| Rosetta Stone Version 3: Japanese Level 1, 2 & 3 Set with Audio Companion | 
 enlarge | From: Rosetta Stone
Category: Software
List Price: $549.00
Buy New: $459.99
You Save: $89.01 (16%)
New (2) from $459.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  42 reviews
Sales Rank: 147
Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Windows Xp, Mac Os X, Windows Vista, Windows 2000
Media: CD-ROM
Edition: Level 1, 2 & 3
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 6.5 x 2.8
Model: 21785
UPC: 794678217852
EAN: 0794678217852
ASIN: B001AFFYSW
Release Date: June 16, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Intutitive and Easy to Use September 18, 2008
Rosetta Stone Version 3: Japanese Level 1, 2 & 3 sfotware is intutive and easy to use. The software allows the user to install all 3 levels at once or piecemeal depending on your hard drive space requirement. It also has different exercises to test both visual and reading comprehension. The software grades the user's performance and will work on problem areas. It is dynamic immersion - there is no english anywhere once the lessons begin.
Two minor drawbacks (one style and one substance) hinder Rosetta Stone. The style issue involves the use of pictures. Rather than exclusively use cultural situations and settings, the pictures depict a myriad of cultural situations and settings. I suppose it is both cheaper and easier to do this when Rosetta Stone offers programs in 31 languages. The second issue involves the microphone and voice recognition software. Basically, it doesn't work. You can say almost anything and the program will grant you a passing score.
 Would have been nice September 16, 2008
1 out of 11 found this review helpful
I suspect I would have enjoyed this product very much if it had been compatible with my computer. Unfortunately, however, I had compatibility issues and was unable to use it.
Very effective September 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Rosetta Stone Japanese Course Levels 1, 2, and 3
Pros: The Rosetta Stone approach to language learning is a new (and quite frankly, effective) one. Instead of learning vocabulary and grammar through repetitious rote memorization, Rosetta Stone utilizes the user's own deductive logic and inherent learning abilities to make the language fun and much easier to master. Each unit begins with the introduction of new sounds and words. You aren't expected to know what the words mean at this point, but you are encouraged to repeat them and listen to how you sound compared to native speakers. This is accomplished by using the included headset and microphone in conjunction with visual feedback of your voice.
Next comes the vocabulary section. As I mentioned before, you are not given direct translations of the words; instead, you are shown a series of pictures that help you deduce the meanings of words and how they fit into the structure of the sentence. It becomes a sort of detective game, as you are given a sentence written entirely in the language, and using your brain, you come to instinctively pull it apart to find the meaning. After you find meaning to your words, the Phrases and Speaking sections help you put it into practice and solidify everything you learned in the unit. Add to that the included CDs full of audio lessons and samples of native speech, and you have a full package that turns an incredible task into an enjoyable experience.
Cons: The only real con I could find with the software itself was the price. It may seem like a large price to pay for some CD-ROMS and a USB headset, but after using the product for awhile, I have come to see its true value. I have taken nearly a year and a half of college-grade Japanese, and I still have learned a great deal from the software. Also, the presentation of the material makes it fun enough for leisurely learners and youths. So even though the price tag is a bit exorbitant, it beats the heck out of paying for 2 years of college language courses!
Intended Users: This is where Rosetta Stone courses really shine. Not only did I have a go at the program, but I set up user profiles for my mother, father, sister and nephew in order to get a good cross-sectional view of how different ages and educations would react. All were positive. Perhaps the greatest surprise to me was my father, who is a very stern "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" kind of guy found himself getting caught up learning a language that he didn't even have a need for! All in all, I'd certainly suggest this program to anyone looking to learn another language, brush up on one that may be slipping away due to lack of practice, or just looking to stretch their mind a bit.
 Innovative but Imperfect August 27, 2008
The "Rosetta Stone" language programs use an immersion technique to
teach language, where all the lessons are done in the language you're
looking to learn. The idea is that it is how we all learn language in
the first place, so it's the most logical way to learn a second
language.
There are several styles of exercise in the Rosetta Stone program.
The simplest version presents a word in the new language, along with
several pictures, one of which matches. Sometimes the word is spoken,
sometimes written, and usually both. More complex variations will
present a number of phrases, which form a pattern, and ask the student
to complete the pattern on a fourth phrase.
For example, one exercise might give the student "The man is wearing
pants," "The man is wearing a hat," "The woman is wearing a hat," and
a picture of a woman wearing pants. The student then has to give back
the sentence, "The woman is wearing pants."
Again, there are different ways to do this. Sometimes, it's a
multiple-choice question, where the program will offer, "The woman/man
is wearing pants/a hat," and ask the user to select the appropriate
words to fill in the blank. Other times, the student must speak the
entire sentence into a microphone. (A USB headset/microphone is
provided.)
This voice recognition is the most disappointing part of the program
to me. Simply put, it's not nearly as good as a person. There have
been many times where I've said an incorrect answer - knowing I'd
messed it up as the words left my mouth - and had the program mark it
as correct, and vice versa. As the program always repeats the correct
answer back, once it thinks you've given it, you shouldn't get led too
far astray.
All in all, the Rosetta Stone software looks like an effective way to
learn the rudiments of a language. It excels at teaching and drilling
vocabulary, and in offering many excellent examples of correct
pronunciation. It falls short of its goals in being able to validate
the student's pronunciation, and in teaching subtle points of grammar.
For those, supplementing the program with conversation with a native
speaker, and a decent textbook will be invaluable.
Great for learning to speak August 22, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I've used Rosetta Stone for both German and Japanese. It's wonderful for learning to SPEAK a new language, but isn't great when it comes to learning to WRITE and READ new languages. Very easy to use, lessons broken up into segments which is good if you want to do a few minutes a day.
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