# Has anyone used Rosetta Stone? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 8, 2011, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-used-rosetta-stone/566847 "2011-01-08T04:12:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-used-rosetta-stone/566847/21 "2011-01-13T17:46:12Z")
> [@treis](#): > > In order to be able to speak a language, there is only one way. You need to speak, speak, speak, speak, speak, and speak it some more. There is no substitution. Doing rote translation drills will never get you to the “stream of consciousness” level of speed necessary to actually talk in a language. Yours is an important point. I have classmates who are really struggling with kanji. Forget about learning the 2000 or so that are commonly used, they’re unable to get the first 103 under their belts that are required to pass the JLPT. In my experience, it doesn’t matter how many times I read, or study, or even test myself, the only way it really clicks over for me is to use what I’m studying, as often as possible, in real world situations. If I want to remember a kanji, I use the kanji. I find ways to incorporate it and its readings based on context, into my life. If I want to remember a word, I use the word, even if I’m simply speaking to myself. You tend not to lose what you use, at least I don’t. Speak, read, and write the language you’re studying, and you will be surprised at how quickly you actually learn it. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-used-rosetta-stone/566847/22 "2011-01-13T20:35:58Z")
So, what justifies the ridiculously (IMO) high cost of the Rosetta Stone software? Is it just marketing? Getting people to think “It must be good if it’s this expensive”? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-used-rosetta-stone/566847/23 "2011-01-13T20:40:10Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > So, what justifies the ridiculously (IMO) high cost of the Rosetta Stone software? Is it just marketing? Getting people to think “It must be good if it’s this expensive”? You just won a new car! Seriously, yes, it’s marketing. I kind of have to hand it to them. They’ve successfully placed themselves in a position to have significant share of the market with a product that doesn’t actually do what it says it will do. ---
**Author:** ![Finally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/67e7ee/32.png) [@Finally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finally)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-used-rosetta-stone/566847/24 "2011-01-15T03:56:58Z")
My son wanted to learn Russian when he saw a free program on our local library site. I hesitate to link to the site here and don’t know enough about the rules on this board to do so. Mods, it sounds a lot like rosetta stone, and I’d like to share. Can you help me here? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anyone-used-rosetta-stone/566847.md?page=1)