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Product Description

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. In learning a new language, Rosetta Stone replicates this process to provide the best and friendliest language learning software tool. Learn as many languages as you want!

Rosetta Stone Personal Edition contains everything you need to start learning a language. It's built around the 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.

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.

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.

Rosetta Stone Personal Edition contains everything you need to give the voice inside of you a new language. The method used recreates the natural way you learned your first language, revealing skills that you already have. This approach has won numerous awards, and has been adopted by countless organizations, schools and millions of users around the world. Join the language revolution today. Only with Rosetta Stone.

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!

That's language-learning success.
That's Rosetta Stone.

No translation or memorization required.

Think about all of the ways you've tried to learn a language: classes at school, tapes and cassettes, even software that uses your native language as a base for your next one. What do they all have in common? Translation and memorization.

Instead of taking a "direct flight" from your brain to your new language, translation and memorization connects you to your old language. You always have to "fly" from your brain, to your native tongue ... and then translate what you've memorized to communicate.

That might work for a few words, but what happens when you get to a sentence or phrase? When you have to change tenses? You're going to make a lot of "connecting flights." That's why those other methods are so frustrating ... and why they fail.

Enter Dynamic Immersion.
This method encourages you to think like a baby. You'll pair words with vivid, real-life images and make connections between things you know and the new language. Soon, you'll be thinking in a new language, stringing words together into phrases that you create.

Innovative technology.
Rosetta Stone places this Dynamic Immersion method at the core of a suite of software that works with you to develop your skills. The simple, intuitive interface helps to keep you engaged in the solution, while advanced speech recognition technology makes certain that you're speaking correctly and accurately. Best of all, Rosetta Stone never leaves you behind. You'll only move forward when you're ready, when you've become comfortable and confident.

Communicate and connect with the world: Level 1, 2 & 3 Set.
Rosetta Stone Level 1, 2 & 3 Set will take you on a journey from the basics to a whole new level of sophistication. You'll build a foundation of fundamental vocabulary and essential language structure. You'll quickly gain the confidence to engage in social interactions. Say "hello" and "goodbye," arrange travel, order food, go shopping and more! From there, you'll share your ideas and opinions, express feelings and talk about your life, your interests and more. You'll discover a voice. In a new language.

Audio Companion
With Audio Companion, you'll enhance the Rosetta Stone experience wherever you go. You'll learn new skills on the computer, and then reinforce what you've learned with Audio Companion. Simply play the CDs on a stereo or download them to a MP3 Player. Each Audio Companion activity corresponds to a lesson in the Rosetta Stone software, so you can turn your travel time into productive language-learning time.

Inside the box, you'll find:

• Version 3 Personal Edition CD-ROM software for Levels 1, 2 & 3 (Windows/Mac)
• Headset microphone
• User's guide
• Audio Companion, a multiple-CD set to play or download to your MP3 player

Customer Reviews:

• Terrific package; difficult language
  The Rosetta Stone language systems come with a plethora of materials from multiple instruction levels to audio cd reinforcements. A USB headphone/microphone is included.
  
  Operation is in the form of selecting words and phrases to respond to increasingly more challenging scenarios in pictures. It is immersive, with no assistance in English other than for the software controls themselves.
  
  I absolutely loved the way this worked in other Rosetta Stone languages I have tried, but I am finding it a little difficult with Chinese. In pedagogical terms, I need some "scaffolding."
  
  I feel that some structure (oh, let's face it-- some cheating with English) would make the learning curve a little less steep. For the "alphabet" used in the captions in the exercises, you have the choice of traditional ideograms, ideograms with pinyin (kind of a romanization) or straight pinyin.
  
  It goes against the grain of immersion language theory, but if it had an option for at least some simultaneous English translation of the narration as new vocabulary is introduced, I'd be just as happy.
  
  There are Chinese immersion charter schools popping up all across the country, so clearly this method works for many students. However, I am going to supplement this Rosetta Stone package with inexpensive aids outside of the system, and you may find that you need the extra help as well. ...more info
• One of the best language programs available
  In the past I've tried earlier versions of the Rosetta software and I have to say they've made some good improvements with version 3. I like the way the software flows, the interface is less cluttered, and the quality of the photographs they use seems to have improved. This kit comes with the program, a supplemental audio CD set for level 3, and a USB headset with microphone. As soon as I plugged the headset into my Windows XP computer it was recognized and became active.
  
  The program itself is set up so you can get going pretty quickly and learn by speaking, listening, and clicking the picture on the screen that corresponds to the word you heard. There is no English spoken, only the language you are learning.
  
  This program also includes a CD to supplement what you're learning with the software. This way you can keep practicing on the train or in your car.
  
  All in all a well thought out easy to use system for learning a new language. ...more info
• Want to Learn a Language, Get Rosetta Stone
  If you've read Jack's review, you know we both got new Rosetta Stone software, Italian and Chinese. I loaded it on both my desktop and Viao no problem. The program does have to be authorized, much like the Adobe software, but it went without a hitch. You're allowed to put it on two computers.
  
  You may also know we've been studying French and Spanish, well here we go again, plunging right in learning something new. It's a darn good thing I can take time off in the middle of the day (my son is back in school) and go to the park with my laptop. I do so enjoy the time with my computer, especially when I'm learning something new.
  
  First I work through the lessons, learning the basic vocabulary for things, verbs and numbers, then I practice them aloud, listening to myself, wrapping my tongue and vocal chords around the words. Then I repeat the lesson. I don't use the microphone. I don't know why, just don't like the headphones and that thing in front of my face, I guess.
  
  Anyway, my impression of the program is that it's probably the best way to learn a foreign language. I'm picking up Italian a lot faster than Chinese, lots easier it is, plus the background in Spanish is a huge help. But like with Jack, Chinese is a challenge, however we're both using the software and we use words from all four languages all the time, people think we're nuts, we think we're fun
  
  Like I've said before, Rosetta Stone is a very good way, maybe the best way, to learn a foreign language and if you use the audio companion (I loaded it onto my iPod) and if you listen to a radio station in your target language (thank goodness for the internet) then you'll be speaking in no time at all....more info
• good for some bad for others
  I tried rosetta but just couldn't learn very well. Pimsleur works way better for me. That plus classes really helped me with my mandarin skills. My wife is a native speaker and she agrees that rosetta organized their lessons poorly. I wouldn't recommend rosetta....more info
• Rosetta Stone
  For anyone considering buying this for a child, my 12 year old daughter loves this system! She wanted to learn Mandarin and after reading reviews we thought we would give it a try. Being expensive, I was a little concerned this system might not "take" with her and the investment would go seldom used. We could not be more pleased. ...more info
• Interesting way to learn.
  I've tried other language programs and have done okay with them. I started with an audio book-type program and made it through about 24 hours of lessons before I realized it wasn't going to be enough. I then tried this Rosetta Stone Version 3 software. I was bummed at first that I had to be tethered to a computer to use the software to its full potential but found out pretty quickly that it wasn't as big a bother as I had expected it would be.
  
  The cool thing about this software is that it teaches you without making you translate or learning parts of speech or how to diagram the sentence and grammar. It teaches you through repetition and photo association. For example, in the Chinese program, it will show you a photo of a red book, a white book, a red plate and a white plate. Then, it gives you the spoken chinese words for "red book" then "red plate" then "white book" then "white plate" but without the English translation. You have to associate each Chinese phrase with the appropriate photo and through trial and error, you eventually get them all correct but you've also now learned four new words - red, white, book, and plate.
  
  The headphones were amazingly easy to set-up to use so that's not a problem either. I did find that it didn't recognize the way I spoke some of the Mandarin even though I KNEW I was saying the words correctly but you have the option of how strict you want that to be so I moved it down a notch and it recognized what I was saying.
  
  Very cool software. I've used it for Spanish, too and gave up but only because I've become very motivated to learn Chinese due to an upcoming vacation there. Good luck! Zai jian....more info
• If You're Serious, this is the Best Way to Learn a Language
  It seems to me that Americans are pretty much known world wide for their lack of languages skills. When we travel, we seem to expect everybody to speak English. If they can't understand eggs over easy, then we come home and tell any and everyone who will listen, how backward those people in Japan, Spain, France or Sweden are.
  
  And am I any different? I'm an educated person, but not a word of Italian or Chinese do I speak, though I've spent the last month and a half studying Japanese and Spanish, so I guess you could say that I'm working hard to dispel the myth that American's can't learn a foreign language. We can. My Japanese is not so good, but the Spanish I've been working on for the last six weeks, well, I've really surprised myself.
  
  I've put aside studying those other languages for a bit and have been concentrating on Italian and Chinese, Italian for the last couple weeks, wondering will I be able to retain what I've learned and be able to grasp the new languages. Italian, yes, but the tonal inflections in Mandarin are very hard for me and they put a Chinese friend into stitches every time I try them. It seems I'm having a bit of trouble trying to say what I want. I guess that's why they say practice makes perfect.
  
  Back to the program. Level One is supposed to give you a foundation in essential vocabulary and it does, at least it seems from my point it gives you what you need to get around a bit. There is no translation, instead you learn by looking at pictures and hearing the words, much like a child growing up and let me tell you, sometimes I feel like a child as I work through the lessons.
  
  Level two builds on the vocabulary, taking you from simple sentences to some that are a little more complex. That's where I was when I wrote my reviews of Spanish and Japanese at only a couple weeks. I'm confident about moving ahead in Italian, Chinese is going to take more work, it's harder, don't let anyone tell you any different. I'm guessing you could be pretty fluent in a Romance language in six or seven months with Rosetta Stone. It'll take you a lot longer with Chinese, my opinion. Still, like my reviews of the other languages, Italian and Chinese both get five stars.
  
  If you're serious about learning a foreign language, get Rosetta Stone, you won't be sorry....more info
• Difficult Language
  I ordered Rosetta Stone Chinese in an attempt to learn a difficult language in the easiest and most comprehensive manner possible. I failed, but not because of Rosetta Stone. I really thought I could master Mandarin as I previously learned German in college and became fluent in Spanish and lived in Latin America for eight years. I assumed learning Chinese would be a similar process.
  
  Rosetta Stone does a great job on their language learning product. The software installed flawlessly on my iMac, registered quickly and I was up and running in short order. The program method is interesting in that it provides graphic scenarios with spoken conversation that the student is tested on for comprehension and repeating with feedback on both. This was nothing like I had experienced with German or Spanish which were largely based on vocabulary, dialogues, sentence structure, verb tenses and the like. Rosetta Stone is more like "total immersion" where the student is exposed to the language from the git go with repetitive phrases and progress feedback.
  
  My operational experience with the program was flawless but I became frustrated very early on with my inability to distinguish the subtle differences among the Chinese words. After many sessions of null progress I elected to put it aside until I could find a Community College program where I could get face to face interaction with (hopefully) a native speaker(s) and use Rosetta Stone to augment the instruction.
  
  If you have the ability to determine subtle differences in tonal changes you may find success with Rosetta Stone Chinese. If you are like me, who can't tune an instrument other than a radio, you may want to consider this program as a valuable adjunct to classroom instruction.
  
  In summation, I really liked the Rosetta Stone approach and the functionality of the software but I was unsuccessful getting very far due to my inability to understand a very difficult language....more info
• Excellent Program, Reinforces Learning
  The Rosetta Stone programs are wonderful for anyone who wants to self-study a language. The lessons move along well, but they also repeat words and phrases enough that you can absorb them.
  
  I have installed Rosetta Stone software on both a PC (WinXP) and a Mac (OS-X), and have not had a problem on either system. Installation went smoothly and everything worked the first time. Installation does take a while, though, so expect to spend at least 20 or 30 minutes to get up and running.
  
  Chinese is a difficult language for me, so I have struggled more with these lessons than with other Rosetta Stone courses I have used. I like the fact that I can review the lessons until I feel comfortable with them.
  
  You will get out of this course what you put into it. If you are willing to spend the time, you should be able to learn enough of the language to be able to converse. (Reading and writing lessons are also included, if you wish to use them.)
  ...more info
• Rosetta Stone Version 3
  Expensive, but well worth the cost. Very good, the best for learning a language. RDW...more info
• Makes Language Learning Fun, Really!
  The Rosetta Stone method tries to emulate native speakers by plunging you right into the language, not quite total immersion, but perhaps the next best thing. It accomplishes this with pictures and phrases, without taxing you by making you memorize vocabulary and making you conjugate countless verbs. You sort of assimilate the language by association as you look at a photo, hear a phrase and try to figure it all out. Does that sound difficult? Believe it or not, it's not.
  
  One nice thing about Rosetta Stone is that you can move at your own pace, without worrying about being left behind. However, you have to be careful not to go too long before going back to the program. Like a child learning how to talk, you have to keep at it, but if you do (you can skip a day here and there) you'll find you really do pick up on the language.
  
  I have had prior experience with Rosetta Stone, so there were no surprises for me. In fact it was kind of like starting over with a new friend when I went to the first lesson. If you really want to learn a language and if you dedicate the time to it, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how fast you advance....more info
• The Great Wall and Rosetta Stone: World Wonders
  I have wanted to learn Chinese ever since I visited Beijing two years ago but thought the complexities of the language would make learning it forever out of my reach. Besides, it's not like there are a lot of Chinese Language instructors at local universities.
  
  I took Japanese at my local university last year and did not learn nearly as much as I did using the Japanese Rosetta Stone.
  
  So, when I saw they had the Chinese version, I decided to give it a try.
  
  
  Here's what I love about this program:
  
  1. What I really love about this Rosetta Stone is that you can wear headphones, listen to a word or phrase, and then repeat back what you heard. If you say it wrong, the program corrects you and has you say it again. We did not do that in my university class...it was all rote memorization and listening to our professor yammer on and on.
  
  2. Rosetta Stone costs about the same as a university course, but allows you access to the "instructor" after you have completed the lessons. You can refresh your memory whenever you want.
  
  3. Rosetta Stone is so easy to use, you literally plug and play.
  
  4. The program tracks completed lessons.
  
  5. Rosetta Stone has impressive photographs that help cement the word/phrase in your head.
  
  6. The lessons are brief. My university class lasted 2 hours. By the end of the period, my head was swimming with unfamiliar words. I like that the lessons on Rosetta Stone are only 30 minutes long.
  
  7. Rosetta Stone is so convenient. You can learn Chinese from the comfort of your home, before work, after dinner, in between your favorite tv shows. (You can even order sweet and sour chicken from your favorite Chinese restaurant and eat it while practicing with no worries about the smell annoying your classmates. How cool is that?)
  ...more info
• Great for learning to converse in Mandarin
  Remember when you learned your first language? Neither do I. In my mind's eye, I imagine trying to problem solve as a toddler, figuring out which sounds correspond to which object. There is no one to translate for you that "this" means "that" in English. And yet, words become lucid and meaningful and over time and with practice become usable.
  
  Rosetta Stone Chinese attempts to replicate that experience. Basically you learn by problem solving and practice and repetition. The user is presented with pictures and your mind automatically starts to look for patterns to decode and which sounds to associate with which pictures. That takes care of the comprehension part. For speaking the language, there is a built in speech recognition engine that corrects you as you go along. These exercises build gradually and each level corresponds roughly to a year of language classes in 30 minute sessions. So the complete set contains 3 years of language classes. Depending on your prior aptitude, the program can also customize and let you skip ahead.
  
  These components in my opinion, are what make the Rosetta Stone series stand out among the myriad of language software you can buy, and give it a deservedly excellent reputation.
  
  Finally for a non-alphabetical language like Mandarin, there is learning to read and write the language. For a language like Mandarin that is in fact the hardest to learn. Since each character represents a different word, it is difficult to actually recognize the hundreds (if not thousands) of characters and to keep them straight, much less be able to replicate them. The program also uses pinyin, which is a phonetic representation using alphabets which is much more manageable. Of course, if you are willing to invest the time and effort into learning and practicing each character with pen and paper, that is certainly commendable as well.
  
  ...more info
• Nei Hao! A good way to learn Mandarin
  As a lover of languages, I love the Rosetta Stone immersive teaching style. Use the language to teach the language. However, there is one drawback with Mandarin Chinese. English speakers. most have difficulty with the toned pronunciation of Mandarin. It's incredibly difficult to get by ear alone.
  
  A competing product that does a good job of combining English instruction to learn Manadarin is Fluenz Mandarin 1+2 Learning Suite Windows, Including DVD, Audio CD, Podcasts, and Fluenz Navigator. Next-Generation Chinese Learning Software. Ideally, you could afford both programs.
  
  The nice thing about this is that it teaches Chinese characters from the start, while other programs focus on pinyin. If you go to China, almost nobody will understand pinyin (although it will help you pronounce Chinese).
  
  This new set by Rosetta Stone is extensive. It's a big package which includes the software, a headset, and CD-based audio for refreshing. Undoubtedly you can learn to speak and understand Chinese with this software. However, you will probably need help with your accent....more info
• 5 Star Pronunciation; 1 Star Conversation
  I realize now that learning a new language is an exploration of one's own learning style as well as products. I started out with Pimsleur tapes but got bored with the incessant repetition. As soon as I started Rosetta Stone, my word retention went way up because I could see the words written, and also a picture.
  
  The other essential benefit of RS is the ability to repeat a phrase or word till infinity-- something no class or teacher could keep their cool with! I've had the speaker repeat some phrases 5-10 times in a row-- sometimes because of tongue twisters, sometimes to hear how the separate word tones all interact together, and sometimes change. Which brings me to the faults of this software:
  
  1. RS never explains anything, but expects you to miraculously absorb grammar, tone change rules, etc. I finally read the intro section of a Mandarin language book that explained tone change rules. I knew I was hearing something that didn't obey the normal tones, I just couldn't identify a rule. Couldn't RS just explain the rule ? I don't believe 100% immersion technique is the best for such a different language.
  
  2. There isn't nearly enough opportunity for the learner to translate English into Chinese. Isn't this what becoming conversational is all about ? It's not just matching pictures! I find it pretty easy to understand what the speaker is saying, but it's a completely different ballgame for ME to have to construct a sentence, from scratch, in Chinese.
  
  3. I think proportionately, there is little formal pronunciation practice (the exercises that show green if you pass or yellow to fail your speaking) compared to the "matching pictures" exercises. I force myself to pronounce every sentence or phrase during all exercises.
  
  I now have an online native speaking tutor to practice conversation. She says my pronunciation is very good (probably because of RS) but my speaking ability is slow & unnatural. I now talk to myself in Chinese and try and form new sentences instead of just repeating the phrases in RS. I've also purchased flashcards & am starting to learn characters.
  
  CONCLUSION: RS was a friendly and approachable way to start a new language...but at some point you're going to want to practice conversation, not just match pictures over and over!!! ...more info
• Excellent Value & Way to Learn a Language; Warning About 64-Bit Windows Vista
  The Rosetta Stone version 3 software with audio companion is really an excellent value, especially for the beginning learner. No software can do the hard work for you of training your brain to recognize sounds, training your tongue to make them, and learning an entirely new set of vocabulary. But Rosetta Stone tries to make this process fun, intuitive, and simple. When you are trying to do something as difficult as learning another language, you don't need other difficulties thrown in your path. Attending a traditional class--driving, reading books, studying flash cards, interacting with other people who know the language just as poorly as you do--in my opinion introduces many more difficulties into the language learning process and is the cause of many people's failure to advance. If this is you, I recommend Rosetta Stone, which will allow you to advance beyond beginner level in a language in the comfort of your own home, using your own computer and the provided headset and microphone. When compared with the cost of taking a traditional course along with drive time and cost of books, Rosetta Stone's value becomes apparent.
  
  Rosetta Stone is fun. At times, it can feel like a video game. The program does a good job of continuously challenging both your vocabulary and your tongue (as you have to pronounce the words more or less accurately) without being so difficult as to be dishearteningly discouraging.
  
  Rosetta Stone immediately immerses the learner in the world of the language trying to make you forget your mother tongue (in my case English) as much as possible as you learn. This is, as far as I can tell, the best way to make oneself truly fluent. It is the way that I learned Spanish (total immersion), and in my opinion Rosetta Stone does as good of a job of that in a computer setting as I could imagine using today's technology.
  
  I recommend purchasing levels 1, 2, & 3 together in a set so that you can advance far enough to actually begin intelligent conversations with native speakers. Rosetta Stone will only be able to advance you to a point, getting you out of beginner status. But to move on from there to fluent, will most definitely require surrounding yourself with people who speak the target language. But I am aware of no better value than Rosetta Stone to make that transition into another culture and language possible. I am looking forward to taking the next step.
  
  I do have word of caution from my experience regarding Windows Vista 64-bit software and Rosetta Stone's technical support. I was able to "successfully" install the software but unable to load any of the language modules into the software. After multiple calls (3+ hours) to technical support with a wide range of suggestions, I was finally told that Rosetta Stone is not supported on Vista 64 bit. This is somewhat frustrating and will likely be an issue more many purchasers of newer computers. I have read in reviews and blogs that some have been able to make it work, but I was unable to. I ended up having to install it on a secondary (and older) computer system. This was an inconvenience and something that I personally feel is an inexcusable oversight for high-end software. For lack of 64-bit support and the slowness of technical support to identify this issue, I have dropped my rating of the software from 5 stars to 4 stars. ...more info
• Another Fine product from Rosetta Stone
  This is probably the best there is in language teaching progam. Only a real life teacher can do better.
  
  But again, you will need to invest time to learn the language. While this program is very effective, it is not a miracle....more info
• When Learning is Fun, You Learn
  I'd spent the last six weeks or so diligently working with Rosetta Stone and two different languages, French and Spanish. They're different then English, but not that much and it seems like we share many of the same words, they just sound different. Maybe I should have just stayed with those two languages, but when offered the chance to delve into two more languages via Rosetta Stone, I jumped at the chance.
  
  So now I've spent the last couple weeks with Italian and Chinese. The Italian I'm picking up very quickly, as it's so similar to French and Spanish and has a whole slew of those same words. But Chinese, this is a horse of a different color and it's now my new hobby. I don't think I'd have ever learned a word in that language were it not for Rosetta Stone. Never would have had the desire, but now I do, go figure.
  
  I don't know how I can possible continue with all four languages. French is so flowery and I get a chance to use it on occasion. Spanish is important and I don't ever want to forget what I've learned. And to me Italian seems like Spanish with an attitude. But Chinese, that one I'm going to keep on with, probably that and Spanish, but I'll occasionally fire up Italian and French. Maybe language wise I'm going to be a jack of all trades and a master of none, but I'm having fun and when learning is fun, you learn....more info
• Best language learning software I have used ever!
  I have to say I have had my share of language learning in my days.
  I was born in Taiwan so I speak Taiwanese and Mandarin.
  My parents asked me to learn some Japanese when I was little so I did (only for 1 year).
  Then I had to learn English (duh....), and still learning too.
  Then after coming to US, I took 2 years of German while in High School.
  Then I took more German (1 year), Classic Greek (1 year) and Biblical Hebrew (3 years).
  I had a small ambition that I wanted to learn 10 languages in my lifetime, but I haven't done that yet.
  I have been wanting to learn Spanish but haven't got the brain cells to continue learning.
  That is before I found Rosetta Stone!!!!
  This is by far the best and fastest language learning tool I have ever come across.
  The Dynamic Immersion method they are using is nothing short of a miracle.
  Even though I can read, write and speak Chinese, but my kids are raised in the US, so they have only limited listening comprehension and speaking. Completely no writing or reading comprehension on Chinese.
  I received this software today as an Amazon Vines selection.
  I immediately put my 2 kids, 10 and 12 years old, on this software.
  In less than 1 hour each, they are speaking more fluently than ever before.
  They are using vocabulary I never thought possible.
  I can't believe the effectiveness of this software; it is awesome.
  I am going to put my kids on a weekly program and I will update this review after I have another month on it.
  I plan to buy the English version for my wife and the Hebrew and Japanese for myself to further my studies.
  But based on this short review above, I am giving it 5 stars and an excellent buy!!!
  If you are struggling with any language or have been wanting to learn a second or third language, look no further, this is the tool to get.
  
  It takes activation for the learning levels. I guess it has a master software engine and then you can add lessons as you purchase them.
  There are 3 levels. Each level has 4 units. Each unit has about 20 lessons.
  So it has about 240 lessons in all. I would say this would be equivalent to about 2 years of college course on the same subject if not more.
  I'd like to point out that not all languages are graphically based. Like English is a phonographic language (I am no linguist, so I am only using my limited knowledge to describe what I am thinking). But Chinese is a language based on the oracle and shape of things as it evolved over the thousands of years. So it is a challenge for people who are accustomed to phonographic way of learning a language (combination of alphabets will form the words), where Chinese is nothing like that.
  In particular, I really appreciate the fact that this Rosetta Stone system, incorporates not only the phonetic spelling of the sound of the words, but it also has the option to display the traditional Chinese (complex characters)--used in Taiwan and simplified Chinese (simplified)--used in China. In fact the Chinese used in Taiwan keeps the tradition of Chinese much better while Chinese used in China has been destroyed during the cultural revolution in trying to destroy the intellectual of the country and reduce the language to very simple forms. Anyway, that's my personal subjective opinion (as is this review).
  So I really appreciate the fact that this system allows the students to gradually learn to read Chinese characters and the phonetic spellings. And since there are dozens of Chinese input methods in software, they have further adopted the Chinese pinyin way of displaying the Chinese in the system. So once the students master the chinese using the system, they will also be able to use Chinese pinyin method to key in chinese characters in the computer.
  I find this feature and combination so priceless.
  The system doesn't force the students to learn the characters as it is indeed very difficult. But it uses the immersion technique to blend everyday things into the learning process and voila, the students, not only learn the language phonetically, visually understanding the Chinese characters, grammar and the vocabularies.
  It is truly a wonderful tool.
  Anyway, I will input more of my discoveries after I use it more but this is what I have observed after using it the first day....more info
• Rosetta Stone offers the best and easiet way to learn a new language
  If you have not tried Rosetta Stone before, you need to try it - you will not be disappointed. Rosetta Stone Chinese allows to choose from traditional Chinese or Mandarin. You will be able to learn basic vocabulary and language structure, from greetings and introductions to simple questions and responses. The program is extremely flexible. You can pick choose which units and exercises you want to study, or you can just let the software take you through the whole course step by step. It is a very challenging and difficult language to learn but if you can commit yourself to using the program at least 30 minutes or more a day I am sure you will learn Chinese very quickly and easily. The only thing that I personally don't like about Rosetta Stone in the beginning things go a little slow, but that is probably a good thing to build a strong basic knowledge of the language. Since Rosetta uses real images (not cartoon or drawings) you can easily associate the sound and look of the written language with real-life images. This natural process is similar to how anyone acquires his or her natural language - listening and repeating.
  
  Rosetta audio companion CD is a wonderful benefit. Besides learning the new language on your PC, now you can take it along with you. It allows you to download lessons on your MP3 or to play the CD in your car or portable CD player. This can reinforce your language skills anywhere, anytime by learning more vocabulary and improving your pronunciation.
  
  
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• Very well produced program, but still very hard to learn to speak accurately
  The Rosetta Stone (RS) learning interface is well designed and very clean. It is the most user friendly language learning program I've experienced. What's more, the user interface applies to all of their language modules so learners of multiple RS language modules will be comfortable and at home with the "dynamic immersion" approach.
  
  At best, the RS Mandarin will train you to be conversational in Mandarin. It will not allow you to recognize and write Chinese characters easily- that is an entirely different discipline better served by other instructional approaches. It is possible to speak and not be able to read the characters at this stage.
  
  Mandarin is hard language to speak for most westerners. The 4 primary pronunciation tones (see Wiki's Pinyin article for an excellent overview) sound subtle to western tongues and are very hard to pronounce for the typical English speaker. This is because the way the mouth (lips, tongue, breathing) moves in pronouncing Mandarin is completely different to speaking English. My wife, an American from the South who speaks English with a somewhat relaxed and dragged out accent, has incredible difficulty in discerning the tonal differences, let alone pronouncing them accurately. Discerning and learning these tonal differences is crucial to successful conversational Mandarin. If you remember the 70's-80's Kung-Fu movies, they sometimes have a Westerner as a sparring combatant and they will sometimes speak some Mandarin in between the flying punches. To the Mandarin speaker, it always sounds really funny because they have typically messed up the tonal inflections. For example, "ma" can mean mother, horse, to scold, to wipe, a question, measles, etc., when used with the correct tone and context. So, to avoid speaking "Kung-Fu Mandarin" (comical and embarrassing in a business meeting, but at least it gets them smiling), it is essential to listen to the Mandarin speakers on the RS software very very carefully and practice repeatedly. That said, the speakers on the RS software have clear excellent accents but the microphone pronunciation feedback tool is not tight enough and will tolerate tonal mis-pronunciations.
  
  If you are learning Mandarin alone, it would be very helpful to still seek a native Mandarin speaker. It helps to observe the mouth when pronouncing the words (I wish RS would have avi's of the speaker's mouth up close as a pronouncing aid). It also helps to be corrected immediately to avoid entrenching bad habits. And if you are finding an instructor, get an educated person that speaks with a proper accent. You want the Beijing news reader quality. China is a large country and speakers from different parts of China have very different accents. For example, speakers from HK or Canton will often speak (if they even can!) Mandarin that is heavily tinged with a Cantonese accent. No point learning that. Should you be discouraged? No!!! If you are in China or get Chinese cable programs, you will notice some westerners on the language and outreach programs. Folks, these guys speak a brand of Mandarin with such accuracy and poise that would put most native speakers to shame!
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• Total waste of your money, software full of bugs and crashes
  Its so depressing that after spending so much money to buy this course iam not able to use it. It crashed several times during install. And when i was able to install it, the main screen does not show any icon to start the course. The help line keeps ringing with no one answering. Hopeless piece of software i ever bought....more info
• Another language hit!
  Okay, so maybe you don't know anyone who speaks fluent Chinese, but you really want to learn the language through immersion with feedback, long accepted as the most effective way to learn a new language. I've reviewed Rosetta Stone products before, and the Chinese Level 1, 2, & 3 Set with Audio Companion is again head and shoulders above anything else out there. You use the software at home, and use the CDs for immersion when you're out and about, whether driving, shopping, exercising, or even -- if you can get away with it -- working! It's truly an amazing system and the Chinese course continues their winning streak....more info
• Best Language Learning Software I've used
  I was a bit skeptical about this product when I first saw it (and the price tag), but after giving it lots of use for the past few weeks, it is clear that this language learning software is the best. I've used other software programs in the past that have left me more confused than I was when I started. This program actually has speech recognition to ensure you are doing everything correctly (and the speech recgonition actually works well), and if you are doing poorly on something it will automatically review that concept with you in a later lesson.
  
  The software worked a lot better than I expected, and the interface is really nice- easy enough for a computer novice to be able to use with ease. If I had to list a complaint about the product it would be that the course focuses solely on speaking the language, and doesn't really show any Chinese characters, but then again, learning the 2000+ character alphabet wouldn't be something I'd want to do anyhow. The price may seem high, but if you think what you might pay to take Chinese classes somewhere, the price is fairly reasonable.
  
  I highly recommend this software to anybody who is serious about learning Chinese, and is willing to devote a set amount of time each day to working on it. If you aren't willing to work at it, the software isn't going to magically implant the language in your head....more info
• It's fun, it works because it's multidimensional
  This is not like French class in high school! No grammar, syntax, or conjugation!
  
  I really want to say, I'm very excited by this product. I've always been intrigued by the possibility of learning Chinese, but each time I looked into the options, I quickly gave up. The other books and tapes I've looked at are difficult and "flat", as in uni-dimensional. You either repeat what's on the tape ad nauseum, or read what's in the book ad nauseum, you get the idea.
  
  The Rosetta Stone Chinese program is very different. It's multi-dimensional in the sense that it gives you several ways to learn. You can use the computer-based tools to speak and get instantaneous feedback. You can use the Audio Companion CDs in your car (actually, on my iPod!) to practice while driving or whatever. Within the computer based tools are several ways to learn, including a cool Milestones test that inserts you into a real life situation where you have to speak the right answer. I was actually intimidated to try this for a few hours, because I didn't want to screw up, but eventually I tried it, screwed up, and learned more by doing so.
  
  I really like the Rosetta method of presenting you with visual images and spoken language for you to repeat, then visual "puzzles" for you to deduce the correct response. This is very natural once you get into it. It took me a while to get the "rhythm" and patterns of the language, but this method in particular helped me over that hump. That's the main reason for my 5 star rating. I couldn't get that from a "flat" book or tape series.
  
  This set includes everything, including the computer headset and microphone, so you just drop it all in and go. It worked flawlessly on my vintage 2006 Windows XP laptop.
  
  Important: You are going to have to set aside time to learn Chinese with this or any other system. Five minutes here and there won't work. The program is broken up into lots of modules, so it is easy to focus on a small amount of related material at once, but FOCUS is the issue: I recommend 30-90 minutes at a time with no distractions (audio or visual!).
  
  The downside: I don't think I'm going to become fluent reading or writing Chinese from this system. I didn't expect to be able to read written Chinese, so I did not reduce my review for this limitation. Perhaps others will have more luck, because the features are there to help you read two kinds of Chinese writing, but I don't think that part is going to make me literate. I can recognize some Chinese characters at this point, but there are thousands you have to know to be literate.
  
  By the way, if you want to get a taste of the Rosetta Stone method, go to their web site where they have an online sample of the watch-listen-try system (for Turkish!). The online sample does not include the instant feedback on your spoken words included in this package, or the Milestones or other features. It just grades your point-click responses, which will give you a taste. Plus, there's a Michael Phelps testimonial video about the Chinese program (recorded before he won all the medals in Beijing!)...more info