In Europe, there are many businesses dealing with language learning. Of course, most famous are Cambridge and Oxford University Press and their publications, Pons and Langenscheidt, Berlitz and many others. Rosetta Stone is known mainly by people who do not want to learn one of the major languages in Europe (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish)…
In Part 1 we talked about the benefits of Rosetta Stone; let’s go now to the drawbacks: First of all, Rosetta Stone does not provide you with the opportunity to speak in any meaningful way. While it correctly focuses on listening comprehension as the base for any learner’s progress, it wrongly ignores speaking production. Sure,…
While there are numerous language-learning software programs available on the market, perhaps the most well-known is Rosetta Stone. Its innovative approach and high-quality, well-developed product have made it very popular. So how effective is it? First, let’s start with the positives. 1. Rosetta Stone’s focus on comprehensible input is laudable. For those of you not…
As a language learning coach, when I discuss with people their language learning plans, they often tell me, “I’m a visual learner. I have to see the word on the page in order to remember it.” Ten years ago, I would have said the same thing. But what does it mean to be a visual…
What makes a good language learner? Many people ask whether there are certain traits or skills which make some people better language learners than others. Does it take a mathematical mind to decode grammar? A musical ear to hear unfamiliar sounds? Someone with a great memory? Or is language learning aptitude, as it is often…