I was looking on Ebay and seems there are some calling it 'spanish' and some calling it "Latin Spanish" or something. Are they the same thing? Is buying a used one ok? What should I look for in a used one? help, I don't know what I am doing at all! Plus this is for my 10 yr old, do you think she is too young to use it? any help really appreciated!
My BIL is using the program so he can learn to talk to his MIL. He had to call the company when he wanted to activate the program on his new computer. So I'm guessing that a used version is illegal, and would be difficult to activate on your computer. Check into this first. Not sure about the Spanish vs. Latin Spanish though. He does like the program, and it's very user friendly. Probably your 10 year old would be fine with it. He said it was worth the big bucks. We are actually thinking about buying it too. But not sure if now is the time or to wait until DS is older and all of us learn together. Hope that helps a bit! mkr
They have 2 different versions of spanish. The one we hear most commonly spoke in the US is what they call Latin Spanish (as in Latin American), and Spanish is Spain Spanish... yes, there is a difference in the language... just like English can be American English or Brittish English.
I have heard there are some major grammar flaws in Live Mocha, so just be careful that you aren't expecting it to be something you are learning perfectly.
We have rosetta stone. I bought it new over the holidays and it is latin spanish. My kids really like it. My ds has even done it on the weekends because he likes it so much.
This is true - they really do everything in their power to not have to activate your product more than once! We had a computer crash so naturally I needed it reactivated, but the guy was VERY rude about the whole thing. Even telling me they would not activate if it happened again. I was like - Uh huh - whatever buddy. In addition, they ask you for your address and order number when you call in for activation. I would not recommend buying it used.
We are using Spanish (the Spain version) and Garrett says he may continue with that even though he went back to public school.
I've been having computer grief and had to reinstall it twice which meant reactivating it and I never had a problem. I did it all online.
ok great, all that helps me alot! I will get the Latin Spanish, when we are ready, and also will do some more research on new vs used, didn't realize there could be trouble there. Most people probably don't know that either. thanks so much! any other spanish programs I should look into ?
uh ok, I never knew they had a payment plan! Now I'm going to get my copy. DS has been asking when we were getting it.
We started using the Latin spanish version the beginning of last school year. My daughter was 7 and son was 10. They have both done very well on it. I've heard good things about auralog's tell me more. they do periodic buys on http://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/ You can also get smart points and a discount on rosetta stone periodically on that same site.
Ok, I wanted to bump this up to see if anyone had any new info to add to it. I am still wondering if anyone knows for sure whether used Rosetta programs will work? I know someone locally who has a spanish program for sale, used. I still see them occasionally on Ebay. I am sure there are some pretty mad folks out there, if used programs can't be, ya know, used! Just wondered if anyone else had any first had experience with installing a used program?
Ok, it also said on the user agreement that it is to be used by only one person at a time or something to that affect. So why can't I put my 9 yr old on there, and then back up and do my 10 yr old? Once you pass a section of the program, can you go through it again, repeating, or does it become inaccessible somehow?
I dont know much about RS's technical details, but I'm very into languages and post and read extensively in a language learning forum (or atleast, i did until I started teaching). It would seem that 85-90% of the people I've talked to, online and in real life about langauge programs agree that RS is OVERRATED and only thrives because it is so WELL MARKETED. There is no reason you should be paying hundreds of bucks for it as it isn't that great for the first 3 levels COMPARED TO CHEAPER programs. I would recommend you start with something smaller. There are a lot of programs out there that you can use that dont cost hundreds of dollars to help your kids get started. Livemocha is actually pretty good, but it is something you get for free. Its built on the same type of platform as RS, only you interact with other people to make it a communal effort (You correct people who are learning English and Spanish natives correct people who are learning Spanish). You should give LM a try and see if that lesson format works for you because its the same as RS. Try 123Teachme.com and SpanishDict.com for free online Spanish lessons. Spanish Dict is really good. (I haven't used it in a while, but I liked it because it had a "cleaner" and brighter feel than LM, but I used LM for French and Japanese) There is InstantImmersion Spanish, Fluenz, Rocket Spanish and Learn to Speak Spanish if you want a PC program thats not online and you just buy it. Some of those are expensive, some of them arent. Personally, I always recommend, Play and Learn Spanish by Ana Lomba for familys who want to begin conversing with their kids and actually be able to use the language their learning right away. A preview of the book is on Amazon and Google Books, check it out. It also comes with a CD. Its on my official wish list to have a copy of both Ana Lomba Spanish books (Play and Learn Spanish and Hop, Skip and Sing Spanish.) PM me for more recommendations and discussion on various kid friendly Spanish programs. There are audio programs that could work really well, some with books, some without. There are computer programs, videos, books, CD's, websites, etc. We're revving up our Spanish with the kiddos around the house and I've been hunting with a fine toothed comb for info and resources on getting Spanish available to FAMILIES who are interested. For-Kid Programs: Teach Me, Teach Me More and Teach Me Even More Spanish Editions 150 First Phrases in Spanish Muzzy Hola Amigos First Fun with Spanish Flip Flop Spanish Tons of DVD's and such in Spanish. Complete Book of Start Spanish (Pre-K - 1) Complete Book of Spanish (1st - 3rd grade) First 1000 Words in Spanish Linked Dictionaries in Spanish You can PM me for more specific discussions or reviews.
Ok, thanks, I will check out some of those when I get the time. I don't think live mocha would work for my kiddos, if they would have to help others who are learning English, might not be a good idea. I will look into some of the others though!
Rosetta Stone's homeschool version allows for installation on multiple computers with multiple users. I know first hand because we have it on three computers with three profiles set up. I'm going through it (even though I was fluent, once upon a time) and two of my boys are so far. The homeschool version also allows for more of a lesson plan based approach, rather than just working at whatever pace. I mean, you still work at your own pace, but the parent, under the parent log-in, can set how many lessons a day or whatever. And the quizzes and tests are more formal in nature than in the regular Rosetta Stone version. I REALLY like Rosetta Stone. There is a dang good reason so many branches of the government and military use it as their primary means of teaching foreign languages. It's not perfect, but really, the only perfect way is to learn by immersion.
