We all learn our childhood language by associating new words and
phrases with the world around us. The Rosetta Stone method replicates this
process by presenting vivid, real-life images to convey the meaning of
each new phrase. Instead of translating, memorizing, and studying rules of
grammar, you actually learn to think in the new language. Vocabulary and
grammar are integrated systematically, leading to everyday proficiency.
Previews, tests and automated tutorials help you when you're stumped,
so that your Chinese speaking skills never cease to grow!
All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:
3 of 3 people found the
following review helpful:
Delightful - I love it, October 24, 2004
I was originally using Rosetta Stone's Chinese program through online
subscription. I went several times through the entire program before I
decided that monthly subscription was getting expensive and since I
enjoyed going over this program very much I finally decided to purchase
it.
The online version has Chinese only written with pinyin and I was a little
bit disappointed that it didn't have Chinese characters anywhere. When I
received the package, I was thrilled and delighted to find that it had two
books included and the books had all the material written both with
Chinese characters and pinyin. This has taken my enjoyment of this program
to a new level.
I do need to add that I have purchased numerous other books and programs,
so this is not the only one I have been using - and the other books and
programs have helped me tremendously in using this one.
Working with the entire Pimsleur program first has helped me tremendously
in working with Rosetta Stone, as did many other books that deal with
grammar and writing. Also, among different dictionaries, one of my
favorites is Wenlin's electronic dictionary as well as NJStar program.
Yes, getting all of these programs can get pricey, but they are all
well-worth it, especially if you're learning Chinese on your own. They
will serve you for a long time and will make the arduous process of
learning Chinese a breeze, allowing you to progress easily and to enjoy
the process.
41 of 45 people found
the following review helpful:
Sad difference between this and the sample., March 10, 2002
I bought the Rosetta Stone Powerpack. It has a bunch of different
languages to choose from. I got to the end of the Manderin lessons. Each
of the Samples has 2 levels with 10 lessons. So I bought THIS package,
which has 8 levels, so I could continue.
I already took some classes in Bei Jing, so my Chinese is not too bad, but
this tought me some more things. The powerpack is great. It is very simple
to learn from. It shows a girl, and says "female person", a boy, and says
"male person". Short and simple. AND they talk slow, so you can understand
every word. And as you progress, they add new things to it.
This Personal Edition is not ADDED levels. It is all new lessons. The
speakers are different. The words are different. They seem to use to Bei
Jing Way of speaking, not the Proper Way of speaking. They have all these
RRRR sounds to things. Boy child is "Non Hie", but in Bei Jing they say
"Non Har". ONLY in Bei Jing they use this. Poor Choice for such a big
sofware package.
And the first lesson, first page, is no longer "Boy Child", "Girl child",
"Boy Adult", "Girl adult". That is simple and easy to understand. Instead,
they say "That is a Boy Child" "That is a Girl Child". How is anyone
supposed to pick that many words up so quickly? And Chinese use measure
words (kind of like La, Los, Le in other Europe Languages, but in Chinese
there are about a hundred of them) so how are we suposed to figure this
stuff out in the first lesson on the first page?
Also... They talk as fast as someone on the street. Blazing through each
sentence, so you can not make out the tone, or even the pronunciation.
Even if you have some Chinese background, this is a hard package. It gives
an advanced speaker new ways of saying things, but the beginer is better
off getting the Power Pack, and the Instant Immersion Chinese 2 CD set.
Also look ... for CyberChinese ... This is a computer version of one of my
text books at school: Practical Chinese Reader.
Also get Basic Chinese : A Grammar and Workbook by Yip Po-Ching. I can not
say enough good things about this book. It is the best reference book
around, and super handy when taking a class, or learing with a computer.
Good luck, and Zai Jin!
9 of 9 people found the
following review helpful:
Great For Advanced Beginners - Intermediate Students, October 24,
2004
I was originally using Rosetta Stone's Chinese program through online
subscription. I went several times through the entire program before I
decided that monthly subscription was getting expensive and since I
enjoyed going over this program very much I finally decided to purchase
it.
The online version has Chinese only written with pinyin and I was a little
bit disappointed that it didn't have Chinese characters anywhere. When I
received the package, I was thrilled and delighted to find that it had two
books included and the books had all the material written both with
Chinese characters and pinyin. This has taken my enjoyment of this program
to a new level.
I do need to add that I have purchased numerous other books and programs,
so this is not the only one I have been using - and the other books and
programs have helped me tremendously in using this one.
Working with the entire Pimsleur program first has helped me tremendously
in working with Rosetta Stone, as did many other books that deal with
grammar and writing. Also, among different dictionaries, one of my
favorites is Wenlin's electronic dictionary as well as NJStar program.
Yes, getting all of these programs can get pricey, but they are all
well-worth it, especially if you're learning Chinese on your own. They
will serve you for a long time and will make the arduous process of
learning Chinese a breeze, allowing you to progress easily and to enjoy
the process.
12 of 13 people found
the following review helpful:
More valuable than meets the eye!!!, June 20, 2003
Does it "teach? Yes and no. If your native language is English, the
Rosetta Stone method is an acquired taste, since it uses no English, or
any other language for that matter, to teach. And you'll find it more
difficult than the traditional word memorization method.
HOWEVER, the pronunciation and the listening value of Rosetta Stone
Chinese is superb! I cannot emphasize enough how important good voice
actors can be for language learning software. China is a very large
country with many different dialects. Having a proper northern accent is
like the difference of having a Hollywood accent and a Texas redneck
accent. The voice actors are the best I've ever heard, and a zillion times
better than Wenlin's voice actors.
5 out of 5 stars! Not just because they have good voice actors, but
because they have IMPECCABLE voice actors. I've been learning Chinese
Mandarin for over 6 years, and my native language is English. This is the
only software that will get rid of your accent, if you don't have time to
travel to China.
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