If you have used Rosetta Stone and are not quite satisfied with it, this post is for you. We’ll give you a Rosetta Stone alternative.
Rosetta Stone alternative
There isn’t a single approach that works for everyone when learning a language.
Any software, website, or book doesn’t have to be expensive or popular for it to be effective for you.
Due to this, we will assist you in comparing Rosetta Stone to other language learning programs nowadays.
Rosetta Stone is a widely praised language-learning program, and for many students, that is reason enough to buy the thing right away and start learning.
However, those looking to learn a language should stretch their necks and ask, “What else is there?”—in which case, read this post.
We’ll discuss several alternatives that might be even more effective at teaching you the language of your dreams.
Rosetta Stone
An online course called Rosetta Stone teaches you how to speak and listen to the language you choose to learn.
The main lesson plans for the 10 to 30-minute Rosetta Stone language app and website get you started studying immediately.
When you sign up, you may select your goals and competence level. Based on this, Rosetta Stone develops a personalized learning strategy for your needs.
Other resources for learning are also accessible, including on-demand movies, live videos, and phrasebooks for various well-known languages.
The method used by Rosetta Stone combines cutting-edge speech recognition technology to monitor and enhance your pronunciation with tried-and-true lesson formats to get you to speak and learn your language organically.
What’s wrong with Rosetta Stone
Although Rosetta Stone claims to be more sophisticated than other language learning applications, this does not mean it is faultless.
Its approaches are frequently criticized for not adequately preparing students for real-world interactions with native speakers.
Simply said, it does not push you to use the language or pressure you to retain what you have learned.
Learning Italian might be difficult because native Italian speakers prefer to speak quickly. The sounds in words and phrases change and are decreased or blended when they are spoken.
You could learn hundreds of Italian words on paper, but in practice, you wouldn’t be able to understand or recognize them.
While using Rosetta Stone to learn a language will help you acquire a significant amount of the language, you won’t get any hands-on practice speaking it.
Additionally, like many other language programs, Rosetta Stone teaches vocabulary ineffectively.
Instead of teaching the words and phrases, you’ll need to converse and express yourself in the language, and it teaches grammar patterns.
You will study statements like “The children ride bicycles” rather than more practical ones like “I am learning a new language because…”
What’s the deal with Rosetta Stone?
If you’re a serious language learner or are considering becoming one, you’ve probably heard about Rosetta Stone, even if you haven’t been living under the actual Rosetta Stone. It has a solid reputation among language learning apps and tools.
Rosetta Stone is a renowned language-learning program, awarded titles like “Best Language-learning Software” from PC Magazine for six years running.
These three components make up the Rosetta Stone strategy. It would be best to keep these in mind later when determining whether alternative applications fulfill your needs or are better than Rosetta Stone.
The target is the medium
There are no translations included with the Rosetta Stone learning program. You will likely receive instruction in German if you are trying to learn the language.
Rosetta Stone contends that for pupils to learn a language properly, they must fully immerse themselves in it; no back-and-forth translation with English is permitted.
We did not have the benefit of translations when we were learning our first language. We did nothing but listen and watch what the adults said. Through trial and error and a great deal of repetition, we understood what they were saying and eventually picked up the language.
This is extremely similar to how Rosetta Stone makes language learning seem. It’s comparable to spending a week in a remote location where no one speaks English, and your phone just ran out of battery. In this circumstance, it’s possible to start confusing common phrases like “My belly feels funny” with “I’m hungry,” only to discover your error when the person you said it to starts feeding you.
You’ll feel like a lot of the course’s material is flying over your head at first. However, the more you learn about it, the more things make sense, and the dots start to join. That is the plan.
Therefore, figuring out what the words offered to signify will require a lot of deduction. You’ll be able to learn words without using translations through repetition and some extremely useful illustrations. Learning this manner is feasible, but it may also come down to personal inclination. The alternative programs listed below offer various levels of language immersion.
Spoken language is key
What use is knowing every word in your head if you can’t put them into meaningful expression?
According to Rosetta Stone, learning a language should be done primarily for communication purposes. As a result, they emphasize proper pronunciation and language usage in speech. You “learn the language, not just the words,” according to the program itself.
There is no overt grammar instruction. You will learn grammar, but not because the rules were promptly or thoroughly explained. You’ll develop your ability to infer the rules by utilizing the language. You’ll progressively understand how your target language functions via repetition and practice.
The game revolves around speaking, and Rosetta Stone’s proprietary technology, TruAccent, is a speech engine that can “listen” and assist you in fine-tuning pronunciation so that you gradually start to sound native.
As a result, when working with Rosetta, be ready to talk. And please don’t put it off. You’ll start speaking right away. Numerous other programs use this strategy, yet others place a greater emphasis on other abilities, so keep this in mind as you search for the best language program for you.
It’ll cost you a bit
A CD-ROM, an instant download, or an online subscription to Rosetta Stone are all options. The app is accessible on iOS and Android and is compatible with Windows and Mac.
As an illustration, the estimated cost of an online membership for learning a language is as follows (prices are subject to change or variation):
$79 (3-month access)
$119 (6-month access)
$179 (1-year access)
$249 (2-year access)
These expenses might not bother some prospective students, and others could even think it’s a good deal. Interactive education, speech recognition technologies, and fun games and activities are all included in your subscription. It might be too expensive for some language learners, though. Others may be more concerned with whether the cost is reasonable given what they receive rather than whether they can afford it.
The program’s suitability to your learning style and preferences is more crucial than the cost. What language topics and abilities do you wish to pay attention to?
For instance, some programs can help you learn grammatical intricacies more quickly, as Rosetta Stone isn’t known for a focused concentration on grammar. Some programs concentrate on teaching language through “smart” video clips and audio-visual content. Some programs put those features front and center if you prefer a more “game-fied” approach or a stronger sense of community while learning the language.
What other courses are available that would fit your learning goals better? Let’s investigate.
You might learn more from some of these tools than Rosetta Stone can. Others could be more enjoyable for you. Others, well, let’s say there are unquestionably more affordable and flexible solutions available.
Better, Cheaper and More Fun! 6 Rosetta Stone Alternatives
Italki
Italki is the best Rosetta Stone alternative.
Live language instruction has always been too expensive. But one-on-one classes are now more accessible and affordable than ever, thanks to the power of the internet and video chat services.
This development in language learning is mostly due to iTalki.
iTalki does not provide language training, unlike the other programs on this list. It’s a location where you can search for and reserve classes taught by real instructors.
The instructors available on iTalki range from “community tutors” without formal education to experienced experts.
You only need to create an iTalki account to search for teachers. You can group potential teachers according to price, level of expertise, and even language.
From there, you can usually decide to enroll in a trial class for a modest price. This aids in determining whether you and the teacher will get along.
Lessons on iTalki range in price. Every teacher sets their fee, and some give discounts if you pay in advance for multiple lessons.
Some instructors will be less expensive due to differences in living costs and currency exchange rates.
It provides classes in more than 150 different languages, claims iTalki. There will frequently be a larger supply of teachers for more extensively used or popular languages.
Finding teachers for uncommon or extinct languages like Irish Gaelic or Aramaic is still doable.
Duolingo
Many language learners love the owl mascot of Duolingo. Duolingo is one of the most well-known languages learning programs, with millions of users studying any of the more than 30 languages available (and many more on the way).
People tend to swarm to your doors if you “gamify” language study. Duolingo is free in both the web and mobile app versions, which makes for a rather potent combination.
You become engrossed in Duolingo’s easy, repetitive language games. A sentence can be formed by tapping a group of words in the right order, pairing terms and their translations, or even speaking into your phone’s microphone and reading a sentence aloud.
Although they appear harmless enough, strong repetition will cause you to gradually take up language and grammar without even realizing it.
That is why Duolingo is so popular!
According to one research, 34 hours with Duolingo are equivalent to one semester of college coursework, and by certain measures, it might even outperform Rosetta Stone. Everything is free, and it seems like a free semester of college.
Additionally, Duolingo features a vibrant forum where users worldwide may ask questions, share their knowledge, and offer resource recommendations. Another advantage Duolingo has over Rosetta Stone is this sense of community.
Although Duolingo’s major issue may be that it can only teach you a particular language level, there are many more options to continue learning once you finish a course with Duolingo.
Rocket Languages
If the emphasis on speaking and pronunciation appeals to you in Rosetta Stone, you’ll probably enjoy Rocket Languages for the same reason.
This show features debates or dialogues similar to podcasts where hosts explore a specific subject (e.g., preparing for a party). You’ll hear the target language is used in a relevant setting. You’re not merely learning a set of idioms. You’re keeping tabs on conversations.
You can follow the conversations by using the text provided by Rocket Languages. You will have PDF files, which you are free to print.
The program keeps you speaking in the target language longer than Rosetta Stone, which is the finest thing. You have many options to practice using Rocket Languages.
Voice recognition software may listen to your recorded speech, compare it to that of a native speaker, and provide you with comments.
Speaking, reading, writing, and listening are the four language skills that both Rocket Languages and Rosetta Stone focus on, but one area where the program outperforms Rosetta Stone: incorporating cultural curiosities and information into the lessons to improve the overall “flavor” of the program.
This is possible thanks to Rocket Languages’ non-cookie-cutter approach to content development. The language is unique to each software.
You may be confident that your course has been carefully adapted to the intricacies of your target language, whether it be Chinese, Arabic, Spanish, or any other languages offered.
Although a little on the expensive side, Rocket Languages is a powerful learning program.
There are three-course levels offered (prices are subject to change or variation):
Level 1 only ($99.95)
Levels 1 and 2 ($249.90)
Levels 1, 2 and 3 ($259.90)
Babbel
Many language learners find it unsettling to realize on the first day that there won’t be any English spoken during the lessons.
Babbel might be the right choice for you if you prefer a little guidance and would prefer to dip your toes in the water first.
You will be exposed to many basic vocabularies through test-style courses, much like Duolingo. You’ll be required to do several activities, such as selecting the accurate translation from a list of options or manually typing the translation.
Thanks to the spaced repetition method, you’ll gradually acquire a large vocabulary, which frequently exposes you to challenging terms.
You will learn grammatical points more directly than with Rosetta Stone. Babbel enjoys highlighting grammar points and going into greater detail about its intricacies.
The regulations will be explained to you as you are brought behind the scenes. Therefore, use Babbel if you like to learn grammar from the start rather than figuring things out through trial and error.
Verify that one of the 14 available languages is your target language. The cost of a monthly subscription is $12.95.
Mango Languages
You can access lessons and exercises in more than 70 languages, including uncommon dialects like Urdu, Tamil, and Javanese, for $19.99 monthly. If none of the main language content suppliers, including Rosetta Stone, support your desired language, Mango Languages has you covered.
You might not even need to pay your $20. Mango Languages is a special product since it collaborates with many international public libraries. This suggests that you might be able to get it for nothing from yours.
You can master your target language with pronunciation practice and native speaker voice comparisons, similar to Rosetta Stone. The classes will ask you to pronounce the words, phrases, and sentences.
Additionally, cultural insights are incorporated into the lessons so that you may comprehend language from a wider context, which increases the memorability and significance of vocabulary learned.
The foreign language full-length movies with closed captions are a feature (for some languages) that Rosetta Stone lacks. You can analyze the movies, looking at the conversation and grammar.
Language novices might wish to check out Mango Languages, given its wide range of supported languages and potential excellent deals on price.
Memrise
Memrise is a fantastic resource for learning new words and phrases. You can experiment with any of the more than 200 available language courses on their website or download the app.
Memrise’s ability to draw from collective wisdom is one of its strongest points. A staff of internal researchers doesn’t just create their language programs. Lessons created by users can be shared with everyone. You can compile a list of vocabulary terms, such as those about food, and allow everyone else to take advantage of it.
Mems, or mnemonic tools that can make a word stick in mind, are another method users contribute to the overall picture. Let’s say you’re preparing Spanish food vocabulary flashcards. You can add words and pictures to the lectures to make a word more memorable. Meaning instance, maz is the Spanish word for “corn.”
You might write something like, “Sounds like some hungry kid asking his mum for corn: Ma, is corn available? “or something similar if another user researched the term before you did. Another person could add images of corn kernels that spell out the word “maz.”
You can select which of the user-generated “mems” you want to be highlighted in your flashcards to make classes more enjoyable because not all “mems” will speak to you.
Rosetta Stone doesn’t have this sense of community, but Memrise does, just like Duolingo.
Oh yeah, and it’s free!
Clozemaster
For intermediate and advanced language learners of more than 50 languages who want to acquire both grammar and vocabulary, Clozemaster is ideal.
The software is essential for “sentence mining.” You essentially immerse yourself in sentences written in the target language. Thousands and thousands of sentences will be spoken to you.
A keyword will be left out of each statement. You can decide whether you want a multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank test type at the beginning of the game.
If Rosetta Stone uses spoken language as the medium to immerse your ears, Clozemaster will do the same with written language.
Don’t be fooled by the “old” images; the more you work with sentences, the more you’ll understand how much they can teach you about syntax and vocabulary. The whole process is straightforward.
You can determine the grammar rules or the meaning of words after several repetitions since the words are used in a specific context. Clozemaster exposes you to an almost limitless number of sentences and allows you to make connections, just like Rosetta Stone enables you to experience the language and determine the fundamental rules of the language.
Oh, and it’s free, too!
So why are you still waiting? Take action now!
With the seven options in this article, you’re now well-positioned to master your target language. Beyond Rosetta Stone, there is a vast world.
Don’t think you have to stick to a single language software. Get a combination that works for you if you can.
So continue learning languages.
You can access inexpensive and efficient learning resources whether you want to learn Spanish, German, Italian, French or another language.
Good luck!
