There are plenty of options out there for people who want to learn English. Sadly, not all of them are as good as they claim to be. That’s why it’s always a better idea to stick to brands that have been around long enough to earn themselves a strong reputation when it comes to language learning.
Suppose you’ve been searching for ways to learn English. If that’s the case, then you’ve probably come across Rosetta Stone quite a number of times. No doubt, it’s been around for a long time, since 1992. But with all sorts of language learning software on the market these days, is it still a good solution for learning English?
Let’s find out.
What is Rosetta Stone?
Rosetta Stone is a language-learning software that’s been around since the early ’90s. These days, it also comes in the form of mobile apps that you can use on smartphones and tablets to continue your learning while on-the-go.
There are plenty of languages that you can learn from all over the world through Rosetta Stone. That includes options like Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, and so many more.
Still, Rosetta Stone is a very popular option for learning English, whether it be online or offline.
How Does Rosetta Stone Work?
Suppose you want to use Rosetta Stone to learn English. If that’s the case, then you’ll need to sign up for an account and get a subscription. Don’t worry, though. Typically, Rosetta Stone offers you a free trial for a few days so you can experience what it has to offer first-hand.
Rosetta Stone has plenty of features to help you along your journey of mastering the English language. Among them are TruAccent, the phrasebook, Seek and Speak, and the Audio Companion. To top it all off, there’s even a personalized plan that helps you learn in a systematic and organized way.
Let’s take a closer look at some of those features.
TruAccent
TruAccent is Rosetta Stone’s patented speech recognition feature. With it, you can test your pronunciation of English words and improve wherever necessary.
Phrasebook
The phrasebook is another excellent tool. This one, however, will focus your learning on how to use groups of English words together, whether in your writing or when you’re speaking.
Seek and Speak
To make your language learning more fun, Rosetta Stone also offers Seek and Speak. Using your device’s camera, you’ll go on a ‘scavenger hunt’ searching for daily items that match whatever words you’re learning.
Audio Companion
Last but not least, the software also includes an audio companion feature. That’s an ideal solution for students who learn better through audio, and for those who simply want to take a break from staring at their screens and books.
How much does Rosetta Stone cost?
Rosetta Stone costs $37.97 for 3 months, $95.88 for 12 months, and $179 for lifetime access.
There is a free trial available for 3 days which you can try here. If you signup, you can also get your money back for 30 days if you don’t like the platform.
If you are not too sure, you can try out Rosetta stone for $11.99 per month for 3 months to learn English. I recommend this first to see if you like the platform. If you really enjoy learning languages then the lifetime price of $179 for all 24 languages is the option for you.
The Pros and Cons of Rosetta Stone for Learning English
Like any English learning software, Rosetta Stone comes with its fair share of pros and cons.
The Pros of Using Rosetta Stone for Learning English
Overall, Rosetta Stone is a very well-designed and intuitive English learning software. The design is essential, considering how you’ll spend a lot of your time looking at the software while you learn.
Easy to Use
The app is easy to use so you won’t spend too much time having to figure out how to use the software in the first place.
Extra coaching
The software also comes with the option for online tutoring sessions. If you need a little extra help, you can get one-on-one tutoring with a language coach. This costs extra.
Big company
Rosetta Stone has been producing language learning material since 1992. They have huge experience and resources to create the best language learning experience available.
The Cons of Using Rosetta Stone for Learning English
Repetitive
For some, Rosetta Stone may seem a bit repetitive. Some people are fine with that if they believe that repetition helps their learning. Other users, however, may prefer a bit more variety than what Rosetta Stone has to offer.
Correct level?
Besides that, Rosetta Stone does not use placement tests. So no matter how fluent you already are with English, you’ll be learning from the same starting point as everyone else.
App problems
Many users complain that the app version has glitches and problems. This is common among mobile apps which is why I recommend using the desktop version if you have a laptop.
Can You Become Fluent With Rosetta Stone?
Becoming fluent requires plenty of study and practice. By itself, Rosetta Stone will not be enough to make you fluent in English or any other language. You will still need to practice speaking the language with other people. Cambly is the best platform I have found for learning how to speak English
However, Rosetta Stone will provide you with a fantastic foundation that will help you on your journey towards mastering the language.
So, the more you build on the foundation that Rosetta Stone gives you, the more fluent you’ll become.
Is Rosetta Stone Worth It In 2021?
Yes, Rosetta Stone is worth every cent you pay for it in 2021. The software has been around for almost 30 years, helping people worldwide learn new languages. Despite the many options that students have these days, Rosetta Stone still dominates the language-learning software market by providing plenty of value.
Is Rosetta Stone Better Than Duolingo?
Even though Duolingo has its strengths, Rosetta Stone is a much better option if you want to master the English language for the long term.
Rosetta Stone has several advantages in this regard. Among them, Rosetta Stone places a very strong emphasis on teaching you correct pronunciations with its patented speech recognition feature. Besides that, innovative features like Phrasebook and Seek and Speak also help you learn how to apply the language in everyday situations.
Rosetta Stone uses more pictures to help you learn new vocabulary whereas Duolingo just uses text. Pictures are a very important part of learning a language as most learners are visual and need to see a picture of something to remember it.
Rosetta stone also has a feature to change the difficulty of your pronunciation. This is great if you are getting frustrated when you can’t pronounce a word to see if you are getting closer. It is also good if you are getting more advanced in a language and you want to test your progress and be stricter with your pronunciation. Duolingo does not have this feature.
Duolingo is great for moving quickly through vocabulary and grammar topics and of course, it is free. Some people love the gamification of Duolingo and enjoy earning points when they complete certain sections.
Both Duolingo and Rosetta stone should be used when you are starting to learn English or any other language. When you move to an intermediate level, you should have classes with Cambly or Italki to practice the language that you have learned.
How Long Does It Take To Learn A New Language With Rosetta Stone?
You can learn a new language with Rosetta Stone with an average of 150 hours of learning. Of course, that will also depend on other factors. Some people learn new languages much faster than others. Some also speed up their learning by immersing themselves in the language as much as possible.
That might include listening to music and watching movies in the language that they’re learning. In addition to using Rosetta Stone, you could also practice with a native speaker to see if they understand you clearly and receive instant feedback and correct any mistakes you might make along the way. Read my full guide about learning English online here.
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