You'll begin with essential basics, which form the building blocks of the language. Soon you'll create new sentences on your own using words you've learned. Have Fun
Best of all, Rosetta Stone is addictive. With every entertaining activity, you'll feel success. You'll want to use Rosetta Stone to have that next moment, that next breakthrough. So you'll keep using it, and you'll learn more! | The Fastest, Easiest Way to Learn a New Language Proceed at Your Own Pace
Rosetta Stone is considerate of your time. Anytime, anywhere, you can learn a new language with Rosetta Stone. You learn comfortably without feeling pressured or overwhelmed. Rosetta Stone provides guidance to make your language learning effective, fast, and enjoyable with a process that is intuitive, interactive, and visually engaging. At the end of each lesson, you are given the opportunity to test your new skills. And, since Rosetta Stone automatically records your progress, you can easily pick up where you left off, when other priorities arise. Make Language Learning Intuitive with Dynamic Immersion
Rosetta Stone uses rich visual imagery to help you learn. You will be presented with sets of images to match correctly with a spoken or written phrase in the new language. You will advance to the next set of prompts once you've successfully matched words and images and pronounced the words correctly. With Dynamic Immersion, you learn by directly associating your new language with images--nothing is lost in translation. Fun, Easy, and Immediate Reinforcement
Interactive exercises create a learning environment that is engaging and game-like--it's fun! How It Works As children, we gradually learned our first language through a process of associating mental images with words or phrases, accompanied by complete immersion in our environment. This approach was simple because it was natural and allowed the brain to adapt to increasing complexity. Rosetta Stone recreated this natural way of learning by developing a method that uses a computer to mimic the environment in which we learned our first language. We call this Dynamic Immersion. A simple, intuitive interface and advanced technology confirms learning at every step of the process by prompting you to make connections between images you already understand and the new language. You receive immediate feedback, which helps you to reinforce learning. This systematic structure builds from simple nouns and verbs to more complex concepts and phrases very quickly, helping you achieve your language-learning goals faster than you ever thought possible. Level 1, 2 & 3--Connect With the World Connect with the world around you. Build a foundation of fundamental vocabulary and essential language structure. Quickly gain the confidence to enjoy social interactions such as greetings and introductions, travel, dining out, giving and getting directions, shopping and other recreational activities. Learn to share your ideas and opinions, express your feelings and talk about everyday life, your work, your interests, current events, and much more. Features & Benefits Faster and More Effective
Rosetta Stone will teach you as fast as you can learn! Leveraging your natural language-learning ability, Version 3 immerses you immediately in the new language, providing just the right context to prompt you to speak, pronounce, read and write in the very first lesson! Intuitive, sequential learning builds progressively and makes every lesson count. Our Dynamic Immersion method is so fast and so effective, it's used by the Fortune 500, the U.S. State Department, and over 10,000 schools. Convenient
You pick the time, the place and the pace! We are ready when you are because there are no class schedules or missed lessons to make up. From your desk or your dining room, your valuable time can be turned into productive language learning that fits your lifestyle. Enjoyable
When something is fun, it captures your attention...and holds it! The interactivity in Version 3 instantly engages you. Rich, vivid imagery, real-life context and voices of native speakers make Rosetta Stone different from any other product out there--never tedious or boring. Rosetta Stone provides a captivating, game-like experience. Milestones
Learn and apply! Our MILESTONE feature lets you try out your new language knowledge in real-life situations. Track Your Progress
New ADAPTIVE RECALL feature tracks your progress, reinforcing your strengths and revisiting your development areas. New Speech Recognition Technology
State-of-the-art new speech recognition technology helps you learn to speak your new language even faster. And our new Speech Analysis Tool compares your voice to that of native speakers, helping you perfect your pronunciation. Life-like Context
Our New CONTEXTUAL FORMATION feature uses real-life simulations and vivid imagery to give you exactly the context you need to produce new language--all on your own! Level 1, 2 & 3 Set Includes: The Basics
Nouns, verbs, adjectives, numbers, questions, colors, clothing. Friends and Family
Ages, family relations, household items, introductions, landmarks, states, descriptions. Work and School
Times of day, greetings, calendar terms, body parts, speaking, personal hygiene. Shopping
Buying, selling and shopping; entertainment and sports; merchandise, speed and weight, comparing and contrasting. Travel
Destinations, transportation, directions, locations, telling time, distance, cost, weather. Past and Future
Tenses, letter writing, school subjects, signs, workplace terms, polite requests. Friends and Social Life
Months of the year, arrivals and departures, social interaction, celebrations, meal courses, quality terms, apologies. Dining and Vacation
Future tense; terms for art, architecture and music; emotions, places of worship, travel and lodging. Home and Health
Terms for home, garden and backyard activities; household items and appliances; terms for strength and physical activity. Life and World
Emotions, continents, life milestones, oceans, botanical terms, terms for animals. Places and Events
Opinion and judgments, currency exchange and transactions; measurements, household repair tools, culinary terms. Talking About the World
Nationalities, governmental leaders, political terms, media terms, business terms, religious terms. Doing things!  Audio Companion allows you to take Rosetta Stone anywhere: in the car, the gym or on-the-go. | Audio Companion--Taking Rosetta Stone to the Next Level Introducing Audio Companion from Rosetta Stone, the newest enhancement to the world's #1 language-learning software! It's a great addition to the Rosetta Stone experience, allowing you to take Rosetta Stone anywhere: in the car, the gym or on-the-go! What is Audio Companion?
Audio Companion CD-ROMs enhance language learning anytime, anyplace. You can learn new skills on the computer, and then reinforce them with Audio Companion. Play the CDs on a stereo, or download them to a MP3 Player and go! Enhance the Rosetta Stone Learning Experience
Audio Companion activities correspond to Rosetta Stone CD-ROM software lessons. You can listen to Audio Companion and practice what you've been learning, turning travel time into productive language learning time. Extend Study Time
Now, you don't have to stop learning when you leave your computer. Audio Companion lets you access lessons whenever and wherever you want. It empowers you, and works within your busy lifestyle! Build Vocabulary and Pronounce Words and Phrases
Audio Companion features distinct words and shorter phrases to make them easier to hear and repeat. Build good enunciation habits by hearing native speakers pronounce them first. Speak and Converse
The speaking portion of Audio Companion lets you listen to questions and answers, repeating them to use later. To help them build your conversation skills, first you'll listen to a conversation and then repeat phrases individually.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 45 more reviews...
 a VAST improvement over version 2 July 16, 2008
Jane Harper (Rockford, IL USA)
109 out of 118 found this review helpful
A few years back I bought Rosetta Stone v.2 (for a different language than Spanish) and found it very difficult to work with. The activities had no real order to them, there was very little guidance for users, the voice recognition function was horrible, and the photographs were all of upper middle class westerners. I saw the reviews of the Spanish versions in which teachers and native speakers complained about the emphasis on progressive tenses ("I am _____ing") instead of the present, which is ubiquitous in Spanish and often used to stand in for both past and future.
I had two years of Spanish in high school (FORTY years ago), but as a health care provider I continue to encounter many Spanish-speaking patients and I'm getting tired of having to use an interpreter, so I decided to dust off the Spanish I used to know and get serious about becoming bilingual. I saw that Rosetta Stone had completely reworked their system and gave it a try.
I'm TREMENDOUSLY impressed with the changes!!
They do still use too much progressive tense (or have so far, I've only worked through the first of the three levels), but the photographs are very culturally diverse and the help files and accompanying documentation are MUCH better than for version 2. I'd also heard that version 2 was a nightmare on a Mac (and I've just switched from Windows), but I'm happy to report that version 3 runs like a dream on my little MacBook.
The new packaging includes a headset that attaches via a USB port, a welcome addition.
On the down side, I haven't been exactly thrilled with the "audio companion" so far; it adds nothing to what is presented in the lessons, but rather merely mimics them. The voice recognition still has trouble; consonants in Spanish tend to be very soft, and I have to pop my P's to get the software to recognize them.
All in all, though, I think it's a very worthwhile investment, and for less than most classroom programs cost.
Now, if they'd only give me some credit to upgrade my version 2 in that other language ....
Better than Spanish 101 August 14, 2008
David Stapleton (California)
21 out of 23 found this review helpful
I have taken a number of classes to learn a variety of languages, and have forgotten most of them all. Learning on the computer has been a new and fairly positive experience for me. The package comes with a number of elements: the base software, the particular language elements to plug into the base software, audio companion CDs for review offline and a USB headset/microphone.
Installation is a two part process, 1) install the base software, 2) install any language element tiers. (The headset will need some installation time, but that should be managed by the system). The installation progressed pretty smooth, took a reasonable amount of time, no errors.
The process of learning is geared toward an immersive process where you start speaking pretty much right at the start (kind of like being tossed into the pool and told to swim). You start by selecting your goals (read, write, speak, etc.) and then follow the lesson plan, reviewing as often as necessary. My personal experience has been that I enjoy the immersive process, I am still working through the lessons, but I fell that I have gained considerably more than I have in past language learning opportunities. The process has been a fairly painless process, and I devote time when available.
My bottom line is that the product is pretty pricey, but gives you one of the best learning experiences I can imagine short of being dropped off in Mexico. P-)
A new twist to the older RS programs July 25, 2008
Reformed Library (Vancouver, WA USA)
24 out of 27 found this review helpful
I thought to myself: Why is there yet another version of Rosetta Stone Spanish. That was enough to try out the new program with my children in mind.
First reactions: They have an option built in for home-schoolers. I thought that was kind of a neat twist to educational products on the market with any kind of national and international appeal. They are making themselves open to a new demographic and it may assist those smart little children to excel even more and assist their parents in tracking the progress of their national spelling-bee winning offspring.
Next: Very well put-together set of instructions. Everything is there and the instructions are easy to follow. There is nothing confusing and the tech-talk is entirely absent. No computer degrees are needed to install and use this software. Although an internet connection will certainly help you with registration, it is not necessary. They have a toll-free phone number to call that will enable you to register and unlock all features.
Then: I asked my 8-year old to sit down, telling her it was a program that *might* help her learn Spanish. She began to click. I didn't help at all. The first few exercises were very easy for her and she began to see the genius behind the RS program. Pictures, comparisons and a scoring system to tell her the progress that she had made. I happened to have a microphone, plugged it in and she could compare her speach pattern to the native speaker assisting her through the learning process by way of viewing a voice graph that scrolls over a timeline. She took right to it. Within three attempts, she had learned how to properly pronounce new terms. Her voice was recorded and she would listen to how she pronounced a word and then compare it on audio and by that graph to the native speaker. Very impressive and very helpful.
I will now try this with my 6-year old daughter, seeing how well and how easily the older girl dissected the lessons.
I enjoy the option to take the additional audio lessons with us while we drive. I even have a little MP3 player that I am going to load the Audio Companion on for the reinforcement value.
Well done, Rosetta Stone. I fully recommend this program!
A worthwhile investment in time and money September 5, 2008
Charles Evans (North Carolina)
18 out of 20 found this review helpful
Be warned.....buying the Rosetta Stone is not enough to learn spanish. No, in addition to buying the Rosetta Stone you must also be willing to dedicate at least 45-60 minutes a day to learning Spanish. If you are willing to dedicate the time you can be confident that you will see positive results.
The Rosetta Stone is amazing effective in drilling in lessons with the use of games and patterns while forgoing the old-fashioned method of memorizing lists of words. At first you don't realize that you are learning spanish...and then as the days roll by you gradually realize that you are beginning to understand a variety of words and phrases. It reminds me of putting together a puzzle - it takes a little time before you see the picture coming together.
The voice recognition software is great for helping you to learn to talk (almost) like a native. While your pronunciation does not need to be perfect to advance it does need to be close. This is a very effective way to help transfer the lessons that you are learning into usable communication skills. In fact, to me this is the primary benefit that the Rosetta Stone has over any other language learning device - it offers immediate feedback!
Things that I enjoy-
- Intuitive approach to learning - both through word identification and by speaking. The voice identification software will help you take your language learning to the next lesson.
- More than one user is allowed. The Rosetta Stone is currently tracking of both me and my wife.
- Comprehensive language suite - once you are finished (and I am not close to being finished) you can be assured that you have gone through a intensive language training course. Simply put - you are getting more than the basics.
- Money back guarantee - if you don't like the Rosetta Stone you have 6 months to get a FULL refund!
- To me, this seems like the perfect tool for someone home schooling their children. Many of the lessons would be very age appropriate for someone in school
Negatives to the Rosetta Stone -
- Well it is not cheap
- You must "Want" to learn the language - not partial efforts will be effective
- one license means one computer - if you have the need to run the software on an additional computer you will need to buy ANOTHER copy of the software.
Final verdict - if you are serious about learning spanish The Rosetta Stone will be the perfect investment for you. 5 stars
Great for kids, helps with pronunciation, solid early learning experience August 8, 2008
Two kids mom (Tijeras, NM United States)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
Three of the members of my family have been using this program for the past two - three weeks. The first is myself, a 40 something who took Spanish in high school for 3 years, spent a summer in South America (and emerged fluent from that experience) but now am quite rusty. I still understand a great deal of Spanish, but have lost my ability to speak it. The second is my 12 year old son, who has had one year of fairly intensive Spanish over the previous school year. The third is my 9 year old daughter, her previous Spanish only a few words gleaned from Dora the Explorer.
Both of my kids have to earn TV or video game time over the summer. They earn it by reading or playing educational computer games. I offered this program as a choice when it arrived and both have chosen to do Rosetta Stone for about 80% of the overall required time. Obviously they enjoy it, but would not chose it over playing on the video game console.
Both kids have been using the microphone. I feel this is a strong point of the program since my kids really do not hear native speakers with the other Spanish Language Program we have (Eazyspeak Spanish ) . The microphone option has several choices for how closely you have to match the correct pronunciation in order to "pass". I have it adjusted higher for my son and lower for my daughter. I also had to adjust the speaker volume from the control panel of the computer (use Start- Control Panel - Sounds and Audio Devices). For the 12 year old with one year of Spanish, starting about halfway though level one was appropriate.
For myself Level 1 was too easy. At level 2 I found that I was "relearning" some things (especially matching noun and verb type) that I had forgotten. The program is visually pleasant, good quality photos, and a good mix of types of teaching such as listening to a phrase and picking the correct photo, repeating phrases, having to come up with your own phrases to describe the photos, typing answers.
I find the audio companion very useful, it is helping me drag the forgotten Spanish out of my brain. The kids do not like it at all, I think the lack of visual feedback is frustrating for them but it could also be that they prefer the "books on cd" we usually listen to when traveling in the car.
My son had been using "Eazyspeak Spanish" before Rosetta stone. This is also a good program for learning basic vocabulary (if you just want to go to Mexico and be able to ask for the bathroom, or chose menu items) but it does not give you any feedback about your pronunciation. Be aware, the Eazyspeak program does teach all sorts of names for alcoholic drinks and has some innuendos.
Rosetta Stone is a great way to learn basic Spanish, much closer to how you "naturally" learn. However, I do not thing you will be "fluent" after finishing the program, but you will be able to get your basic messages across and navigate more easily when on vacation.
It is fantastic as a supplement to a beginning Spanish classes and a great way for kids to start learning another language. I plan on having my daughter finish all the lessons before she starts taking Spanish in school, it should give her a good solid foundation.
***UPDATE
My son went back to school 3 weeks ago. I got an email from his teacher this week saying that my son had really improved his pronunciation over the summer and had remembered more of his vocabulary than the rest of the class. He asked me if what we did with him over the summer and I told him that my son had done Eazy Speak Spanish for a month and then Rosetta Stone.
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