Rosetta Stone: Spain or Latin America?
Please don't close this. I have browsed the numerous topics about Rosetta Stone but haven't found any with this specific question.
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I want to train my familiarity with Spanish through immersion and I've heard that Rosetta Stone is good for that purpose. But I saw that they have a Latin American and a Spain version? Has anybody tried both? If yes, which one would you recommend if my target is to master Spanish in general without binding myself to a specific country?
16 Answers
I don't particularly like Rosetta Stone because I want to use a language course that goes through the rules, such as verb conjugations and pronoun usage. But obviously you are doing that and just want listening practice. I would recommend watching Spanish soap operas, listening to News in Slow Spanish or try NotesInSpanish. Much more interesting (and cheaper) than Rosetta Stone. Jasmine101, on a related post, just recommended Extr@ Español
But, to answer your question - you should buy the Spain version, since you live in Europe. I should buy the Latin American version, since I live in Los Angeles.
I am actually part of a Rosetta Stone team that is called Rosetta Compass. We are not paid by Rosetta Stone in any way, but we get to attend "Webinars" where we talk to all the people behind the scenes of Rosetta Stone.
I actually had to sign papers saying that I wouldn't talk about anything. 
But, what I can say, is that there are really neat things that they are planning with upgrades to the current software to make it an even more enjoyable, and efficient way to learn a foreign language.
I just finished an online session that I talked about in my previous post. I'm on Level 3 of RS, but the session I just did was from Level 1. It's difficult, and sometimes painful, to listen to the mistakes of the Level 1 learners... but not too long ago I was on that Level making the same mistakes.
I look forward to the rest of Level 3... and then Levels 4 and 5... to see how much more I can improve.
Do you mean version 3/4 or LEVEL 3/4. Cuz I've just tried a test version of Level 3 (Version 3) and wasn't impressed at all.
From a previous post of mine:
I had Version 3 and was able to upgrade to Version 4 (TOTALe).
The course is the same, but with TOTALe, you can now go online and play games with other learners at the same level as you.
You can play games with people that are fluent in your native-language that are learning the same language that you are learning.
You can also play games with people that are fluent in the language you are learning... and that are learning your native-language. This part is very cool.
There are typing games, and speaking games available for both listed above.
Also, after every Unit, you sign up for Sessions. In these sessions you talk to a Coach and up to 3 other learners and discuss the Unit that you just learned. NO English allowed... NO Spanglish allowed... 50 minutes of 100% Spanish (or whatever language you are learning).
You can go back and do the Sessions over and over and over again as many times as you wish.
Rosetta Stone (admittedly) doesn't teach you anything. By this, I mean that they don't explain grammar or structure... but it's amazing how you pick stuff up without knowing what you are learning!
People always say it is expensive... if you keep your eyes open, you can find it right from Rosetta Stone's website for around $450 for all 5 levels. Price some local classes and then figure in the gas and calculate out what it would cost for a few courses.
OH... one more thing... the voice recognition really works. I turned the "accept" level when I say something to the highest level... meaning it will only accept what I say if it really sounds like the native-speaker in the course. When I converse with a Spanish-speaker they are always very surprised that I start speaking Spanish to them (I guess I look pretty Gringo). And they almost always comment on how good my accent is. That definitely makes me feel good.
Wakka, my finger was on the button but since you asked nicely I'll give you my 2 cents instead. I have Rosetta Stone LA, Pimsler, and Learning Spanish Like Crazy. Pimsler is the best of them but all in all I think this site and any other outside dialogue is better. Cal Dreamer has the right idea. Financially speaking I feel the money I spent on RS was a waste.
Another good resource for short dialogs in beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels is
In any case, tell us what you decide to do and how you like it!!!
If you want to learn Spanish through immersion, Destinos would be a good place to start. It's a telenovela/soap opera made by the Public Broadcasting Corporation designed to teach Spanish with both lessons and dialogue. It's a little cheesy, but its plot takes you thruogh Spain, Latin America, and Mexico, so you get a taste of those three different dialects.
After you've made it through Destinos, you should look into watching some typical Spanish language programming, like that of Telemundo, Univision, RTVE, or Antena3, the first two being in American Spanish and the second two being in Castillian Spanish.
If you're really set on trying Rosetta Stone, you may want to see if there are any libraries near you that have a copy you can check out to see if it suits you or not.
You can't compare Version 3 of RS with the new Version 4 TOTALe.
Version 3 - not worth the money.
Version 4 - 100% worth the money.
PM me if you have any specific questions.
Try this one
Free on-line Learn Spanish - with lots of audio
You can read what is being said at the same time and switch between Spanish and English text with the cursor. Just click on "un paseo"
I have only used version 3, not 4, but the Latin American and Spanish versions are almost the same. In both they speak very slowly (naturally slowly even) and clearly. Of course the accents are different, but they are very neutral in both. And there are some differences in vocabulary. Also the Latin America one doesn´t teach vosotros, so it really depends on where you want to travel to, as someone probably pointed out already.
Rosetta Stone is a good substitute for traditional flashcards, it helps you with skills like spelling and vocabulary and pronunciation, it does not help with listening at all because they speak so slowly and only in individual sentences, and now that it includes lessons with native speaker I imagine it might help with speaking now, while it did not before. It probably does help you with reading because it teaches you how to guess what things mean from context. I think it is worth the money if you are just starting out. It's silly they stop at level 5 though.
I don't know why they don´t include short authentic texts using the target vocabulary and recordings of full conversations at gradually increasing speeds. It wouldn´t be difficult to add and it would really help.
To me, Rosetta Stone is just propaganda aimed at enticing those who think that a language can be easily learned. Any exposure to a language is great, but there are so many better (and cheaper) ways to learn. In this day and age, there is an unbelievable amount of information available to us via the internet. If you really want to learn it is up to you.
I see that you live in the Netherlands and certainly Spain is closer to you than the Americas. However, you probably should get RosettaStone Spanish (Latin American) given that your friends are from Latin America.
However, I agree with CaliforniaDreamer than you may not really need RosettaStone. Instead, try for immersion or as close to immersion as you can get where you live. You can also try Pimsleur, which is very good. I tried Pimsleur Level I before I joined Span¡shD!ct, and found it helpful. But it is no substitute for actually going out and attempting to speak to native Spanish speakers, or for listening to Spanish on the radio, music, television, YouTube, podcasts, etc.
For another opinion on RosettaStone versus Pimsleur, see Ellen Jovin's blog on her attempt to learn 15 languages in 3 years: www.ellenjovin.com/
Perhaps you can listen to some podcasts in different dialects, to see which one sounds easier to your ears. To me the Peninsular Spanish sounds clearer and more distinct than the Latin American talking style. I would go down the path of least resistance. Plus, all of your Latin American friends are native speakers, so they will understand you (or not 
) regardless the dialect you use.
Since you are pressed on time to pick up Spanish to a certain level before your friends' visit, I would suggest to use the Pimsleur level I DVDs in parallel to SD videos. I did the SD videos first, before I found out about Pimsleur. In hindsight, I would not cram through so much "grammar rules" before I got a feel for the speaking language first. It was like growing plants without soil. Also the videos on SD don't help much with listening.
On the other hand, those podcasts, youtube videos are good for improving listening skills, however, due to lack of systematic structure, relying on them alone would be like building a house without architecture diagrams.
Buena suerte!
I have been progressing through Rosetta Stone. In 3 months I have finished Levels 1-3. My wife took 4 years of Spanish in HS and 2 years in College. Without my wife I would not have the drive or care to continue learning Spanish but hey we all need some reason. I am personally amazed at the level of Spanish I have learned in 3 months and my wife is blown away. That said I feel a lot of it has to do with having someone who can speak Spanish around as well. My wife has been to South America 3x and we have gone together once so that is giving me further reasons to learn. I spend anywhere from 1-3 hours on lessons at a time daily not everyday though. My wife fills in quiet a bit. I would say my worst subject area is verb conjugation. RS is not good at teaching verb conjugation and that is important. However if you get past more then the first couple lessons and are at all paying attention and interested you will start to write things down, take note and probably start investigating grammar rules and resources online. If you are very motivated and have some support close I feel RS is an EXCELLENT resource if you immerse yourself in it. If you do 10-20 minutes every so often here and there I don't think it is a very useful program. You have to purchase the program and literally devour it and reach outward for more information as well. But 3 months in and my wife and I are having broken Spanish conversations regularly. This post is in regards to Version 3.0 as well.
Here is the link you can add this to. 
Do the Latino Spanish, it's easier to pronounce, listen to, and more used, you will start out on a higher level because pronunciation is much more similar.
Rosetta Stone for Latin American Spanish is THE superior language learning software, and is the top of its class! I have taken college level Spanish courses prior to Rosetta Stone, but have become FUNCTIONAL using Rosetta Stone. I would recommend this to anyone...ANYONE. There's just one warning: it is so much fun it will cut into your video game time, so look out!!! 
Go to click at:http://www.perfectrosettastone.info/
