Learning a Foreign Language
 

I seem to remember a thread about this from many moons ago, but I'll be damned if I can find it.

Anyone have a recommendation on software for learning a foreign language? I've heard good things about Rosetta Stone, but thought I'd request some feedback before I drop the coin on it.

Thanks in advance.

No comprehende, amigo.

You can do a free trial of Rosetta Stone, through their website. It gets a lot of high acclaim. Also a lot of money though.

Thanks, I checked it out. There's actually quite a bit of content in the demo. Definately worth checking out.

What language?

Funny that this thread came up tonight. I have been learning Japanese for awhile since I work with many Japanese people and because my company is a US subsidiary of Hitachi. I tried the Rosetta Stone demo and was impressed and earlier today I bought their Japanes version and should have it early next week. I am looking forward to it. Good luck to you

Rosetta Stone is awesome, and I want the Dutch version badly.

Got tired of them talking behind your back right in front of you, huh?

BAKA GAIJIN NE?

Here ya go, sign language.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...atar3542_9.jpg

Nah, actually they don't do that as they want to learn English better. Hell, half the time I gotta emplore them to speak Japanese for my benefit. But, when I leave... who knows - hell I talk bad about myself behind my own back, why not them.

French, God help me.

How's that going for you? I always thought that would be extremely difficult to learn.

I seem to have the knack for proper announciation so speaking is not bad for me. The listening and understanding is another thing. That is why I am continuing to try and learn. The local CC has Japanese classes but the first is in the fall and I have had to cancel it three times in a row due to business..... Writing and reading Kanji is the big whopper hurdle and God knows if I will even learn 50 Kanji's before I die.

My friend said it was free on teh intranets.

i like rosetta stone...
but the lesson menus are in the target language. its a little hard to read kanji if your going for the jap level 1

oh well, cant complain too much. i got a real good price on all the languages

LMAO

That was going to be my next question. Where can I get a deal on it? Couldn't find anything on ebay for much less than retail.

If you signed up on for the demo, they sometimes have 20% off deals. I get them a lot in email. That's all that I know of.

yeah, I know a guy who knows a guy who found it on isohunt[dot]com

Rausch is really the guy to ask about this language.

Send a PM.

Take a class at the community college. It's much better than trying to learn from software.

The only real way to learn a language is to immerse yourself and live in a country where that language is spoken for a few months. Understanding the grammar rules and having some basic vocabulary (that's what you get with classes) will only speed the process up.

I'm speaking from experience. :)

I agree.

That's all I'm looking for. I don't expect to be able to carry on a conversation or anything. But I'd least like to look like I'm putting forth a little effort before I get there.

I think it's an awesome idea to do what you have in mind. I wasn't trying to say you shouldn't do it, quite the contrary. I think it's a very good way of starting to learn a new language, which, in itself, is a massive undertaking. It's certainly much better than taking juco courses, IMO. No pressure, you go at your own pace using a proven method and it's much, much cheaper.

Okay. Now, let's be realistic, here. Most of us can't just pick up and trot off to a foreign country to learn the language. Of course that's the best way, but it's not entirely practical for most people :)