Rosetta Stone Version 3 Russian
Rosetta Stone is a comprehensive computer-based tutor for learning a foreign language.
Pros
- Headphones and mic included, six month money-back guarantee
Cons
- Expensive, installation is not entirely straightforward
Bottom Line
This is not an especially cheap way to learn a language (although probably still less than evening classes) but it certainly maximises on the usefulness of a home PC to learn in a very natural way, without recourse to the jargon of advanced grammar. All you need is the time and concentration to keep following the course, unit by unit in your own time. If you buy direct from Rosetta Stone, a full money-back guarantee is offered if wish to return the package within six months. Version 3 also now includes additional audio CDs, which can be used to reinforce the vocabulary learnt on screen when away from a computer.
-
Price
$ 549.00 (AUD)
Note: Pricing for this product is in US$.
Rosetta Stone is a comprehensive computer-based tutor for learning a foreign language. It expects no previous knowledge or experience in learning your target language, or even in languages in general, instead relying on a purely visual stimulus approach of discovering vocabulary and grammar — just the same as we all did when we learnt our mother tongue as infants.
Rosetta Stone has been producing language software since 1992, and in its latest iteration some small but very useful amendments have been added. New Version 3 courses are available for 25 languages, including all the major European languages, plus others such as Chinese mandarin, Japanese, Polish, Russian and Persian Farsi. We took a look at Rosetta Stone Russian Version 3.
Installation is not entirely straightforward as the company has locked down the program quite tightly to deter additional distribution beyond one household. Unlike previous versions, you're no longer required to keep a CD disc in the computer to authenticate. But you do need to get the installation authorised via an internet connection before it will start.
You're limited to two installations per copy, and if you wish to transfer to another computer, you're expected to deauthorise one machine first before transfer to the next.
The course starts very simply by teaching you simple nouns such as ‘boy' and ‘girl' by showing relevant images on screen, accompanied by the name in the language's script along with a voice reading it out loud. USB-connected headphones are included with a boom mic, which is pivotal to the Rosetta Stone goal in teaching you to speak in the chosen language.
With the new Version 3, not only do you get to repeat back words, phrases and complete sentences on prompt, but you can see a visual waveform of your voice on-screen. This helps you to master the exact pitching and intonation required to get authentic pronunciation.
Repetion exercises start simply, with just a single word or simple sentence comprising a noun and verb (for example, ‘boy runs' in the Russian language which dispenses with definite articles) and soon builds up to create sophisticated sentences.
But it pays not to be too complacent from the start, even if the exercise do seem too facile. We had to think carefully why we were scoring wrong answers on one exercise before we realised that Rosetta Stone was already introducing the concept of perfective and imperfective verbs of motion, a thorny topic in Russian, depicted with subtly different visual stimuli to differentiate.
Later in the course, full challenge and response situations are created, at Milestone points, based on potential real-life scenarios you might encounter when meeting native speakers in their home country.
There are many capitalised American-style buzzwords accompanying the software, such as Contextual Formation, Adaptive Recall and Dynamic Immersion. And the cue images, while very colourful and generally superbly photographed, are generic across all courses, so don't expect images of China, for example, to accompany the Mandarin course.
But in structure and pacing - which the individual student can take as fast or slow as they wish - we found this Rosetta Stone package to be masterfully well designed and an inspiration to keep learning.
Brand Post
Most Popular Reviews
- 1 Dell U3223QE review: A winning debut for an IPS Black monitor
- 2 HP Spectre x360 16 review: The right 2-in-1 at the wrong time
- 3 Acer K242HYL review: An affordable monitor for any occasion
- 4 GeForce Now review: You bring the games, Nvidia streams the hardware
- 5 Asus ProArt PA279CV monitor review: The go-to for content creators on a budget
Latest News Articles
- Microsoft’s universal ‘One Outlook’ client just leaked out
- Microsoft reveals a new Windows Game Bar built for controllers
- Microsoft tests a limited VPN for Microsoft Edge
- Audacity developer puts the ‘proper’ version on the Microsoft Store
- How to pin an extension to Chrome’s toolbar
Resources
Macworld
What's new, plus best mac-related tips
and tricks
Business Centre
The latest business news, reviews, features and whitepapers
Videos
Watch our video news and reviews from around the world
Guides
Comprehensive buying guides, features, and step-by-step articles
PCW Evaluation Team
Pedro Peixoto
Aruba Instant On AP11D
Set up is effortless.
Cate Bacon
Aruba Instant On AP11D
The strength of the Aruba Instant On AP11D is that the design and feature set support the modern, flexible, and mobile way of working.
Dr Prabigya Shiwakoti
Aruba Instant On AP11D
Aruba backs the AP11D up with a two-year warranty and 24/7 phone support.
Tom Pope
Dynabook Portégé X30L-G
Ultimately this laptop has achieved everything I would hope for in a laptop for work, while fitting that into a form factor and weight that is remarkable.
Tom Sellers
MSI P65
This smart laptop was enjoyable to use and great to work on – creating content was super simple.
Lolita Wang
MSI GT76
It really doesn’t get more “gaming laptop” than this.
Featured Content
- Which Lenovo Laptop Should I Buy?
- Every TV in Samsung's 2022 line-up: OLED, Neo QLED and more!
- Top 10 best Android and Apple phones for under $600
- Everything you need to know about Smart TVs
- What's the difference between an Intel Core i3, i5 and i7?
- Laser vs. inkjet printers: which is better?