Rosetta Stone is one of the most popular language learning software methods. They are obviously very successful, as their ads can be seen not only on the internet, but in magazines and even on tv. Is the program really as good as they say?

Because it is software, it can easily integrate audio, text and images. This allows the learner to associate the sound and look of the written language with real-life images in a natural way. This is what they mean when they say that Rosetta Stone teaches you a new language the way you learned your native language.

At the start, you are presented with a series of pictures and a word is spoken with the accompanying text on screen. You must then select which picture goes with that word. You may already have a clue as to which one it is or not. If you get it right, you move on. If not, you try again until you get it. These mistakes are actually essential to this learning process.

Most people learn very quickly during this trial and error process.

In time, words become phrases, then full sentences. Ideas and concepts begin to replace simple objects and actions. Through pattern recognition, more and more of the language is understandable. Slowly, but surely, you develop a foundation in your new language. This is all done without any translation into English. It’s all done in the language you are studying, and this is one of the strongest advantages of Rosetta Stone.