Rosetta Stone

Type: Online software
Cost: $99 USD/3 months
Audience: Complete Beginner +
Requirements: PC or Mac

Post updated 21/2/2016

Rosetta Stone is probably the best reviewed software for learning a wide range of languages. It works on an immersion principle: no instruction, no English, just associating words (either spoken, written or both) with pictures. It starts very simply: "Halo". The next page is pictures of men and women, with "seorang pria" - you choose which one it is. It builds information slowly and effectively.

There are several focus points of the course, and you can choose to include any or all of them including reading, speaking, pronunciation, written and grammar. I have included everything to begin with, and when I go back to review I might just choose spoken words. There are activities where you need to say the word or phrase (this works very well), some where you need to read the words and choose the right picture, some where you have to type the words in, and some where you need to choose from a selection of answers. It is very easy to work with and quite intuitive.

The exercises start with a core lesson that introduces a ton of new concepts, and then it's broken down into manageable chunks by type (reading, pronunciation etc).

I really like it. It's easy to pick up for half an hour here and there when you have some time. I sometimes find myself using a word that I didn't realise had sunk in, so the repetition works too. The only thing I would like is an iPad version - the online version won't work as it uses Flash. This is just a symptom of a less popular language though, as the company has brought out a new online offering (with forums, games etc) for several of the French/German/Spanish etc and this also includes an iPad app.


Buying the software

For whatever reason, the Indonesian software is no longer available as a CD box set from Rosetta Stone themselves, although you may find it at retailers. There are two options: a 3 or 6 month online subscription, and only from the US Rosetta Stone site. There are both 3 and 6 month subscription options, which have now had their prices reduced.

US Site - learn Indonesian

Bear in mind that the Indonesian course only goes up to Level 1 (French, Spanish, German etc go up to Level 5). There are 4 units which should take 40-50 hours to complete. If you're using this software every day or two, you're not going to need more than 3 months to go through the course.

Beware

There are a ton of pirate versions of this floating about the internet. They look genuine. They have a box that looks right. And the price is too good to be true, $70 - 100. The harsh reality is that if you end up with a pirate copy you leave yourself open to viruses, defective software, or maybe you just spent $100 and got a blank CD.

Rosetta Stone’s product:

• Is never on CDR or DVD media

• Does not have anything called a “Pro” or “Professional Edition” for any language

• Will always have a EULA (End User License Agreement) specifying the purchase of a license as opposed to a product

• Is not sold or published in Multi Language Editions in packs or otherwise

• Will not have spelling errors on the software packages

• Is not sold or published in any versions referred to as “cracked versions”

• Is sold through online access to its services via the website but is not sold as downloadable applications/programs

First clue: If they say they are an "offical" (sic) supplier, they probably are not.