Has anyone here used any of the Rosetta Stone language programs? I'm wondering if it's good/useful/user-friendly for younger kids? My oldest is 8yo, and is a pretty advanced reader. We've started learning basic French, and I have an opportunity to purchase Rosetta Stone with French levels 1-3 at a really good price. I just hate to spend the money if it isn't compatible with a younger age group. Thanks!
I also considered RS (for latin) and was told not to get it. It's a great program, but it's an immersion one, so there are things that adults would recognize that children wouldn't. An 8 year old would do better than a 4 year old, but I'm still not so sure I'd use it until at least 12 or so. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Don't they have special programs for homeschoolers though that aren't geared toward adults? I know someone on here uses them for teaching mandarin.
We tried Rosetta Stone for French, and it didn't work for us. But in all honesty, that could have just been me, rather than the program.
Well, I speak French already, and my entire family is French. I guess mostly I'm wondering if the program itself is easily navigated by younger kids?
I haven't heard about or seen a HS program. I've looked on several HS forums and get the same answer... it usually doesn't work for kids.
I know a great program for French we used in school. (I took french for 4 years and loved it.) I'll find the program and get back to you in a bit.
Here we go: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000783D9K/englishchines-20 The program is called "Before you know it" and is geared towards school aged kids, and is really catchy and fun. It's $50 if you get it on Amazon (heck of alot cheaper then Rosetta), and like I said, it's going to be easier for a kid. Hope this helps!
If you're interested in Power Glide, I have that for elementary, but I'm guessing what they'd learn would be what they'd pick up on their own being around the language with your family. It's more of a "natural" learning of French.
My kids use Rosetta Stone Mandarin and have since about the age of 5. They can navigate it fine, but they were quite experienced with the computer. They haven't learned too much with it though. But if you speak the language fluently it may be a good combination. It isn't full of fun exercises though - more drill like which makes it appeal less to children.
We're using rock n learn Spanish right now but come Aug we'll be using http://www.livemocha.com A friend recommended it. Her son is using it to learn one language and his girlfriend for another language. I've played with it and it seems pretty good. We're gonna try it at least. And it's FREE.
I have tried Rosetta Stone (myself/Spanish). There is certainly nothing inappropriate for kids, but it can be tedious, and I can’t see that it would have much appeal for a young age group. For future consideration I have bookmarked The Easy French (theeasyfrenchdotcom (sorry, not allowed to post links)). I don't know much about the program; it just happened to have caught my eye. The program does, however, have a Christian slant.
We've used Rosetta Stone Japanese for 2 years now and I love it. My son started when he was 11 and has done just fine with the lessons. He does struggle with the written stuff but that is specific for Japanese due to the three different sets of characters.
I want to recommend that you not buy RS! I would recommend teachmetapes.com, check them out. Search the name in Google books and you should be able to preview it very thoroughly. They come with CD's and they can be copied and used as coloring pages. They have a more recent version that comes in color, its a series called Teach Me Everyday French.I THINK that its different material, than the regular teach me series, but I expect some of it is redundant. If your family is French then you could try a blended approach. Also, check out Ana Lamba's French book for parents to use with their children. You want to get them a basic set of vocabulary and then make it a part of their LIFE! Begin using more and more French each day, put a French label on everything in the kitchen. Teach the kids to say the stuff they really say, in French. "Stop it! Leave me alone, I'm hungry/tired, I want, Can I have, I'm telling, etc...." and encourage them to use them on a daily basis. Teach them the vocabulary they need to ask for food, clothes and entertainment. Dont bore them with drills and grammar. Just start Speaking French to them and make French a requirement for certain things and they will use it back. Again do NOT use RS, it is sooo not worth the money. You could buy up to 7 kid friendly French products and systems for kids for the price of 3 levels of RS, even at a "good price"
Wow, thanks for all the opinions and great recommendations, everyone! I'll be digging into all your suggested sites/programs before making a final decision.
I just want to add that it REALLY depends on the child. I have two, and I bought Rosetta stone French when they were about 7 and 8. My daughter used the verbal portion for a little bit while we homeschooled, then left it, and came back to it this year to brush up. (She's 14.) It's worked very, very well for her in combination with her regular French classes in school - particularly the written portions. We did have a bit of a challenge figuring out the accent codes on the keyboard, though, and there's now a handwritten poster above the computer telling what combination of keys to press to get the right accents. My son, on the other hand, hated it. Couldn't learn a thing from it. He's just not an auditory learner, I suppose, and he has no tolerance for endless repetition and drill. I think it depends on your child. For us, though, it was money well spent. Especially since an adult friend of the family ended up borrowing it to brush up on her French, as well.
Rachael got a handout in her Grammar class a few years back that has all the ALT keys (which include the accent codes). So we have the French ones posted by the keyboard, too! Then last year I was the sub aide in the Spanish class at co-op, and the Spanish teacher was telling the kids they just had to type it normal and then write in the accents. So the next week, I came with the Spanish ones all written out for her.
I have Hooked on French, only because it was a discount item and I got all 3 levels for $20, I haven't had a chance to try it out yet. We've had it for about a year now, but it doesn't seem like a great product just from when I looked at it if your aiming for Fluency of any kind, but again, we haven't used it, we just own it.
