Rosetta Stone - age level?

[insahmniak]

I tracked down a used copy of RS - Spanish and while it's much cheaper it's still a small chunk of change. I'd be getting it for my daughter, primarily, and probably a bit for me so I could help her along.

We went to the Rosetta Stone website and went through their demo and my daughter didn't seem to catch on. She's a pretty bright kid who has been reading since she was 2, so her not paying attention enough to figure out the patterns in the demo felt odd. She did end up figuring out one pattern but then rather than concentrating on the language it was as if she was just trying to get a green check mark and not the red x. I can't imagine how she could absorb anything that way.

Based on this, I feel like RS might be the wrong approach, and I really don't want to waste so much money on something that won't work. It's an older version - something like 2005 - so I don't think I can count on us having machines that will run it in another 5 years when she might be ready for it.

Any advice about age-appropriate use of RS? I know I only saw a bit of it on the demo. Maybe what I'm missing is something that would help her engage with it deeper?

[FreeRangeMama]

It really probably depends on the age of your child, her personality, learning style, and the situation in which she would be using it. I have 4 kids (age 8, 6, 4, and 2). We all work through RS (French) together.

The eldest has done exceptionally well with it, the 6 year old has actually learned to read in French (though he isn't quite there yet in English) as he is quite a visual learner and it really works for him, and the 4 year old has really picked up a LOT of it as well. Even the 2 yo is happy to join in and has learned a lot of the vocabulary as well. In fact, she does better in figuring out the statements and such when we practice away from the computer just using props or whatever than the 4 and 6 year olds.

Our usage of RS is likely different than the norm though. We do it as a family and use it as a starting point. The kids learn really well off of each other as well so that adds a whole new element that wouldn't be present in a situation where a child is just sitting in front of a computer working through the material. Extra stories, videos, and songs help them really internalize what they learn from RS.

Like anything, it probably is very much what you make. Enrichment is important with young kids as it may be a little dry and uninteresting otherwise.

[moominmamma]

We've found it quite engaging and effective from age 5-6 on up. Below age 5 it seems to require some co-operative use to be interesting. I agree with the pp comments about enriching RS with other language-learning resources and activities.

Miranda

[insahmniak]

I may have an option for a 2 hour class, once a week, at an language immersion place. I'm on a budget, so I'm trying to weigh the benefit/cost of half-price RS vs. 2 months of class. Hmmm. Maybe I'll go check out the class. I'm thinking that the two hours a week w/other kids and a native speaker might be a better deal. If only I could do both!