Hi, I'm emailing with someone who's selling a set of Rosetta Stone on CL. (Not sure if it's new or used, probably used.) I'd like to know what a new set includes so I can be sure I'm getting everything that's needed. Rosetta's site says it comes with CD ROM software for levels 1,2 and 3; headset microphones; user's guide, and "audio companion." This is for Japanese.

Is this everything? I also see mention of different versions. Are these just new editions? (I assume you can learn just as well from an older edition.) Do you know if the microphone headset can be bought after market if need be? I don't visualize what this is.

Thank you.

I don't have Rosetta Stone, but have you looked at livemocha.com? www.livemocha.com It offers the same stages of learning (aural, oral, reading and writing) and it's free! You do lessons & tests online, you can link to "friends" (strangers who want to language exchange) and they will correct your work. You can also submit oral work for corrections. Maybe this is an alternative.

Hi chachalaca

After reading this thread, I tried live mocha. Thing is, it's a social networking thing, so anyone trying it should be aware that they will start getting reminders to select friends, as well as e-mails from others asking to be your "friend".

Botton line, the lessons aren't bad, but you have to like social networking sites.

I hadn't heard of it, thanks. I'm computer illiterate enough not to know what social networking really is. My son will, tho and he's the one who wants to learn Japanese.

Has anyone used Rosetta and know what it consists of?

Debbie, my husband purchased Rosetta Stone Italian for me last year. I'm not sure of the vendor, though I am sure he talked to a salesperson via telephone.

As for the headset, it is used for pronunciation verification and I rather detest it and, in fact, have chosen to operate without it. I don't think Rosetta Stone understands Italian spoken with Southern accent.

Like other software, Rosetta Stone has updates and support for registered users. I have not updated and this thread reminds me to do so - perhaps updates will eliminate some of my problems with the software.

I use Rosetta Stone occasionally but prefer Pimsleur - I believe I retain more spoken language ability with Pimsleur.

If I didn't answer your question or address your concerns, I will be happy to look at the box containing all my "stuff".

Thanks, Bags packed. Sounds like the microphone isn't necessary, and kind of a pain. My son has a teacher he can practice speaking with anyway. I hadn't heard of Pimsleur either. I'll check it out.

Do you think you can figure out how to use Rosetta without the users guide, or is that important to have?

That's funny about the software not recognizing your "southern" italian! Italian's such a beautiful language, I learned to speak it in Italy 30 years ago. I wish I'd continued with it, tho some still comes back to me when needed.

Good luck learning it!

Debbie - on our Italian Language Talk forum there have been several threads discussing the merits of Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone. Using the "find" feature at the top of the forum and entering Pimsleur I got this list of threads. This might help you decide which program might be more useful to your son for learning Japanese.

Judy

Hi Debbie

I used Rosetta Stone and found although it was indeed helpful, it was a little too predicable. I preferred Pimsleur.

Sandy

Thanks, everyone. That's good to know. Meanwhile, I figured out that this person is selling copies of RS, which isn't legal. I don't want to get involved in that, even tho the price is 1/10th of the original.

I don't want to pay $550, so I'll keep looking, hoping to find a used original.

I just signed my son up for livemocha, and ordered a rental CD of Pimsleur from Recorded Books. I'll let you know how they go.

I wanted to thank you all again. I didn't know about either of them before.

If you buy Rosetta Stone used, make sure that the person you are buying it from doesn't have the software installed anywhere else before it is sold to you, otherwise either one of you would be liable for installing software without the proper license.

By the way, there was something recently in the NY Times about US military personnel being able to get Rosetta Stone free, via download. I don't know the details, but just mention it here in case it would help anyone.

- Roz

Hi there!

Does anyone know for sure if buying a used copy of Rosetta Stone works?

I was talking to a (rather unhelpful) customer service, and they said that when you buy RS, you have to enter an activation code on your computer, and that will not work a second time.

Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks

My friends father bought Rosetta Stone and it allowed multiple users (not sure exactly how many). He sent it to me and I installed it on my computer as a second user with the activation code included in the package.

Thanks, Kelly! Good news! Have you used your installed version yet?

Laura

yes, i have been using it for several months on and off.

quote:

Originally posted by debbie in NY:
I just signed my son up for livemocha, and ordered a rental CD of Pimsleur from Recorded Books. I'll let you know how they go.

I wanted to thank you all again. I didn't know about either of them before.

Have you tried the public library?

quote:

Originally posted by KellyC:
My friends father bought Rosetta Stone and it allowed multiple users (not sure exactly how many). He sent it to me and I installed it on my computer as a second user with the activation code included in the package.

Great Thank you!