Learn to speak Spanish in just a few lessons! Learn to speak, read and write with natural confidence! Featuring a robust, engaging curriculum, Learn to Speak® Spanish Essentials offers a convenient, comprehensive language study solution. Whether you're planning a vacation, traveling for work, or just brushing up your skills for fun, the award-winning Learn to Speak® program brings your goals within reach. The comprehensive Basic Course guides you through 5 in-depth lessons designed to help you begin speaking quickly and confidently Dozens of interactive exercises teach speaking, reading and writing Speech recognition engine and record-and-playback capabilities perfect your pronunciation Engaging video simulations of real-world conversations Flexible curriculum structure to customize your learning experience Learn to speak, read and write with natural confidence! Featuring a robust, engaging curriculum, Learn to SpeakTM Spanish Essentials offers a convenient, comprehensive language study solution. Whether you're planning a vacation, traveling for work, or just brushing up your skills for fun, the award-winning Learn to SpeakTM program brings your goals within reach. Includes five compelling lessons in Spanish fundamentals. With flexible study options and intensive conversational practice, you'll be well on your way to enjoying the pleasures of Spanish!

Quick, simple, effective... but a bit expensive., 14 Aug 2008
Ok, so first of all there are a lot of bad reviews about this product, which i was weary of before buying. i read one which said that it teaches you like a child and adults need to read books to learn a language. Whilst i agree that the techniques are very simple, i completely disagree that a book would serve you better.

Rosetta Stone concentrates on teaching you a language (pronunciation and spelling included), not specific phrases you may need for a holiday. The whole process is quite repetitive and sometimes slow (it can feel like you're going over the same thing again and again, then you realise how easily you've learnt it), but the point is, it's not quick learning an entire language. It features images, speech recognition and typing tests so you can learn (as a child would) to speak fluently. Some may find it tedious, but it really drums it into you. Picking up the new words and phrases is fast and actually interesting. It managed to keep my attention longer than my French phrase book.

I really liked that you can identify the picture that goes with the phrase, then it turns it round so you choose the phrase that goes with the image. I've used some other software that only did the former, and found it was too easy to 'cheat'. By reversing it, it really gets you thinking.

Another thing I liked is that there is no English translation. Instead you work it out from the picture. Like I said, it's easy to pick up and I enjoyed not feeling like I was reading a vocab book.

After the first day I noticed a VAST improvement. I took French for 5 years in school, yet didn't manage to pick a lot up in the long term. After using it for about half an hour a day, for 2 weeks, I can now string sentences together and my vocabulary is better than ever.

It's quite expensive, but if you want to learn a new language, and are willing to put in the time, then this is for you.

hopeless, 14 Aug 2008
like some of the reviews before this one i have no idea how this product sells. i tried the turkish version and apart from learning some useless childhood stuff it was no good at all. i think this is ok for teaching children but adults need to learn grammer from books. adults can't use the same methods as children do - we are too old and our wiring is already fixed.

Best course available, 12 Jul 2008
I am totally happy with my Rosetta Stone courses. First I bought the Italian course, and in three months I was able to stay in Rome for three days without having to revert to English. Then I got the French course, and I have enjoyed working my way through it. The best thing about it is that the progress is slow and you really learn something. Compared to Hugo's courses (which are good as add-ons), you learn to speak the language. I recommend that you repeat each phrase three times, even if you are not required by the section of the course you're at to speak it out loud.

Highly recommended, but expensive. My Spanish course awaits me.

V Good, 07 Jul 2008
I am relatively new to learning languages, and remember how tedious it was learning in secondary school with the tens of books, dictionarys audio tapes and Cd's it just didn't stick.

All I can say is this method works for me association with images, spoken word and speech recognition, never thought it was possible to learn languages enjoyably and have conversations in a relatively short time as well as make it stick.


Lumi.

Got me talking, despite my previous disasters., 11 Jun 2008
I found Rosetta Stone's method of teaching very engaging and think I made progress quickly. This was a relief because I had struggled learning French for what seemed liked forever, despite absolutely loving the country!

What I liked about Rosetta Stone was (1) the fact that it does not use translation at all. I just got what the words and the speech meant from connecting them to the pictures of what was going on. (2) I really enjoyed the speech recognition. It's wierd for me to get that a computer can actually "understand" what you're saying and grade what you say against a native speaker. I liked the feature where you could slow down the speech of a native speaker and match your pronunciation against a visual representation of what they said.

So it worked for me. I wasn't going to become an advanced speaker, but I felt I was able to get by and more than that too. I guess to really be an advanced speaker you have to be in country, but even though I would love that, I cannot afford a 12 month holiday in France.

A fast, flexible format ensures speedy results. Learn to speak, read and write with natural confidence! Featuring a robust, engaging curriculum, Learn to SpeakTM French Essentials offers a convenient, comprehensive language study solution. Whether you're planning a vacation, traveling for work, or just brushing up your skills for fun, the award-winning Learn to SpeakTM program brings your goals within reach. * The comprehensive Basic Course guides you through 5 in-depth lessons designed to help you begin speaking quickly and confidently * Dozens of interactive exercises teach speaking, reading and writing * Speech recognition engine and record-and-playback capabilities perfect your pronunciation * Engaging video simulations of real-world conversations * Flexible curriculum structure to customize your learning experience Learn to speak, read and write with natural confidence! Featuring a robust, engaging curriculum, Learn to SpeakTM French Essentials offers a convenient, comprehensive language study solution. Whether you're planning a vacation, traveling for work, or just brushing up your skills for fun, the award-winning Learn toTM program brings your goals within reach. Includes five compelling lessons in French fundamentals. With flexible study options and intensive conversational practice, you'll be well on your way to enjoying the pleasures of French!

Quick, simple, effective... but a bit expensive., 14 Aug 2008
Ok, so first of all there are a lot of bad reviews about this product, which i was weary of before buying. i read one which said that it teaches you like a child and adults need to read books to learn a language. Whilst i agree that the techniques are very simple, i completely disagree that a book would serve you better.

Rosetta Stone concentrates on teaching you a language (pronunciation and spelling included), not specific phrases you may need for a holiday. The whole process is quite repetitive and sometimes slow (it can feel like you're going over the same thing again and again, then you realise how easily you've learnt it), but the point is, it's not quick learning an entire language. It features images, speech recognition and typing tests so you can learn (as a child would) to speak fluently. Some may find it tedious, but it really drums it into you. Picking up the new words and phrases is fast and actually interesting. It managed to keep my attention longer than my French phrase book.

I really liked that you can identify the picture that goes with the phrase, then it turns it round so you choose the phrase that goes with the image. I've used some other software that only did the former, and found it was too easy to 'cheat'. By reversing it, it really gets you thinking.

Another thing I liked is that there is no English translation. Instead you work it out from the picture. Like I said, it's easy to pick up and I enjoyed not feeling like I was reading a vocab book.

After the first day I noticed a VAST improvement. I took French for 5 years in school, yet didn't manage to pick a lot up in the long term. After using it for about half an hour a day, for 2 weeks, I can now string sentences together and my vocabulary is better than ever.

It's quite expensive, but if you want to learn a new language, and are willing to put in the time, then this is for you.

hopeless, 14 Aug 2008
like some of the reviews before this one i have no idea how this product sells. i tried the turkish version and apart from learning some useless childhood stuff it was no good at all. i think this is ok for teaching children but adults need to learn grammer from books. adults can't use the same methods as children do - we are too old and our wiring is already fixed.

Best course available, 12 Jul 2008
I am totally happy with my Rosetta Stone courses. First I bought the Italian course, and in three months I was able to stay in Rome for three days without having to revert to English. Then I got the French course, and I have enjoyed working my way through it. The best thing about it is that the progress is slow and you really learn something. Compared to Hugo's courses (which are good as add-ons), you learn to speak the language. I recommend that you repeat each phrase three times, even if you are not required by the section of the course you're at to speak it out loud.

Highly recommended, but expensive. My Spanish course awaits me.

V Good, 07 Jul 2008
I am relatively new to learning languages, and remember how tedious it was learning in secondary school with the tens of books, dictionarys audio tapes and Cd's it just didn't stick.

All I can say is this method works for me association with images, spoken word and speech recognition, never thought it was possible to learn languages enjoyably and have conversations in a relatively short time as well as make it stick.


Lumi.

Got me talking, despite my previous disasters., 11 Jun 2008
I found Rosetta Stone's method of teaching very engaging and think I made progress quickly. This was a relief because I had struggled learning French for what seemed liked forever, despite absolutely loving the country!

What I liked about Rosetta Stone was (1) the fact that it does not use translation at all. I just got what the words and the speech meant from connecting them to the pictures of what was going on. (2) I really enjoyed the speech recognition. It's wierd for me to get that a computer can actually "understand" what you're saying and grade what you say against a native speaker. I liked the feature where you could slow down the speech of a native speaker and match your pronunciation against a visual representation of what they said.

So it worked for me. I wasn't going to become an advanced speaker, but I felt I was able to get by and more than that too. I guess to really be an advanced speaker you have to be in country, but even though I would love that, I cannot afford a 12 month holiday in France.

Interactive, easy to use, but not perfect, 23 Aug 2008
Rosetta Stone is probably the best language learning tool that I have found. Over the past couple of years, I have bought and used many different books, CDs, CD-ROMs and websites, but Rosetta Stone is top of the pile. It isn't perfect, but compared to other products on the market, it is one of the best.

Pros:
1) Interactivity and ease of use
2) Step-by-step process for learning Spanish gradually
3) Presentation
4) Personalised to the learner

Cons:
1) Cost
2) Can get repetitive and therefore a little tedious at times. A few games or video footage would mix it up a bit.
3) Needs to be used with other materials to ensure the topics are learnt properly. Definitely needs outside materials such as books or a Spanish speaker to clarify some points (especially grammar).
4) Photos can be a little unclear and can cause some confusion without outside help (see point 3)

On the whole, Rosetta Stone can be a catalyst for learning another language but needs to be used in conjunction with other methods, such as having a tutor and studying with books. It can definitely play a big part in a person's learning strategy, provided they can afford it.

Learn to speak German in just a few lessons! Learn to speak, read and write with natural confidence! Featuring a robust, engaging curriculum, Learn to SpeakT German offers a comprehensive language study solution. Practice real-world conversations, build your vocabulary quickly, and perfect pronunciation! Download lessons to your iPODT or MP3 player and learn on the go! NEW, customized lesson plans help you begin speaking quickly and confidently Extended practice sessions guarantee results Over 30 interactive exercises teach speaking, reading and writing IPODTM and MP3 lessons for learning on-the-go Speech recognition engine and record-and-playback capabilities perfect your pronunciation Audio CD featuring coordinated lessons Engaging video simulations of real-world conversations

A fast, flexible format ensures speedy results. Learn to speak, read and write with natural confidence! Featuring a robust, engaging curriculum, Learn to SpeakTM English Essentials offers a convenient, comprehensive language study solution. Whether you're planning a vacation, traveling for work, or just brushing up your skills for fun, the award-winning Learn to SpeakTM program brings your goals within reach. * The comprehensive Basic Course guides you through 5 in-depth lessons designed to help you begin speaking quickly and confidently * Dozens of interactive exercises teach speaking, reading and writing * Speech recognition engine and record-and-playback capabilities perfect your pronunciation * Engaging video simulations of real-world conversations * Flexible curriculum structure to customize your learning experience Learn to speak, read and write with natural confidence! Featuring a robust, engaging curriculum, Learn to SpeakTM English Essentials offers a convenient, comprehensive language study solution. Whether you're planning a vacation, traveling for work, or just brushing up your skills for fun, the award-winning Learn to SpeakTM program brings your goals within reach. Includes five compelling lessons in English fundamentals. With flexible study options and intensive conversational practice, you'll be well on your way to enjoying the pleasures of English!

Quick, simple, effective... but a bit expensive., 14 Aug 2008
Ok, so first of all there are a lot of bad reviews about this product, which i was weary of before buying. i read one which said that it teaches you like a child and adults need to read books to learn a language. Whilst i agree that the techniques are very simple, i completely disagree that a book would serve you better.

Rosetta Stone concentrates on teaching you a language (pronunciation and spelling included), not specific phrases you may need for a holiday. The whole process is quite repetitive and sometimes slow (it can feel like you're going over the same thing again and again, then you realise how easily you've learnt it), but the point is, it's not quick learning an entire language. It features images, speech recognition and typing tests so you can learn (as a child would) to speak fluently. Some may find it tedious, but it really drums it into you. Picking up the new words and phrases is fast and actually interesting. It managed to keep my attention longer than my French phrase book.

I really liked that you can identify the picture that goes with the phrase, then it turns it round so you choose the phrase that goes with the image. I've used some other software that only did the former, and found it was too easy to 'cheat'. By reversing it, it really gets you thinking.

Another thing I liked is that there is no English translation. Instead you work it out from the picture. Like I said, it's easy to pick up and I enjoyed not feeling like I was reading a vocab book.

After the first day I noticed a VAST improvement. I took French for 5 years in school, yet didn't manage to pick a lot up in the long term. After using it for about half an hour a day, for 2 weeks, I can now string sentences together and my vocabulary is better than ever.

It's quite expensive, but if you want to learn a new language, and are willing to put in the time, then this is for you.

hopeless, 14 Aug 2008
like some of the reviews before this one i have no idea how this product sells. i tried the turkish version and apart from learning some useless childhood stuff it was no good at all. i think this is ok for teaching children but adults need to learn grammer from books. adults can't use the same methods as children do - we are too old and our wiring is already fixed.

Best course available, 12 Jul 2008
I am totally happy with my Rosetta Stone courses. First I bought the Italian course, and in three months I was able to stay in Rome for three days without having to revert to English. Then I got the French course, and I have enjoyed working my way through it. The best thing about it is that the progress is slow and you really learn something. Compared to Hugo's courses (which are good as add-ons), you learn to speak the language. I recommend that you repeat each phrase three times, even if you are not required by the section of the course you're at to speak it out loud.

Highly recommended, but expensive. My Spanish course awaits me.

V Good, 07 Jul 2008
I am relatively new to learning languages, and remember how tedious it was learning in secondary school with the tens of books, dictionarys audio tapes and Cd's it just didn't stick.

All I can say is this method works for me association with images, spoken word and speech recognition, never thought it was possible to learn languages enjoyably and have conversations in a relatively short time as well as make it stick.


Lumi.

Got me talking, despite my previous disasters., 11 Jun 2008
I found Rosetta Stone's method of teaching very engaging and think I made progress quickly. This was a relief because I had struggled learning French for what seemed liked forever, despite absolutely loving the country!

What I liked about Rosetta Stone was (1) the fact that it does not use translation at all. I just got what the words and the speech meant from connecting them to the pictures of what was going on. (2) I really enjoyed the speech recognition. It's wierd for me to get that a computer can actually "understand" what you're saying and grade what you say against a native speaker. I liked the feature where you could slow down the speech of a native speaker and match your pronunciation against a visual representation of what they said.

So it worked for me. I wasn't going to become an advanced speaker, but I felt I was able to get by and more than that too. I guess to really be an advanced speaker you have to be in country, but even though I would love that, I cannot afford a 12 month holiday in France.

Interactive, easy to use, but not perfect, 23 Aug 2008
Rosetta Stone is probably the best language learning tool that I have found. Over the past couple of years, I have bought and used many different books, CDs, CD-ROMs and websites, but Rosetta Stone is top of the pile. It isn't perfect, but compared to other products on the market, it is one of the best.

Pros:
1) Interactivity and ease of use
2) Step-by-step process for learning Spanish gradually
3) Presentation
4) Personalised to the learner

Cons:
1) Cost
2) Can get repetitive and therefore a little tedious at times. A few games or video footage would mix it up a bit.
3) Needs to be used with other materials to ensure the topics are learnt properly. Definitely needs outside materials such as books or a Spanish speaker to clarify some points (especially grammar).
4) Photos can be a little unclear and can cause some confusion without outside help (see point 3)

On the whole, Rosetta Stone can be a catalyst for learning another language but needs to be used in conjunction with other methods, such as having a tutor and studying with books. It can definitely play a big part in a person's learning strategy, provided they can afford it.

Fun to play and easy to use, 31 Dec 2007
I really enjoyed playing Test and Improve Your Memory. I noticed my ability increasing very quickly at the various puzzles, so regular training probably would be beneficial.

If I had to knock the product down one star, it would be because I found the feedback was insufficiently detailed. For example: "People scored between X and X points, and completed the puzzle between X and X seconds". This could mean that they achieved low or high points within the time allowed. It could also mean that they achieved full marks within a very short or very long time. I would have preferred something that enabled you to calculate a bit more accurately where you stood in terms of percentage of the population.

Good, well designed, fun tests but it helps if you are an American, 25 Nov 2007
I've enjoyed using this product. It has approximately 12 different types of games. Each of which you can set to different skill levels. You can monitor your progresss against others of a similar gender/age/education level and against yourself over time.

I find the user interface (UI) a little basic and, having briefly seen the Nintendo DS, the UI is not as good as that product, in my opinion. However there is of course a huge difference in price (approx £100 if you already have a PC).

The Help functions aren't bad but could be better (mainly more intuitive to use).

My main frustration is that the spellings and references are American, which is not good for me (being English), when doing the games that involve general knowledge or words. I'd like to carry on using this product, as my brain could certainly do with a workout! However, I may have to cut out some of the games, which is a shame.


Mindscapes Brain Trainer or Improve your Memory, 29 Jun 2007
I decided to improve my memory after I began to forget instructions and new job procedures given to me by my boss after a few minutes being distracted by something else in a busy office.

I bought both Mindscapes Brain Trainer (which i found bland and a little unclear in parts) and this.

This package is brilliantly and professionally presented, its all in full screen, full colour, with photographs, animations, music and a code update. The exersizes are fun to do and you can even interact with the examples and instructions.

The package is presented as a globe and you tour the world, doing exersizes in different locations, cultural games and pictures (dont worry, the games are not about the country itself, just set in that location and theme).

It says on the package that it is done by experts, this is not just selling blurb, its been designed really well and gives full instructions and even tells you how to train your mind, how long to spend and asks for your education level which it then matches to the tests it gives you. Regardless of your monitors resolution.. I run in 1280x1024, it fills the screen with full colours, music and animation.

Unfortunately, brain trainer doesnt do any of the above, its just a small box in the middle of your PC screen with 15 blandly presented tests, although it has colours and an annoying humming musical note during the tests. Dont get me wrong, brain trainer is good and does what it says, but thats it, whereas.. this pagage is FUN to play.

Make no mistake though.. this Improve your memory package CAN be very hard and it will really test you, so make sure you answer honestly when it asks you to what level you were educated, because it gets brutal, but its addictive as well because the fun games dont always seem like tests.

All in all a great package. If you want just a straight forward no multimedia designed bland 15 test memory package, buy brain trainer, but if you prefer a more colourful interactive multimedia approach, buy Test and Improve your memory. Its up to you.

Help to improve your memory , 14 Dec 2006
After reading a recent article in my local paper I decided it was about time to try and improve my brain. I didn't want to spend nearly £100 on the Nintendo brain trainer, so I thought that this would be a cheap alternative.

I'm no genius, so I was prepared for a challenge when I got this cd home. I tentatively installed and opened the program and started playing some of the games. After the first few games I realised just how bad my brain was, but after a few more attempts I started to see my progress improve. Now almost a month on, my wife has noticed that I'm not quite as forgetful as I was previously, so now I've got no excuse for forgetting her birthday this year!

Quick, simple, effective... but a bit expensive., 14 Aug 2008
Ok, so first of all there are a lot of bad reviews about this product, which i was weary of before buying. i read one which said that it teaches you like a child and adults need to read books to learn a language. Whilst i agree that the techniques are very simple, i completely disagree that a book would serve you better.

Rosetta Stone concentrates on teaching you a language (pronunciation and spelling included), not specific phrases you may need for a holiday. The whole process is quite repetitive and sometimes slow (it can feel like you're going over the same thing again and again, then you realise how easily you've learnt it), but the point is, it's not quick learning an entire language. It features images, speech recognition and typing tests so you can learn (as a child would) to speak fluently. Some may find it tedious, but it really drums it into you. Picking up the new words and phrases is fast and actually interesting. It managed to keep my attention longer than my French phrase book.

I really liked that you can identify the picture that goes with the phrase, then it turns it round so you choose the phrase that goes with the image. I've used some other software that only did the former, and found it was too easy to 'cheat'. By reversing it, it really gets you thinking.

Another thing I liked is that there is no English translation. Instead you work it out from the picture. Like I said, it's easy to pick up and I enjoyed not feeling like I was reading a vocab book.

After the first day I noticed a VAST improvement. I took French for 5 years in school, yet didn't manage to pick a lot up in the long term. After using it for about half an hour a day, for 2 weeks, I can now string sentences together and my vocabulary is better than ever.

It's quite expensive, but if you want to learn a new language, and are willing to put in the time, then this is for you.

hopeless, 14 Aug 2008
like some of the reviews before this one i have no idea how this product sells. i tried the turkish version and apart from learning some useless childhood stuff it was no good at all. i think this is ok for teaching children but adults need to learn grammer from books. adults can't use the same methods as children do - we are too old and our wiring is already fixed.

Best course available, 12 Jul 2008
I am totally happy with my Rosetta Stone courses. First I bought the Italian course, and in three months I was able to stay in Rome for three days without having to revert to English. Then I got the French course, and I have enjoyed working my way through it. The best thing about it is that the progress is slow and you really learn something. Compared to Hugo's courses (which are good as add-ons), you learn to speak the language. I recommend that you repeat each phrase three times, even if you are not required by the section of the course you're at to speak it out loud.

Highly recommended, but expensive. My Spanish course awaits me.

V Good, 07 Jul 2008
I am relatively new to learning languages, and remember how tedious it was learning in secondary school with the tens of books, dictionarys audio tapes and Cd's it just didn't stick.

All I can say is this method works for me association with images, spoken word and speech recognition, never thought it was possible to learn languages enjoyably and have conversations in a relatively short time as well as make it stick.


Lumi.

Got me talking, despite my previous disasters., 11 Jun 2008
I found Rosetta Stone's method of teaching very engaging and think I made progress quickly. This was a relief because I had struggled learning French for what seemed liked forever, despite absolutely loving the country!

What I liked about Rosetta Stone was (1) the fact that it does not use translation at all. I just got what the words and the speech meant from connecting them to the pictures of what was going on. (2) I really enjoyed the speech recognition. It's wierd for me to get that a computer can actually "understand" what you're saying and grade what you say against a native speaker. I liked the feature where you could slow down the speech of a native speaker and match your pronunciation against a visual representation of what they said.

So it worked for me. I wasn't going to become an advanced speaker, but I felt I was able to get by and more than that too. I guess to really be an advanced speaker you have to be in country, but even though I would love that, I cannot afford a 12 month holiday in France.

Interactive, easy to use, but not perfect, 23 Aug 2008
Rosetta Stone is probably the best language learning tool that I have found. Over the past couple of years, I have bought and used many different books, CDs, CD-ROMs and websites, but Rosetta Stone is top of the pile. It isn't perfect, but compared to other products on the market, it is one of the best.

Pros:
1) Interactivity and ease of use
2) Step-by-step process for learning Spanish gradually
3) Presentation
4) Personalised to the learner

Cons:
1) Cost
2) Can get repetitive and therefore a little tedious at times. A few games or video footage would mix it up a bit.
3) Needs to be used with other materials to ensure the topics are learnt properly. Definitely needs outside materials such as books or a Spanish speaker to clarify some points (especially grammar).
4) Photos can be a little unclear and can cause some confusion without outside help (see point 3)

On the whole, Rosetta Stone can be a catalyst for learning another language but needs to be used in conjunction with other methods, such as having a tutor and studying with books. It can definitely play a big part in a person's learning strategy, provided they can afford it.

Fun to play and easy to use, 31 Dec 2007
I really enjoyed playing Test and Improve Your Memory. I noticed my ability increasing very quickly at the various puzzles, so regular training probably would be beneficial.

If I had to knock the product down one star, it would be because I found the feedback was insufficiently detailed. For example: "People scored between X and X points, and completed the puzzle between X and X seconds". This could mean that they achieved low or high points within the time allowed. It could also mean that they achieved full marks within a very short or very long time. I would have preferred something that enabled you to calculate a bit more accurately where you stood in terms of percentage of the population.

Good, well designed, fun tests but it helps if you are an American, 25 Nov 2007
I've enjoyed using this product. It has approximately 12 different types of games. Each of which you can set to different skill levels. You can monitor your progresss against others of a similar gender/age/education level and against yourself over time.

I find the user interface (UI) a little basic and, having briefly seen the Nintendo DS, the UI is not as good as that product, in my opinion. However there is of course a huge difference in price (approx £100 if you already have a PC).

The Help functions aren't bad but could be better (mainly more intuitive to use).

My main frustration is that the spellings and references are American, which is not good for me (being English), when doing the games that involve general knowledge or words. I'd like to carry on using this product, as my brain could certainly do with a workout! However, I may have to cut out some of the games, which is a shame.


Mindscapes Brain Trainer or Improve your Memory, 29 Jun 2007
I decided to improve my memory after I began to forget instructions and new job procedures given to me by my boss after a few minutes being distracted by something else in a busy office.

I bought both Mindscapes Brain Trainer (which i found bland and a little unclear in parts) and this.

This package is brilliantly and professionally presented, its all in full screen, full colour, with photographs, animations, music and a code update. The exersizes are fun to do and you can even interact with the examples and instructions.

The package is presented as a globe and you tour the world, doing exersizes in different locations, cultural games and pictures (dont worry, the games are not about the country itself, just set in that location and theme).

It says on the package that it is done by experts, this is not just selling blurb, its been designed really well and gives full instructions and even tells you how to train your mind, how long to spend and asks for your education level which it then matches to the tests it gives you. Regardless of your monitors resolution.. I run in 1280x1024, it fills the screen with full colours, music and animation.

Unfortunately, brain trainer doesnt do any of the above, its just a small box in the middle of your PC screen with 15 blandly presented tests, although it has colours and an annoying humming musical note during the tests. Dont get me wrong, brain trainer is good and does what it says, but thats it, whereas.. this pagage is FUN to play.

Make no mistake though.. this Improve your memory package CAN be very hard and it will really test you, so make sure you answer honestly when it asks you to what level you were educated, because it gets brutal, but its addictive as well because the fun games dont always seem like tests.

All in all a great package. If you want just a straight forward no multimedia designed bland 15 test memory package, buy brain trainer, but if you prefer a more colourful interactive multimedia approach, buy Test and Improve your memory. Its up to you.

Help to improve your memory , 14 Dec 2006
After reading a recent article in my local paper I decided it was about time to try and improve my brain. I didn't want to spend nearly £100 on the Nintendo brain trainer, so I thought that this would be a cheap alternative.

I'm no genius, so I was prepared for a challenge when I got this cd home. I tentatively installed and opened the program and started playing some of the games. After the first few games I realised just how bad my brain was, but after a few more attempts I started to see my progress improve. Now almost a month on, my wife has noticed that I'm not quite as forgetful as I was previously, so now I've got no excuse for forgetting her birthday this year!


Really gets the job done - and fun!, 09 Dec 2007
My just 5 year old has been using this for a week and knows her colours and quite a few other French words. The games are completely age appropriate for the target users (box says 5-8 and I think that's about right). There are games like: dress the bear; play hide and seek with the mice; pick friends up round town for a party. There are two ways to use: level 1 (click around and learn the vocab) and level 2: play a game with it to earn stars for a reward. This will work best if you sit with your child for the first time through level 1 to stop them getting daunted - then they're away!

French is spoken by native speakers and is nice and clear. No downsides I can think of (except not to get excited about the songs - not really learnable but good for french flavour). Graphics are simple and attractive - great for this age.

One of my favourite educational cd-roms.

Quick, simple, effective... but a bit expensive., 14 Aug 2008
Ok, so first of all there are a lot of bad reviews about this product, which i was weary of before buying. i read one which said that it teaches you like a child and adults need to read books to learn a language. Whilst i agree that the techniques are very simple, i completely disagree that a book would serve you better.

Rosetta Stone concentrates on teaching you a language (pronunciation and spelling included), not specific phrases you may need for a holiday. The whole process is quite repetitive and sometimes slow (it can feel like you're going over the same thing again and again, then you realise how easily you've learnt it), but the point is, it's not quick learning an entire language. It features images, speech recognition and typing tests so you can learn (as a child would) to speak fluently. Some may find it tedious, but it really drums it into you. Picking up the new words and phrases is fast and actually interesting. It managed to keep my attention longer than my French phrase book.

I really liked that you can identify the picture that goes with the phrase, then it turns it round so you choose the phrase that goes with the image. I've used some other software that only did the former, and found it was too easy to 'cheat'. By reversing it, it really gets you thinking.

Another thing I liked is that there is no English translation. Instead you work it out from the picture. Like I said, it's easy to pick up and I enjoyed not feeling like I was reading a vocab book.

After the first day I noticed a VAST improvement. I took French for 5 years in school, yet didn't manage to pick a lot up in the long term. After using it for about half an hour a day, for 2 weeks, I can now string sentences together and my vocabulary is better than ever.

It's quite expensive, but if you want to learn a new language, and are willing to put in the time, then this is for you.

hopeless, 14 Aug 2008
like some of the reviews before this one i have no idea how this product sells. i tried the turkish version and apart from learning some useless childhood stuff it was no good at all. i think this is ok for teaching children but adults need to learn grammer from books. adults can't use the same methods as children do - we are too old and our wiring is already fixed.

Best course available, 12 Jul 2008
I am totally happy with my Rosetta Stone courses. First I bought the Italian course, and in three months I was able to stay in Rome for three days without having to revert to English. Then I got the French course, and I have enjoyed working my way through it. The best thing about it is that the progress is slow and you really learn something. Compared to Hugo's courses (which are good as add-ons), you learn to speak the language. I recommend that you repeat each phrase three times, even if you are not required by the section of the course you're at to speak it out loud.

Highly recommended, but expensive. My Spanish course awaits me.

V Good, 07 Jul 2008
I am relatively new to learning languages, and remember how tedious it was learning in secondary school with the tens of books, dictionarys audio tapes and Cd's it just didn't stick.

All I can say is this method works for me association with images, spoken word and speech recognition, never thought it was possible to learn languages enjoyably and have conversations in a relatively short time as well as make it stick.


Lumi.

Got me talking, despite my previous disasters., 11 Jun 2008
I found Rosetta Stone's method of teaching very engaging and think I made progress quickly. This was a relief because I had struggled learning French for what seemed liked forever, despite absolutely loving the country!

What I liked about Rosetta Stone was (1) the fact that it does not use translation at all. I just got what the words and the speech meant from connecting them to the pictures of what was going on. (2) I really enjoyed the speech recognition. It's wierd for me to get that a computer can actually "understand" what you're saying and grade what you say against a native speaker. I liked the feature where you could slow down the speech of a native speaker and match your pronunciation against a visual representation of what they said.

So it worked for me. I wasn't going to become an advanced speaker, but I felt I was able to get by and more than that too. I guess to really be an advanced speaker you have to be in country, but even though I would love that, I cannot afford a 12 month holiday in France.

Interactive, easy to use, but not perfect, 23 Aug 2008
Rosetta Stone is probably the best language learning tool that I have found. Over the past couple of years, I have bought and used many different books, CDs, CD-ROMs and websites, but Rosetta Stone is top of the pile. It isn't perfect, but compared to other products on the market, it is one of the best.

Pros:
1) Interactivity and ease of use
2) Step-by-step process for learning Spanish gradually
3) Presentation
4) Personalised to the learner

Cons:
1) Cost
2) Can get repetitive and therefore a little tedious at times. A few games or video footage would mix it up a bit.
3) Needs to be used with other materials to ensure the topics are learnt properly. Definitely needs outside materials such as books or a Spanish speaker to clarify some points (especially grammar).
4) Photos can be a little unclear and can cause some confusion without outside help (see point 3)

On the whole, Rosetta Stone can be a catalyst for learning another language but needs to be used in conjunction with other methods, such as having a tutor and studying with books. It can definitely play a big part in a person's learning strategy, provided they can afford it.

Fun to play and easy to use, 31 Dec 2007
I really enjoyed playing Test and Improve Your Memory. I noticed my ability increasing very quickly at the various puzzles, so regular training probably would be beneficial.

If I had to knock the product down one star, it would be because I found the feedback was insufficiently detailed. For example: "People scored between X and X points, and completed the puzzle between X and X seconds". This could mean that they achieved low or high points within the time allowed. It could also mean that they achieved full marks within a very short or very long time. I would have preferred something that enabled you to calculate a bit more accurately where you stood in terms of percentage of the population.

Good, well designed, fun tests but it helps if you are an American, 25 Nov 2007
I've enjoyed using this product. It has approximately 12 different types of games. Each of which you can set to different skill levels. You can monitor your progresss against others of a similar gender/age/education level and against yourself over time.

I find the user interface (UI) a little basic and, having briefly seen the Nintendo DS, the UI is not as good as that product, in my opinion. However there is of course a huge difference in price (approx £100 if you already have a PC).

The Help functions aren't bad but could be better (mainly more intuitive to use).

My main frustration is that the spellings and references are American, which is not good for me (being English), when doing the games that involve general knowledge or words. I'd like to carry on using this product, as my brain could certainly do with a workout! However, I may have to cut out some of the games, which is a shame.


Mindscapes Brain Trainer or Improve your Memory, 29 Jun 2007
I decided to improve my memory after I began to forget instructions and new job procedures given to me by my boss after a few minutes being distracted by something else in a busy office.

I bought both Mindscapes Brain Trainer (which i found bland and a little unclear in parts) and this.

This package is brilliantly and professionally presented, its all in full screen, full colour, with photographs, animations, music and a code update. The exersizes are fun to do and you can even interact with the examples and instructions.

The package is presented as a globe and you tour the world, doing exersizes in different locations, cultural games and pictures (dont worry, the games are not about the country itself, just set in that location and theme).

It says on the package that it is done by experts, this is not just selling blurb, its been designed really well and gives full instructions and even tells you how to train your mind, how long to spend and asks for your education level which it then matches to the tests it gives you. Regardless of your monitors resolution.. I run in 1280x1024, it fills the screen with full colours, music and animation.

Unfortunately, brain trainer doesnt do any of the above, its just a small box in the middle of your PC screen with 15 blandly presented tests, although it has colours and an annoying humming musical note during the tests. Dont get me wrong, brain trainer is good and does what it says, but thats it, whereas.. this pagage is FUN to play.

Make no mistake though.. this Improve your memory package CAN be very hard and it will really test you, so make sure you answer honestly when it asks you to what level you were educated, because it gets brutal, but its addictive as well because the fun games dont always seem like tests.

All in all a great package. If you want just a straight forward no multimedia designed bland 15 test memory package, buy brain trainer, but if you prefer a more colourful interactive multimedia approach, buy Test and Improve your memory. Its up to you.

Help to improve your memory , 14 Dec 2006
After reading a recent article in my local paper I decided it was about time to try and improve my brain. I didn't want to spend nearly £100 on the Nintendo brain trainer, so I thought that this would be a cheap alternative.

I'm no genius, so I was prepared for a challenge when I got this cd home. I tentatively installed and opened the program and started playing some of the games. After the first few games I realised just how bad my brain was, but after a few more attempts I started to see my progress improve. Now almost a month on, my wife has noticed that I'm not quite as forgetful as I was previously, so now I've got no excuse for forgetting her birthday this year!


Really gets the job done - and fun!, 09 Dec 2007
My just 5 year old has been using this for a week and knows her colours and quite a few other French words. The games are completely age appropriate for the target users (box says 5-8 and I think that's about right). There are games like: dress the bear; play hide and seek with the mice; pick friends up round town for a party. There are two ways to use: level 1 (click around and learn the vocab) and level 2: play a game with it to earn stars for a reward. This will work best if you sit with your child for the first time through level 1 to stop them getting daunted - then they're away!

French is spoken by native speakers and is nice and clear. No downsides I can think of (except not to get excited about the songs - not really learnable but good for french flavour). Graphics are simple and attractive - great for this age.

One of my favourite educational cd-roms.

OK but I think there may be better things., 11 Jan 2007
This is fantastic for learning the basics of any of the 31 languages. It has an excellent section on grammar but the rest is basically a list of about 1000 sentences for each language. You have to learn each sentence one by one sometimes, and the way it is translated into English isn't the easiest to understand, but overall this is a good program.
The Russian section on it is fantastic for anyone who speaks English. The French and Spanish sections are good, but they are more for beginners than anyone trying to become more advanced.
The Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Greek etc (all the transilterated) are o.k. for a short holiday but not if you wanted to speak it at an advanced level.

Basically, I would recommend this product for beginners and anyone going on a foreign holiday. The price is exceptional for the product.

Quick, simple, effective... but a bit expensive., 14 Aug 2008
Ok, so first of all there are a lot of bad reviews about this product, which i was weary of before buying. i read one which said that it teaches you like a child and adults need to read books to learn a language. Whilst i agree that the techniques are very simple, i completely disagree that a book would serve you better.

Rosetta Stone concentrates on teaching you a language (pronunciation and spelling included), not specific phrases you may need for a holiday. The whole process is quite repetitive and sometimes slow (it can feel like you're going over the same thing again and again, then you realise how easily you've learnt it), but the point is, it's not quick learning an entire language. It features images, speech recognition and typing tests so you can learn (as a child would) to speak fluently. Some may find it tedious, but it really drums it into you. Picking up the new words and phrases is fast and actually interesting. It managed to keep my attention longer than my French phrase book.

I really liked that you can identify the picture that goes with the phrase, then it turns it round so you choose the phrase that goes with the image. I've used some other software that only did the former, and found it was too easy to 'cheat'. By reversing it, it really gets you thinking.

Another thing I liked is that there is no English translation. Instead you work it out from the picture. Like I said, it's easy to pick up and I enjoyed not feeling like I was reading a vocab book.

After the first day I noticed a VAST improvement. I took French for 5 years in school, yet didn't manage to pick a lot up in the long term. After using it for about half an hour a day, for 2 weeks, I can now string sentences together and my vocabulary is better than ever.

It's quite expensive, but if you want to learn a new language, and are willing to put in the time, then this is for you.

hopeless, 14 Aug 2008
like some of the reviews before this one i have no idea how this product sells. i tried the turkish version and apart from learning some useless childhood stuff it was no good at all. i think this is ok for teaching children but adults need to learn grammer from books. adults can't use the same methods as children do - we are too old and our wiring is already fixed.

Best course available, 12 Jul 2008
I am totally happy with my Rosetta Stone courses. First I bought the Italian course, and in three months I was able to stay in Rome for three days without having to revert to English. Then I got the French course, and I have enjoyed working my way through it. The best thing about it is that the progress is slow and you really learn something. Compared to Hugo's courses (which are good as add-ons), you learn to speak the language. I recommend that you repeat each phrase three times, even if you are not required by the section of the course you're at to speak it out loud.

Highly recommended, but expensive. My Spanish course awaits me.

V Good, 07 Jul 2008
I am relatively new to learning languages, and remember how tedious it was learning in secondary school with the tens of books, dictionarys audio tapes and Cd's it just didn't stick.

All I can say is this method works for me association with images, spoken word and speech recognition, never thought it was possible to learn languages enjoyably and have conversations in a relatively short time as well as make it stick.


Lumi.

Got me talking, despite my previous disasters., 11 Jun 2008
I found Rosetta Stone's method of teaching very engaging and think I made progress quickly. This was a relief because I had struggled learning French for what seemed liked forever, despite absolutely loving the country!

What I liked about Rosetta Stone was (1) the fact that it does not use translation at all. I just got what the words and the speech meant from connecting them to the pictures of what was going on. (2) I really enjoyed the speech recognition. It's wierd for me to get that a computer can actually "understand" what you're saying and grade what you say against a native speaker. I liked the feature where you could slow down the speech of a native speaker and match your pronunciation against a visual representation of what they said.

So it worked for me. I wasn't going to become an advanced speaker, but I felt I was able to get by and more than that too. I guess to really be an advanced speaker you have to be in country, but even though I would love that, I cannot afford a 12 month holiday in France.

Interactive, easy to use, but not perfect, 23 Aug 2008
Rosetta Stone is probably the best language learning tool that I have found. Over the past couple of years, I have bought and used many different books, CDs, CD-ROMs and websites, but Rosetta Stone is top of the pile. It isn't perfect, but compared to other products on the market, it is one of the best.

Pros:
1) Interactivity and ease of use
2) Step-by-step process for learning Spanish gradually
3) Presentation
4) Personalised to the learner

Cons:
1) Cost
2) Can get repetitive and therefore a little tedious at times. A few games or video footage would mix it up a bit.
3) Needs to be used with other materials to ensure the topics are learnt properly. Definitely needs outside materials such as books or a Spanish speaker to clarify some points (especially grammar).
4) Photos can be a little unclear and can cause some confusion without outside help (see point 3)

On the whole, Rosetta Stone can be a catalyst for learning another language but needs to be used in conjunction with other methods, such as having a tutor and studying with books. It can definitely play a big part in a person's learning strategy, provided they can afford it.

Fun to play and easy to use, 31 Dec 2007
I really enjoyed playing Test and Improve Your Memory. I noticed my ability increasing very quickly at the various puzzles, so regular training probably would be beneficial.

If I had to knock the product down one star, it would be because I found the feedback was insufficiently detailed. For example: "People scored between X and X points, and completed the puzzle between X and X seconds". This could mean that they achieved low or high points within the time allowed. It could also mean that they achieved full marks within a very short or very long time. I would have preferred something that enabled you to calculate a bit more accurately where you stood in terms of percentage of the population.

Good, well designed, fun tests but it helps if you are an American, 25 Nov 2007
I've enjoyed using this product. It has approximately 12 different types of games. Each of which you can set to different skill levels. You can monitor your progresss against others of a similar gender/age/education level and against yourself over time.

I find the user interface (UI) a little basic and, having briefly seen the Nintendo DS, the UI is not as good as that product, in my opinion. However there is of course a huge difference in price (approx £100 if you already have a PC).

The Help functions aren't bad but could be better (mainly more intuitive to use).

My main frustration is that the spellings and references are American, which is not good for me (being English), when doing the games that involve general knowledge or words. I'd like to carry on using this product, as my brain could certainly do with a workout! However, I may have to cut out some of the games, which is a shame.


Mindscapes Brain Trainer or Improve your Memory, 29 Jun 2007
I decided to improve my memory after I began to forget instructions and new job procedures given to me by my boss after a few minutes being distracted by something else in a busy office.

I bought both Mindscapes Brain Trainer (which i found bland and a little unclear in parts) and this.

This package is brilliantly and professionally presented, its all in full screen, full colour, with photographs, animations, music and a code update. The exersizes are fun to do and you can even interact with the examples and instructions.

The package is presented as a globe and you tour the world, doing exersizes in different locations, cultural games and pictures (dont worry, the games are not about the country itself, just set in that location and theme).

It says on the package that it is done by experts, this is not just selling blurb, its been designed really well and gives full instructions and even tells you how to train your mind, how long to spend and asks for your education level which it then matches to the tests it gives you. Regardless of your monitors resolution.. I run in 1280x1024, it fills the screen with full colours, music and animation.

Unfortunately, brain trainer doesnt do any of the above, its just a small box in the middle of your PC screen with 15 blandly presented tests, although it has colours and an annoying humming musical note during the tests. Dont get me wrong, brain trainer is good and does what it says, but thats it, whereas.. this pagage is FUN to play.

Make no mistake though.. this Improve your memory package CAN be very hard and it will really test you, so make sure you answer honestly when it asks you to what level you were educated, because it gets brutal, but its addictive as well because the fun games dont always seem like tests.

All in all a great package. If you want just a straight forward no multimedia designed bland 15 test memory package, buy brain trainer, but if you prefer a more colourful interactive multimedia approach, buy Test and Improve your memory. Its up to you.

Help to improve your memory , 14 Dec 2006
After reading a recent article in my local paper I decided it was about time to try and improve my brain. I didn't want to spend nearly £100 on the Nintendo brain trainer, so I thought that this would be a cheap alternative.

I'm no genius, so I was prepared for a challenge when I got this cd home. I tentatively installed and opened the program and started playing some of the games. After the first few games I realised just how bad my brain was, but after a few more attempts I started to see my progress improve. Now almost a month on, my wife has noticed that I'm not quite as forgetful as I was previously, so now I've got no excuse for forgetting her birthday this year!


Really gets the job done - and fun!, 09 Dec 2007
My just 5 year old has been using this for a week and knows her colours and quite a few other French words. The games are completely age appropriate for the target users (box says 5-8 and I think that's about right). There are games like: dress the bear; play hide and seek with the mice; pick friends up round town for a party. There are two ways to use: level 1 (click around and learn the vocab) and level 2: play a game with it to earn stars for a reward. This will work best if you sit with your child for the first time through level 1 to stop them getting daunted - then they're away!

French is spoken by native speakers and is nice and clear. No downsides I can think of (except not to get excited about the songs - not really learnable but good for french flavour). Graphics are simple and attractive - great for this age.

One of my favourite educational cd-roms.

OK but I think there may be better things., 11 Jan 2007
This is fantastic for learning the basics of any of the 31 languages. It has an excellent section on grammar but the rest is basically a list of about 1000 sentences for each language. You have to learn each sentence one by one sometimes, and the way it is translated into English isn't the easiest to understand, but overall this is a good program.
The Russian section on it is fantastic for anyone who speaks English. The French and Spanish sections are good, but they are more for beginners than anyone trying to become more advanced.
The Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Greek etc (all the transilterated) are o.k. for a short holiday but not if you wanted to speak it at an advanced level.

Basically, I would recommend this product for beginners and anyone going on a foreign holiday. The price is exceptional for the product.

Best way to learn spanish at home!, 28 Jul 2008
From what I have seen using this product so far it seems to be one of the, if not the most extensive home Spanish course available! The price tag may seem high but there is a lot included in this package, with the software testing not simply reading or writing but testing speech and pronunciation also. There is no need to try and memorise as you are totally immersed in the language from the start, with pictures being used instead of English words. The course covers Spanish from the basics, through to a whole host of topics to enable you to engage in real life situations, be it on holiday or more! All in all this seems to be the best way to learn Spanish at home, and while the price may seem high compared with other home language learning products, this one is far more extensive than others.

Quick, simple, effective... but a bit expensive., 14 Aug 2008
Ok, so first of all there are a lot of bad reviews about this product, which i was weary of before buying. i read one which said that it teaches you like a child and adults need to read books to learn a language. Whilst i agree that the techniques are very simple, i completely disagree that a book would serve you better.

Rosetta Stone concentrates on teaching you a language (pronunciation and spelling included), not specific phrases you may need for a holiday. The whole process is quite repetitive and sometimes slow (it can feel like you're going over the same thing again and again, then you realise how easily you've learnt it), but the point is, it's not quick learning an entire language. It features images, speech recognition and typing tests so you can learn (as a child would) to speak fluently. Some may find it tedious, but it really drums it into you. Picking up the new words and phrases is fast and actually interesting. It managed to keep my attention longer than my French phrase book.

I really liked that you can identify the picture that goes with the phrase, then it turns it round so you choose the phrase that goes with the image. I've used some other software that only did the former, and found it was too easy to 'cheat'. By reversing it, it really gets you thinking.

Another thing I liked is that there is no English translation. Instead you work it out from the picture. Like I said, it's easy to pick up and I enjoyed not feeling like I was reading a vocab book.

After the first day I noticed a VAST improvement. I took French for 5 years in school, yet didn't manage to pick a lot up in the long term. After using it for about half an hour a day, for 2 weeks, I can now string sentences together and my vocabulary is better than ever.

It's quite expensive, but if you want to learn a new language, and are willing to put in the time, then this is for you.

hopeless, 14 Aug 2008
like some of the reviews before this one i have no idea how this product sells. i tried the turkish version and apart from learning some useless childhood stuff it was no good at all. i think this is ok for teaching children but adults need to learn grammer from books. adults can't use the same methods as children do - we are too old and our wiring is already fixed.

Best course available, 12 Jul 2008
I am totally happy with my Rosetta Stone courses. First I bought the Italian course, and in three months I was able to stay in Rome for three days without having to revert to English. Then I got the French course, and I have enjoyed working my way through it. The best thing about it is that the progress is slow and you really learn something. Compared to Hugo's courses (which are good as add-ons), you learn to speak the language. I recommend that you repeat each phrase three times, even if you are not required by the section of the course you're at to speak it out loud.

Highly recommended, but expensive. My Spanish course awaits me.

V Good, 07 Jul 2008
I am relatively new to learning languages, and remember how tedious it was learning in secondary school with the tens of books, dictionarys audio tapes and Cd's it just didn't stick.

All I can say is this method works for me association with images, spoken word and speech recognition, never thought it was possible to learn languages enjoyably and have conversations in a relatively short time as well as make it stick.


Lumi.

Got me talking, despite my previous disasters., 11 Jun 2008
I found Rosetta Stone's method of teaching very engaging and think I made progress quickly. This was a relief because I had struggled learning French for what seemed liked forever, despite absolutely loving the country!

What I liked about Rosetta Stone was (1) the fact that it does not use translation at all. I just got what the words and the speech meant from connecting them to the pictures of what was going on. (2) I really enjoyed the speech recognition. It's wierd for me to get that a computer can actually "understand" what you're saying and grade what you say against a native speaker. I liked the feature where you could slow down the speech of a native speaker and match your pronunciation against a visual representation of what they said.

So it worked for me. I wasn't going to become an advanced speaker, but I felt I was able to get by and more than that too. I guess to really be an advanced speaker you have to be in country, but even though I would love that, I cannot afford a 12 month holiday in France.

Interactive, easy to use, but not perfect, 23 Aug 2008
Rosetta Stone is probably the best language learning tool that I have found. Over the past couple of years, I have bought and used many different books, CDs, CD-ROMs and websites, but Rosetta Stone is top of the pile. It isn't perfect, but compared to other products on the market, it is one of the best.

Pros:
1) Interactivity and ease of use
2) Step-by-step process for learning Spanish gradually
3) Presentation
4) Personalised to the learner

Cons:
1) Cost
2) Can get repetitive and therefore a little tedious at times. A few games or video footage would mix it up a bit.
3) Needs to be used with other materials to ensure the topics are learnt properly. Definitely needs outside materials such as books or a Spanish speaker to clarify some points (especially grammar).
4) Photos can be a little unclear and can cause some confusion without outside help (see point 3)

On the whole, Rosetta Stone can be a catalyst for learning another language but needs to be used in conjunction with other methods, such as having a tutor and studying with books. It can definitely play a big part in a person's learning strategy, provided they can afford it.

Fun to play and easy to use, 31 Dec 2007
I really enjoyed playing Test and Improve Your Memory. I noticed my ability increasing very quickly at the various puzzles, so regular training probably would be beneficial.

If I had to knock the product down one star, it would be because I found the feedback was insufficiently detailed. For example: "People scored between X and X points, and completed the puzzle between X and X seconds". This could mean that they achieved low or high points within the time allowed. It could also mean that they achieved full marks within a very short or very long time. I would have preferred something that enabled you to calculate a bit more accurately where you stood in terms of percentage of the population.

Good, well designed, fun tests but it helps if you are an American, 25 Nov 2007
I've enjoyed using this product. It has approximately 12 different types of games. Each of which you can set to different skill levels. You can monitor your progresss against others of a similar gender/age/education level and against yourself over time.

I find the user interface (UI) a little basic and, having briefly seen the Nintendo DS, the UI is not as good as that product, in my opinion. However there is of course a huge difference in price (approx £100 if you already have a PC).

The Help functions aren't bad but could be better (mainly more intuitive to use).

My main frustration is that the spellings and references are American, which is not good for me (being English), when doing the games that involve general knowledge or words. I'd like to carry on using this product, as my brain could certainly do with a workout! However, I may have to cut out some of the games, which is a shame.


Mindscapes Brain Trainer or Improve your Memory, 29 Jun 2007
I decided to improve my memory after I began to forget instructions and new job procedures given to me by my boss after a few minutes being distracted by something else in a busy office.

I bought both Mindscapes Brain Trainer (which i found bland and a little unclear in parts) and this.

This package is brilliantly and professionally presented, its all in full screen, full colour, with photographs, animations, music and a code update. The exersizes are fun to do and you can even interact with the examples and instructions.

The package is presented as a globe and you tour the world, doing exersizes in different locations, cultural games and pictures (dont worry, the games are not about the country itself, just set in that location and theme).

It says on the package that it is done by experts, this is not just selling blurb, its been designed really well and gives full instructions and even tells you how to train your mind, how long to spend and asks for your education level which it then matches to the tests it gives you. Regardless of your monitors resolution.. I run in 1280x1024, it fills the screen with full colours, music and animation.

Unfortunately, brain trainer doesnt do any of the above, its just a small box in the middle of your PC screen with 15 blandly presented tests, although it has colours and an annoying humming musical note during the tests. Dont get me wrong, brain trainer is good and does what it says, but thats it, whereas.. this pagage is FUN to play.

Make no mistake though.. this Improve your memory package CAN be very hard and it will really test you, so make sure you answer honestly when it asks you to what level you were educated, because it gets brutal, but its addictive as well because the fun games dont always seem like tests.

All in all a great package. If you want just a straight forward no multimedia designed bland 15 test memory package, buy brain trainer, but if you prefer a more colourful interactive multimedia approach, buy Test and Improve your memory. Its up to you.

Help to improve your memory , 14 Dec 2006
After reading a recent article in my local paper I decided it was about time to try and improve my brain. I didn't want to spend nearly £100 on the Nintendo brain trainer, so I thought that this would be a cheap alternative.

I'm no genius, so I was prepared for a challenge when I got this cd home. I tentatively installed and opened the program and started playing some of the games. After the first few games I realised just how bad my brain was, but after a few more attempts I started to see my progress improve. Now almost a month on, my wife has noticed that I'm not quite as forgetful as I was previously, so now I've got no excuse for forgetting her birthday this year!


Really gets the job done - and fun!, 09 Dec 2007
My just 5 year old has been using this for a week and knows her colours and quite a few other French words. The games are completely age appropriate for the target users (box says 5-8 and I think that's about right). There are games like: dress the bear; play hide and seek with the mice; pick friends up round town for a party. There are two ways to use: level 1 (click around and learn the vocab) and level 2: play a game with it to earn stars for a reward. This will work best if you sit with your child for the first time through level 1 to stop them getting daunted - then they're away!

French is spoken by native speakers and is nice and clear. No downsides I can think of (except not to get excited about the songs - not really learnable but good for french flavour). Graphics are simple and attractive - great for this age.

One of my favourite educational cd-roms.

OK but I think there may be better things., 11 Jan 2007
This is fantastic for learning the basics of any of the 31 languages. It has an excellent section on grammar but the rest is basically a list of about 1000 sentences for each language. You have to learn each sentence one by one sometimes, and the way it is translated into English isn't the easiest to understand, but overall this is a good program.
The Russian section on it is fantastic for anyone who speaks English. The French and Spanish sections are good, but they are more for beginners than anyone trying to become more advanced.
The Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Greek etc (all the transilterated) are o.k. for a short holiday but not if you wanted to speak it at an advanced level.

Basically, I would recommend this product for beginners and anyone going on a foreign holiday. The price is exceptional for the product.

Best way to learn spanish at home!, 28 Jul 2008
From what I have seen using this product so far it seems to be one of the, if not the most extensive home Spanish course available! The price tag may seem high but there is a lot included in this package, with the software testing not simply reading or writing but testing speech and pronunciation also. There is no need to try and memorise as you are totally immersed in the language from the start, with pictures being used instead of English words. The course covers Spanish from the basics, through to a whole host of topics to enable you to engage in real life situations, be it on holiday or