| Rosetta Stone Version 3: Spanish (Latin America) Level 1, 2 & 3 Set with Audio Companion | 
 enlarge | From: Rosetta Stone
Category: Software
List Price: $549.00
Buy New: $494.10
You Save: $54.90 (10%)
New (2) Used (1) from $367.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  77 reviews
Sales Rank: 17
Format: Cd-rom
Platforms: Windows 2000, Windows Xp, Mac Os X, Windows Vista
Media: CD-ROM
Edition: Level 1, 2 & 3
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 6.5 x 3
Model: 20988
UPC: 794678209888
EAN: 0794678209888
ASIN: B001AFFZM2
Release Date: June 16, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | Rosetta Stone helps you understand everyday language through proficiency-based listening and reading activities, proprietary speech recognition and analysis tools | | • | Contextual Formation makes sure you have the confidence and the cues you need to get the words out on the spot | | • | Milestone activities quickly give you confidence to engage in real-life conversations; Adaptive Recall reinforces language so it sticks with you | | • | Audio Companion allows you to take Rosetta Stone anywhere: in the car, the gym or on-the-go | | • | Build a foundation and navigate your surroundings: learn fundamental vocabulary and essential language structure, from greetings and introductions to simple questions and their answers |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Rosetta Stone Personal Edition contains everything you need to start learning a language. It's built around our award-winning Rosetta Stone curriculum, which has been adopted by organizations around the world including the U.S. Army, NASA, major corporations such as Deutsche Telecom, IKEA, Royal Dutch Shell, and over 10,000 schools worldwide--and is available in 31 languages spoken by over 90% of the world's population. | The comprehensive language-learning solution that fits your life. 
Learn Naturally
Learn your next language the same way you learned your first language. Dynamic Immersion empowers you to see, hear and comprehend without translating or memorizing. You already have this ability, Rosetta Stone simply unlocks it. Engage Interactively
Get feedback to move forward. You learn best by doing, and you'll apply what you've learned to get to the next step. Rosetta Stone adapts to your individual needs and skills, because you drive the program with your progress. Speak Confidently
Start speaking immediately. From the very first lesson, you'll speak. You'll begin with essential basics, which form the building blocks of the language. Soon you'll create new sentences on your own using words you've learned. Have Fun
Best of all, Rosetta Stone is addictive. With every entertaining activity, you'll feel success. You'll want to use Rosetta Stone to have that next moment, that next breakthrough. So you'll keep using it, and you'll learn more! | The Fastest, Easiest Way to Learn a New Language Proceed at Your Own Pace
Rosetta Stone is considerate of your time. Anytime, anywhere, you can learn a new language with Rosetta Stone. You learn comfortably without feeling pressured or overwhelmed. Rosetta Stone provides guidance to make your language learning effective, fast, and enjoyable with a process that is intuitive, interactive, and visually engaging. At the end of each lesson, you are given the opportunity to test your new skills. And, since Rosetta Stone automatically records your progress, you can easily pick up where you left off, when other priorities arise. Make Language Learning Intuitive with Dynamic Immersion
Rosetta Stone uses rich visual imagery to help you learn. You will be presented with sets of images to match correctly with a spoken or written phrase in the new language. You will advance to the next set of prompts once you've successfully matched words and images and pronounced the words correctly. With Dynamic Immersion, you learn by directly associating your new language with images--nothing is lost in translation. Fun, Easy, and Immediate Reinforcement
Interactive exercises create a learning environment that is engaging and game-like--it's fun! How It Works As children, we gradually learned our first language through a process of associating mental images with words or phrases, accompanied by complete immersion in our environment. This approach was simple because it was natural and allowed the brain to adapt to increasing complexity. Rosetta Stone recreated this natural way of learning by developing a method that uses a computer to mimic the environment in which we learned our first language. We call this Dynamic Immersion. A simple, intuitive interface and advanced technology confirms learning at every step of the process by prompting you to make connections between images you already understand and the new language. You receive immediate feedback, which helps you to reinforce learning. This systematic structure builds from simple nouns and verbs to more complex concepts and phrases very quickly, helping you achieve your language-learning goals faster than you ever thought possible. Level 1, 2 & 3--Connect With the World Connect with the world around you. Build a foundation of fundamental vocabulary and essential language structure. Quickly gain the confidence to enjoy social interactions such as greetings and introductions, travel, dining out, giving and getting directions, shopping and other recreational activities. Learn to share your ideas and opinions, express your feelings and talk about everyday life, your work, your interests, current events, and much more. Features & Benefits Faster and More Effective
Rosetta Stone will teach you as fast as you can learn! Leveraging your natural language-learning ability, Version 3 immerses you immediately in the new language, providing just the right context to prompt you to speak, pronounce, read and write in the very first lesson! Intuitive, sequential learning builds progressively and makes every lesson count. Our Dynamic Immersion method is so fast and so effective, it's used by the Fortune 500, the U.S. State Department, and over 10,000 schools. Convenient
You pick the time, the place and the pace! We are ready when you are because there are no class schedules or missed lessons to make up. From your desk or your dining room, your valuable time can be turned into productive language learning that fits your lifestyle. Enjoyable
When something is fun, it captures your attention...and holds it! The interactivity in Version 3 instantly engages you. Rich, vivid imagery, real-life context and voices of native speakers make Rosetta Stone different from any other product out there--never tedious or boring. Rosetta Stone provides a captivating, game-like experience. Milestones
Learn and apply! Our MILESTONE feature lets you try out your new language knowledge in real-life situations. Track Your Progress
New ADAPTIVE RECALL feature tracks your progress, reinforcing your strengths and revisiting your development areas. New Speech Recognition Technology
State-of-the-art new speech recognition technology helps you learn to speak your new language even faster. And our new Speech Analysis Tool compares your voice to that of native speakers, helping you perfect your pronunciation. Life-like Context
Our New CONTEXTUAL FORMATION feature uses real-life simulations and vivid imagery to give you exactly the context you need to produce new language--all on your own! Level 1, 2 & 3 Set Includes: The Basics
Nouns, verbs, adjectives, numbers, questions, colors, clothing. Friends and Family
Ages, family relations, household items, introductions, landmarks, states, descriptions. Work and School
Times of day, greetings, calendar terms, body parts, speaking, personal hygiene. Shopping
Buying, selling and shopping; entertainment and sports; merchandise, speed and weight, comparing and contrasting. Travel
Destinations, transportation, directions, locations, telling time, distance, cost, weather. Past and Future
Tenses, letter writing, school subjects, signs, workplace terms, polite requests. Friends and Social Life
Months of the year, arrivals and departures, social interaction, celebrations, meal courses, quality terms, apologies. Dining and Vacation
Future tense; terms for art, architecture and music; emotions, places of worship, travel and lodging. Home and Health
Terms for home, garden and backyard activities; household items and appliances; terms for strength and physical activity. Life and World
Emotions, continents, life milestones, oceans, botanical terms, terms for animals. Places and Events
Opinion and judgments, currency exchange and transactions; measurements, household repair tools, culinary terms. Talking About the World
Nationalities, governmental leaders, political terms, media terms, business terms, religious terms. Doing things!  Audio Companion allows you to take Rosetta Stone anywhere: in the car, the gym or on-the-go. | Audio Companion--Taking Rosetta Stone to the Next Level Introducing Audio Companion from Rosetta Stone, the newest enhancement to the world's #1 language-learning software! It's a great addition to the Rosetta Stone experience, allowing you to take Rosetta Stone anywhere: in the car, the gym or on-the-go! What is Audio Companion?
Audio Companion CD-ROMs enhance language learning anytime, anyplace. You can learn new skills on the computer, and then reinforce them with Audio Companion. Play the CDs on a stereo, or download them to a MP3 Player and go! Enhance the Rosetta Stone Learning Experience
Audio Companion activities correspond to Rosetta Stone CD-ROM software lessons. You can listen to Audio Companion and practice what you've been learning, turning travel time into productive language learning time. Extend Study Time
Now, you don't have to stop learning when you leave your computer. Audio Companion lets you access lessons whenever and wherever you want. It empowers you, and works within your busy lifestyle! Build Vocabulary and Pronounce Words and Phrases
Audio Companion features distinct words and shorter phrases to make them easier to hear and repeat. Build good enunciation habits by hearing native speakers pronounce them first. Speak and Converse
The speaking portion of Audio Companion lets you listen to questions and answers, repeating them to use later. To help them build your conversation skills, first you'll listen to a conversation and then repeat phrases individually.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 72 more reviews...
 a VAST improvement over version 2 July 16, 2008
94 out of 102 found this review helpful
A few years back I bought Rosetta Stone v.2 (for a different language than Spanish) and found it very difficult to work with. The activities had no real order to them, there was very little guidance for users, the voice recognition function was horrible, and the photographs were all of upper middle class westerners. I saw the reviews of the Spanish versions in which teachers and native speakers complained about the emphasis on progressive tenses ("I am _____ing") instead of the present, which is ubiquitous in Spanish and often used to stand in for both past and future.
I had two years of Spanish in high school (FORTY years ago), but as a health care provider I continue to encounter many Spanish-speaking patients and I'm getting tired of having to use an interpreter, so I decided to dust off the Spanish I used to know and get serious about becoming bilingual. I saw that Rosetta Stone had completely reworked their system and gave it a try.
I'm TREMENDOUSLY impressed with the changes!!
They do still use too much progressive tense (or have so far, I've only worked through the first of the three levels), but the photographs are very culturally diverse and the help files and accompanying documentation are MUCH better than for version 2. I'd also heard that version 2 was a nightmare on a Mac (and I've just switched from Windows), but I'm happy to report that version 3 runs like a dream on my little MacBook.
The new packaging includes a headset that attaches via a USB port, a welcome addition.
On the down side, I haven't been exactly thrilled with the "audio companion" so far; it adds nothing to what is presented in the lessons, but rather merely mimics them. The voice recognition still has trouble; consonants in Spanish tend to be very soft, and I have to pop my P's to get the software to recognize them.
All in all, though, I think it's a very worthwhile investment, and for less than most classroom programs cost.
Now, if they'd only give me some credit to upgrade my version 2 in that other language ....
 Not The Best Way to Learn! September 7, 2008
92 out of 98 found this review helpful
I was very excited to get this product "Spanish (Latin America) Versions 1,2,3" with the Audio Companion.
The software is surprisingly unsophisticated, especially for the exorbitant cost. The verb tenses are not explained which is of course very important in Spanish. Yes, it's supposed to mimic how we all learned our first language, but the problem is, I'm obviously not 18 months old and really can't learn like that. Another problem is that within the lessons, there are no distracters. For instance: The user is presented with three phrases and three pictures and is required to match them up. One picture of a man, one of a woman and one of a boy all engaged in some kind of activity. The problem is that I can easily recognize the word 'hombre' for 'man,' so that's the obvious choice. Therefore I can choose the right answer without understanding anything about the phrase itself. There needs to be other similar phrases as a distraction so the user is forced to decipher the meaning without just picking the obvious choice.
WARNING: The "Audio Companion" is completely useless! It's just the soundtrack to the lessons (no translation). How am I to know what the speaker is saying without any point of reference!?
WARNING: DO NOT rely on this product exclusively to learn a language. You'll need to constantly refer to a translation website and (even better) a friend who's fluent in the language you're learning. Example: A picture of a child at the piano and the parents behind him. The phrase associated with it is, "Los padres estan escuchando." "The parents are listening." But I had to get it translated because I didn't know if the verb meant watching, listening, teaching, etc. There has to be a way to reveal the translation within the program.
OK... I am learning, but that's because I'm using Rosetta Stone only as a baseline. I am also using homemade flashcards, books and dictionaries, translation websites, patient friends who are native Spanish speakers and other free services.
WARNING: R.S. has this product locked up so tight that it becomes detremental to its use. R.S. allows 2 'seats,' meaning it can only be installed on 2 computers. If a user uninstalls it with the intention to reinstall on another computer and does not first go through the 'deactivation process,' it's tremendously difficult to have it reinstalled anywhere else. The uninstall process does not warn users to deactivate first. I guarantee you will spend many days on the phone with tech support to straighten it out!
WARNING: R.S. tech support is not available on the weekends when I assume most people will be using the product.
Sorry Rosetta Stone... Not worth $500!!!
 Good concept. July 23, 2008
30 out of 31 found this review helpful
I must admit that this review is written from a slightly biased point of view. I had studied Spanish for 5 years. But after a 4 year absence, and minimal practice in between, I decided to brush up on my skills. I can tell you right away that levels 1 and 2, for someone who may not have perfect grammar, or know every word in Spanish, are still very, very easy. Level 3 presents only minor problems, if any. This program will not, in my opinion, substitute in for 5 years of learning with a teacher, homework, tests, writing, reading, class, interaction with other students and native speakers, not by a long shot. However, it will bring you to a level where you will be able to express basic ideas, thoughts, and emotions and understand a native speaker who speaks slowly (not every word, but at least the general idea of what they're talking about). Don't expect to be engaged in a lively political debate with a native speaker after finishing this course though. After 5 years of study I can manage to do something like that, but I still don't feel like I know the language. As a native Spanish speaker once told me: "You know that you really understand a language when you can understand jokes that play on words, grammar, and other nuances." Please don't expect something like that from a software program, no matter how good it is.
Having said that, I'll comment on the overall presentation of the material and how the Rosetta Stone program works. I will admit, that memorization is absolutely not the way to learn any language. I was blessed to have a teacher who would give homework assignments and tell us to learn the grammar and vocabulary at home. But when we came to class, she demanded we talk, talk a lot, even if we made mistakes. You can't learn without making mistakes. She would say certain phrases, show certain pictures, and we'd comment, argue, and discuss, forcing ourselves to learn by experience and visualization, not by memorization. I tell you this only because other classmates had teachers who forced rote memorization of words, grammar, and tested them on paper, rather than out loud. Of course, the students did well on the tests. But not one of them can express a half way decent thought in Spanish after a 4 year leave from studying the language. Hence, I was very impressed by how this program works, it reminds me of my teacher.
You learn like a child. Which is good. Children have no concept of memorization. They see something, hear their parent say it, and repeat it, making a lot of mistakes, but eventually getting to the right point, finally understanding what word or phrase goes with what they see in front of them. The program builds on this concept most adults have forgotten. It present a picture (seeing), has a native speaker say a word or phrase (like your parents did), presents several options (like a child, you'd have to work around your environment), and you pick which is correct. Brilliant! The program continues to build on previous words like (red), to red jacket, to the man is wearing a red jacket, etc... phrases become longer and more complex. Emotions are brought into the picture, etc.
While I completely applaud Rosetta Stone's approach to learning the language, despite the fact that even if you "were" this program you wouldn't be able to talk like a native speaker (see first paragraph), I will point out some other cons. This program does move a little quick for a beginner; hence I recommend that you go over a given section very thoroughly before moving on. Don't expect to know a word or phrase that you feel comfortable with 10 minutes from now, we all forget things and then you'll be frustrated in the next section when a new phrase comes up using past concepts you just learned and just forgotten. And by reviewing thoroughly, I mean only one thing. Let's say this program has taught you a phrase. You know what it means, and you know how to pronounce it. Great. Now, go out there, and start using it. Speak it, feel it, use it in your everyday life. Until you make a new concept your own, you'll never remember it for the long-term. This is precisely why, after 4 years of barely speaking Spanish, I can still express my opinions freely, thanks to my teacher forcing us to speak and live the language instead of memorizing it. So, until you can use the phrases everyday, comfortably, don't move on (this is easier at first, but will get harder as the program progresses). Another word of advice: practice with at least one friend. Use the words and phrases you learned together when you go out. That's why this program can never substitute a class. This method will make learning much more fun, and you'll catch and correct each other's mistakes you wouldn't have otherwise because you would have been "convinced" you "got" what the program was trying to teach you. And if you're blessed to have a friend who is a native speaker, don't be shy about trying to talk to them in Spanish. I've noticed (being a foreigner myself), that people love it when they see you're trying to learn they're language, it's a huge compliment to them, and most are very eager to help you.
In summary: this is good starter program for someone NOT looking to become a very proficient speaker with this program alone, rather, it's for someone who wants to get extra practice, see if they like the language, or get a leg up before taking a real, live, class. Good luck! I give this program 4 stars, because it is good at what it tries to do, but you can't have it all in one little box!
Beware when you buy this product September 3, 2008
24 out of 30 found this review helpful
I purchased the full versions of Rosetta Stone for Spanish and French and considerable cost. When I attempted to activate the programs on my computer and my childrens' laptops, I found out that the programs could only be loaded onto 2 computers. This is a major problem, since I have 7 children and 3 of them and my wife also have laptops. I contacted customer support and after waiting for a very long time, eventually spoke to an agent who stated that there was "nothing she could do" and that I would have to purchase both products again. My warning to all who buy this product is to recognize this before you buy. This 2 computer restriction was "in the fine print" of the end user agreement and had to be looked for. Nowhere on the website for Rosetta Stone is this limitation stated. If I had known this before, I would not have purchased this product. The only way for my children to get this product is if I purchase both programs again, which I must say is totally unreasonable. Caveat emptor!
A new twist to the older RS programs July 25, 2008
23 out of 26 found this review helpful
I thought to myself: Why is there yet another version of Rosetta Stone Spanish. That was enough to try out the new program with my children in mind.
First reactions: They have an option built in for home-schoolers. I thought that was kind of a neat twist to educational products on the market with any kind of national and international appeal. They are making themselves open to a new demographic and it may assist those smart little children to excel even more and assist their parents in tracking the progress of their national spelling-bee winning offspring.
Next: Very well put-together set of instructions. Everything is there and the instructions are easy to follow. There is nothing confusing and the tech-talk is entirely absent. No computer degrees are needed to install and use this software. Although an internet connection will certainly help you with registration, it is not necessary. They have a toll-free phone number to call that will enable you to register and unlock all features.
Then: I asked my 8-year old to sit down, telling her it was a program that *might* help her learn Spanish. She began to click. I didn't help at all. The first few exercises were very easy for her and she began to see the genius behind the RS program. Pictures, comparisons and a scoring system to tell her the progress that she had made. I happened to have a microphone, plugged it in and she could compare her speach pattern to the native speaker assisting her through the learning process by way of viewing a voice graph that scrolls over a timeline. She took right to it. Within three attempts, she had learned how to properly pronounce new terms. Her voice was recorded and she would listen to how she pronounced a word and then compare it on audio and by that graph to the native speaker. Very impressive and very helpful.
I will now try this with my 6-year old daughter, seeing how well and how easily the older girl dissected the lessons.
I enjoy the option to take the additional audio lessons with us while we drive. I even have a little MP3 player that I am going to load the Audio Companion on for the reinforcement value.
Well done, Rosetta Stone. I fully recommend this program!
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