Rosetta Stone for Italiano

[Romann]

I have been giving a lot of consideration to learning another language. While back home for this past holiday with my family, I was astonished at just how much my nieces not only knew about the Spanish language but also other languages that they are learning in school but also through private lessons to further their understanding and use of the language. Feeling very ashamed that these two priceless girls in my life know another language and I don't (actually, I used to know Spanish but have long since forgotten most of it) which gave me that push to not only learn Italian but one day be able to speak it fluently as it is one of the most romantic languages on the planet IMHO.

 

That said, I have done a lot of research on Rosetta Stone and have found some very encouraging results ranging from testimonials from past and previous customers of the language learning tool to some very interesting statistical data on the learning process through verbalization and language compliance. Has anyone tried this language learning tool and if so, would anyone mind sharing their opinions on how it worked for them and if in fact you would recommend such a learning tool considering the cost of all 5 suites for this specific language.

 

Any assistance provided would be very helpful and most appreciated.

[Guest ChgoBoy]

I think your Rosetta Stone publicity speaks worse to you than it could ever speak well to "them" or to "Her"

 

You're not in the industry of language communications.

 

Absent you're ability to exchange dollars for YEN, or for whatever, stick to fucking those who are up and coming in porn. Without an exchange organization behind you, you're fucked. And not the kind of fucked way you embrace.

 

Oh never mind, my ability to be of value is wasted. I think you're RIGHT ON the right track.

 

Oh dear lord I think I need something other here than my breath.

 

**looking for a video fore that** Ha! as if! Fuck Me.

[+ Italiano]

I have been giving a lot of consideration to learning another language. While back home for this past holiday with my family, I was astonished at just how much my nieces not only knew about the Spanish language but also other languages that they are learning in school but also through private lessons to further their understanding and use of the language. Feeling very ashamed that these two priceless girls in my life know another language and I don't (actually, I used to know Spanish but have long since forgotten most of it) which gave me that push to not only learn Italian but one day be able to speak it fluently as it is one of the most romantic languages on the planet IMHO.

 

That said, I have done a lot of research on Rosetta Stone and have found some very encouraging results ranging from testimonials from past and previous customers of the language learning tool to some very interesting statistical data on the learning process through verbalization and language compliance. Has anyone tried this language learning tool and if so, would anyone mind sharing their opinions on how it worked for them and if in fact you would recommend such a learning tool considering the cost of all 5 suites for this specific language.

 

Any assistance provided would be very helpful and most appreciated.

 

I don't know about Rosetta Stone, but as a native Italian and a diction/language coach I would be very happy to interchange mutual skills

[Romann]

Much appreciated!

 

I don't know about Rosetta Stone, but as a native Italian and a diction/language coach I would be very happy to interchange mutual skills

 

I would certainly like to take you up on your offer - teacher. I'll be in NYC soon enough.

[Guest ChgoBoy]

wow! lessons are still available via the web. Thanks NYCAT.

 

**rethinking my discomfort with others**

 

I should probably just man-up-and-be.

 

probably.

 

But unlikely.

[NYTomcat]

wow! lessons are still available via the web. Thanks NYCAT.

 

**rethinking my discomfort with others**

 

I should probably just man-up-and-be.

 

probably.

 

But unlikely.

 

Hmmmm... don't think its language lessons I would suggest here. Perhaps some Leticia baldridge manners courses. Or maybe anger management. But hey what do I know.

 

Though I begin to wonder why any escort would post anything here

[Guest ChgoBoy]

Hmmmm... don't think its language lessons I would suggest here. Perhaps some Leticia baldridge manners courses. Or maybe anger management. But hey what do I know.

no kiding abut what u said. I;m erady it kill myself.

 

how can i be so stupid and so stupid all together/?

 

i am what i enver should have eve been, i;m not like all of you so i kill myself necasue becausee this si what i need to do.

[NYTomcat]

no kiding abut what u said. I;m erady it kill myself.

 

how can i be so stupid and so stupid all together/?

 

i am what i enver should have eve been, i;m not like all of you so i kill myself necasue becausee this si what i need to do.

 

Honestly chgo. Just relax and enjoy the evening. This will all be tomorrow s bullshit soon enough

[corndog]

Romann,

On the topic of your original question...

 

I haven't tried Rosetta Stone, but when I wanted to learn a language I did a bunch of research and settled on Fluenz instead. I've been learning French with Fluenz, and I've been very happy with the choice I made.

 

As I understand it, Rosetta Stone teaches languages the way young children learn them: by exposing you to images and situations and the language associated with them. There isn't any explanation of the language constructs, just "immersion," based on the principal that if you hear enough of it, your brain will sort it out.

 

The Fluenz philosophy is that this kind of immersion is part of the learning process, and is how very young children learn languages, but as adults we can learn more with a little rational explanation that leverages what we already know about our language to help us make sense of a new language. So, fluenz combines immersion games and exercises with video lessons that actually explain things.

[Romann]

Even better!

 

As I understand it, Rosetta Stone teaches languages the way young children learn them: by exposing you to images and situations and the language associated with them. There isn't any explanation of the language constructs, just "immersion," based on the principal that if you hear enough of it, your brain will sort it out.

 

The Fluenz philosophy is that this kind of immersion is part of the learning process, and is how very young children learn languages, but as adults we can learn more with a little rational explanation that leverages what we already know about our language to help us make sense of a new language. So, fluenz combines immersion games and exercises with video lessons that actually explain things.

 

 

 

First off, welcome to the forum!

 

Secondly, THANK YOU for that information and I will certainly look into your suggestion as it does make a lot of sense. It has been a long awaited desire of mine to learn Italian because my Grandparents spoke it fluently but for some reason, when they immigrated to the States, that wasn't passed on to us kids by my parents. In many ways, I feel that we (my sibling and I) have been cheated of our heritage and feel that it's time to make up for some lost time, history and language learning skills.

 

Eventually, I would like to join my parents in going back to the family home but also tour Italy and be able to speak the language without the assistance of a translator.

 

As I like to say... When in Rome. DO the Romans!

 

Again, thank you for your very kind, helpful and informative post to my inquiry. You are a gentleman.

[raulgmanzo]

...

it's time to make up for some lost time, history and language learning skills.... in Rome. DO the Romans!

 

 

An awesome plan of action Romann. I've sampled a few of the many places here in Chicago offering Italian classes but never did stick with it very long.

 

Went to Italy and by Italianizing my Spanish, ( Spitaliano ? ) was able to sow a lot of confusion and linguistic dischord.

But there couldn't be a more beautiful country, culture and people with which to be confused or get into trouble of some sort.

[justaguy]

I would also like to know if anyone has any experience with Rosetta Stone. It's not inexpensive software. I'd like to learn as much of the language as I can before I return to Italy this summer.

[Poolboy21409]

I leaned Italian in three weeks this summer while in Italy. How??? I couldn't switch the GPS system in the rental car from Italian to English. I am fluent in "Follow the road for XXXX kilometers." and "Take the next exit ion your right".

 

Seriously, I am taking a conversational Italian course at the local Community College and then I plan to do the Rosetta Stone route. I used Rosetta for Swedish which is my grandparents native and which I learned as kid growing up but I called it kitchen or table talk Swedish. It worked remarkably well but then I did have a bit of a foundation. I am with you Romann - nothing more wonderful than Italian .

 

And what is with this Chicago guy. Kudos to tomcat for speaking his mind.

[adriano46]

Romann, Italian is one of a few languages that I speak fluently, and I picked it up when I was already way long out of school. I am one who prefers a total immersion approach to language learning - taking the time and effort to go to the place where the language is spoken on a daily basis, and invest in a few weeks in a reputable program where I have the attention of a teacher (and not classes of 50 or 100), and the challenge of a small class for interaction (say from 3-10 maximum, although the fewer in the clas the better).

 

For my immersion into Italian, i had an initial class of 9 ranging in age from 2 really HOT young German guys trying to pick up enough Italian to hook up with girls (which was funny as our teacher was a 55+ year old woman not amused), to - on the other end of the spectrum - myself, a Lebanese businessman, Australian airline steward (HOT), A Finn practicing to be a circus worker and a few others in between.

 

Classes were 5 days/week, and I opted for 3 hrs morning and 2 hrs afternoon each day, and in between forced myself to watch TV news (a hard form of the language to understand) plus viariety shows (for pronunciation) and attended operas (again for pronunciation), and enjoying the company of my classmates and the people in the city where I was (Florence). Within a month, I had the basic structures, and within 2 months, I was OK -- of course, I went on to live in Italy for about 15 years so my fluency becamse permanent.

 

If you can spare a month off, I would think of a month-long program in Florence (where the BEST Italiano is spoken). Write me a personal note here and I can send you addresses of the better programs in Italy (some are not great and more to avoid as rip-offs).

[+ ArVaGuy]

I used RS for Spanish a few years back and as previously noted it is an immersion format. My Spanish is adequate enough to get me beaten up or arrested. In my view it's good for learning the basics of speaking but to master any language full instruction might be a better option.

 

Also, check your cable channels to see if they offer an Italian news feed. My local provider has Farsi, Russian, French and Italian news broadcasts. This is an excellent way of becoming attuned to proper pronunciation. Visit one of the larger news shops as well and pick up copies of the Italian tabloids and start reading those. Soon enough you’ll be able to glean the grammatical constructs as well as have a chuckle at Berlusconi’s latest sex scandal.

 

As a child my grandmother taught me Sicilian which is slightly different from Italian. Unfortunately, no one reinforced this learning and I forgot all of it. Except the words that can't be used in polite company.

[Poolboy21409]

AVG-

I am with you on the "polite" words. I did RS for Swedish after watching the "Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" and the only thing I understood were the swear word and there were plenty of them in that movies. Just watched the second in that series - after doing RS for Swedish - and I got about 1/2 of the dialogue which isn't bad for movie with lots of slang and pretty far out dialogue.

[Romann]

Much thanks!

 

Everyone!

 

THANK YOU for all the very kind and constructive advise on my new learning language project that I intend to put into motion in the very near future, probably upon my arrival back home in Chicago. I'm touched by all the responses in this thread, email and PM's with information and good will gestures as I flex my largest muscle, the brain.

 

This is why I love the forum because it's a collaboration of people, information and ideas shared across a spectrum of various mindsets and attitudes towards the world we live on. Thank you again to everyone and I'll surely keep the forum updated on my progress. Who knows, maybe I'll eventually make a post in all Italian with a nice translation.

 

Hello Italy/Malta! I to intend to come and be part of the culture very soon because this guy needs a DAMN VACATION and hopefully this summer after what has been a long 6 months of moving and adapting to new places, faces and environment.

 

New adventures await!

[Rapaz]

I think your Rosetta Stone publicity speaks worse to you than it could ever speak well to "them" or to "Her"

 

You're not in the industry of language communications.

 

Absent you're ability to exchange dollars for YEN, or for whatever, stick to fucking those who are up and coming in porn. Without an exchange organization behind you, you're fucked. And not the kind of fucked way you embrace.

 

Oh never mind, my ability to be of value is wasted. I think you're RIGHT ON the right track.

 

Oh dear lord I think I need something other here than my breath.

 

**looking for a video fore that** Ha! as if! Fuck Me.

Are you on coke? I'm not trying to be insulting but all of your replies in this thread are confusing the hell out of me. You are typing in sporadic stanzas.

 

Anyway. Romann, another great tool that actually isn't that expensive are the Pimsleur language CDs. They teach you pronunciation and they make everything memorable for you about the language.

[RockHard]

I love Italy.

 

I'd like to learn as much of the language as I can before I return to Italy this summer.

Good luck with that. :-)

 

Learning a new language as an adult requires discipline and practice. No amount of money or popular software program can provide that. You need the opportunity to speak with others in the same language for the learning to stick. I've been studying Italian and French for almost 30 years. I'm not yet fluent in either because I don't have enough time to practice both, and I don't learn new languages easily.

 

IMO, Rosetta Stone and other products like it are not worth the money. The most helpful way to learn a foreign language is to employ a private tutor (doesn't have to be professional), someone you can converse with. You get much more bang for your buck.

 

I've attended three of the leading language schools in NYC through the years. My favorite Italian language teacher is Giuseppe Manca at The New School in the Village. He has a unique teaching method that has made him a star. He uses pictures on postcards and his method really works. He also forces you to speak in groups, which is scary at first but the quickest way to get the new language to stick. He offers you his course Piacere! on DVD at the end of class. The DVD comes with a book version.

 

ps I wish Daddy would permanently ban the mentally deranged from this board.

[ChiTown]

Bella Italia!

 

Romann,

 

I'd love to be fluent in other languages and have wondered if Rosetta Stone would be a viable option. Kudos to you for your continued interest in expanding your education and knowledge. It would be great to travel in a foreign country and be conversant with the natives rather than rely on their skills in English.

 

IMHO, Italian is a beautiful language and seems to be a natural choice given your heritage. I've had the good fortune to travel in Italy on three occassions; it's an

absolutely gorgeous country with some wonderfully friendly people. You really need to plan on a trip with your mom and stepdad to seek out your roots, I know that

you'd have an unforgetable experience.

 

I'd be interested in hearing about your decision and your learning experience.

 

Buona fortuna,

[ChiTown]

I don't know about Rosetta Stone, but as a native Italian and a diction/language coach I would be very happy to interchange mutual skills

 

Sounds like a barter proposal to me!

[leigh.bess.toad]

I can muster through enough Italian to read a good stab at a lot of it it but speaking it is another matter altogether. Five years of French in high school plus two years of German and one year of Italian in college (and about 150 intervening years) has them all mushed together in my brain. But I'd agree -- the immersion method is probably the best way to go. And if I was given the choice, it would be italian. But Romann, perhaps with your nom de plume, you should consider Romanian.

[instudiocity]

Sounds like a barter proposal to me!

Me, too! Hey Romann, if you want to barter learning Suthern spoken as only a true Alabamian, I'm available!

 

But seriously, I spent a week in Rome in 2007, literally walking around Rome sometimes 15 miles a day and never had a problem communicating with anyone. I speak Suthern Anglish only and they spoke Italian, but I still saw everything I wanted to see and didn't starve at all. But then we've corrupted Italian food - how can you not order any pasta on menu? Parmigiana? Ricotto? Ravioli? Spaghetti? Moscatelli?

 

I think the Italians chose English instead of French as their second language after 1943.

[+ Gar1eth]

Romann,

 

I've tried to use Rosetta Stone before. I'm good for a few weeks, and then I get bored. I know you being self-employed have a lot of will power so can probably stick to using it on a regular basis. My advice if you can't take the time for an immersion experience would be to get a tutor and do Rosetta Stone.

 

And while not on the original subject-- what's up with this Chicago Boy-- is he upset at Romann or someone else on the Forum, drugs, mental illness?

 

Gman

[ChiTown]

Me, too! Hey Romann, if you want to barter learning Suthern spoken as only a true Alabamian, I'm available!

 

Romann, count me in as well! I'm very fluent in Pig Latin and would be glad to discuss a possible "exchange" with you!