| ![German Level 1 & 2 Win/Mac Personal Edition [Old Version]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51SCJ61FB8L._SL500_.jpg)
| From: Fairfield Language Technologies
List Price: $339.00
Buy Used: $200.00
You Save: $139.00 (41%)
Rating:  22 reviews
Sales Rank: 3142
Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Mac Os X, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows Xp
Media: CD-ROM
Edition: Level 1 & 2
Operating System: Mac OS X
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 9.8 x 7.7 x 2.9
MPN: 794678017698
Model: 225-12
UPC: 794678017698
EAN: 0794678017698
ASIN: B000077DD3
Release Date: October 28, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Barely used. In great condition.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 22
 Boooring October 24, 2005
M. Lannes (Canada)
65 out of 73 found this review helpful
I have been using this product now for almost a year. The only reason I insist using it is because I feel really bad for wasting my money. First, this is not worth $300 bucks.
There are only still pictures and sound. No movies or any fancy graphics, so why the price? Second it is very repetitive and it does not advance in a very logical way so that you recognize the grammatical structures behind the ever changing sentences. Third, the sentences that you have to repeat over and over are not practical at all. You keep memorizing thins like "the boy is under the airplane" or "the ball is on the boy's head".
Initially I thought, well this is because it progresses very slowly which is not necessarily bad. But then I took a look at the last lessons; you just keep repeating useless senteces like these without real things used on a dialogue.
I cannot recommend you another course because I spent so much in this one that I do not want to try again and get disappointed. Don't be fooled by the wonderful reviews like I was. This is definitively NOT worth 300 dollars. It is not even useful for basic converstion. I have learned much more from simple travel books and cassettes from the library.
Ah, and if you think that by repeating these structures alone you will understand german grammar ...
Price... February 18, 2006
Patrick
61 out of 70 found this review helpful
The price alone is what makes this product a rip-off. On it's own, Rosetta Stone is great...I mean, it's probably one of the most effective and easily accessible vocabulary learning tools on the market. However, the value of this package is not more than...60-70 bucks. 150 is a fair price for the entire 2 level package.
The program lacks grammar explanations, and more importantly, it lacks conversational lessons. There is one actual lesson that briefly covers some casual speak, but the majority of the program is just vocabulary. After going through the entire 150 dollar first level, you still won't know how to say "Hallo, wie geht's?"--"Ah, es geht mir gut". I haven't completed the entire program, but I have skimmed it all, and I don't believe you ever learn conversational things like that.
In order for this program to even near the pricetag that they've put on it...it would need some type of grammar explanation...like perhaps a reading after each chapter or unit that would explain why things are done the way they are. It also needs several more units that intensely cover conversational things. The cheaper products out there like Instant Immersion do a MUCH better job of giving you conversational language.
Anyways, I'd reccommend...not paying for this. I managed to get a hold of it for free, and I'm glad. I once was at a booth at a mall where they tried to sell it to me, and I'm glad I wasn't suckered in. It's not a bad concept of a program, and as a program itself it is excellent. The price is unfortunately why it is bad. Borrow it from a friend, or acquire it some other way.
I would recommend in lieu of this program Pimsleur (don't pay for that either, rent it, or look on ebay), Instant Immersion (worth the full price of 40ish), and just a good internet connection. In truth, if you're resourceful you can learn a language without spending more than 20 bucks for a good dictionary and a grammar reference.
 Practically worthless March 4, 2007
nyctc7 (New York, NY United States)
50 out of 58 found this review helpful
I can't for the life of me understand why Rosetta Stone has garnered such good reviews (although I see a few negative ones here, so I feel validated) and seems to have such an outstanding reputation. I find it practically worthless, and it's expensive to boot. I'm sure that my experience with the German program would apply to Rosetta Stone's other languages as well, as they all taught via the same method.
I've been learning German for about 6 months and besides Rosetta Stone I have used Pimsleur, Rocket Languages, and have taken private instruction. Obviously, private instruction is best. But this review is about software, and Pimsleur is best. But Rosetta Stone has more bells & whistles, which is perhaps why people think it is so good. But it isn't. For example, nowhere in Rosetta Stone do you actually learn how to say useful things. Nowhere do you learn how to say "Hello," "How are you, "What's your name," or even "Where's the bathroom." Instead, you will learn how to recognize such useful phrases as "The woman and the boy have a ball on their heads" or "The man is under the donkey" or "These two fish are from the same species" or "The blue triangle is bigger than the red square." Ridiculous!! And note I said "learn how to recognize a phrase." This is the biggest weakness and disappointment with Rosetta Stone. It really doesn't get you to talk at ALL. You are not required to utter a word. You see four pictures, and the speaker will say (in German) "The boy is drinking milk." Now, if you have already heard the word for "boy" (Junge) and three of the pictures have no boys, you simply click on the picture with the boy and presto, you're correct! This multiple choice way of learning is not effective for learning a language! (There is a "practice speaking" mode, equally useless, which I mention below)
With Pimsleur, which is an audio only program, you hear conversations that will impart essential words and phrases. And they are repeated (and asks you to repeat) in such a fashion that it sticks. For example, it was weeks ago that it introduced "How much do I owe you?" yet I still remember it. (Wie viel shulde ich Ihnen?--No, I didn't cheat and look it up!) Pimsleur is brilliant in the way it gradually builds your knowledge and abilities. Of course, it isn't perfect as it doesn't explain the grammar. But neither does Rosetta Stone, and Rosetta Stone is worse because with Pimsleur there is also an English speaker who explains some things, while with Rosetta Stone you are left to twist in the wind. That's why software language learning programs should be seen as supplements--supplements to classroom or private instruction.
What are the bells & whistles on Rosetta Stone? You get to do a lesson in a variety of ways--seeing pictures with audio (the speaker), or pictures with audio and text, or audio only, for example. There is also a feature where the speaker on the program says a phrase, and you repeat it into a microphone and can compare your voice signature to the speaker's. But I found that this didn't work well at all and wasn't worth the trouble. And again, the phrases weren't useful.
No comparison to Tell me More software August 3, 2006
THe (USA)
30 out of 39 found this review helpful
I have many (too many) Rosetta Stone softwares for language learning, however after purchasing "Tell Me More" software I will never go back to Rosetta Stone. It is true that you can learn a lot of vocabulary with Rosetta's program but that is about it! Rosetta's software is very illogical! Honestly, do not waste your time and money with this program, check Tell Me More and you will be amazed!
Learn vocabulary fast February 8, 2004
Cynthia L. Simmons (Kennesaw, GA USA)
25 out of 27 found this review helpful
The Rosetta stone teaches by 'complete immersion'. Using picture context the student asborbs vocabulary with ease. Immediate rewards for correct answers help motivate the learner to keep working. However, there are some weaknesses. First, you need to have a reliable dictionary on hand. There are times that you come to wrong conclusions about word meaning and you must double check with a dictionary. Second, this course is weak in grammar. I recommend a text to demonstrate basic grammatical structures. Last, this software does not give separate phonetic information. you are expected to learn by listening. Certain individuals, based on learning style may want to see phonetic information in print.
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