Learning another language (Not programming)

[Murgos]

I want to brush-up/learn another language (Spanish) and I was wondering if anyone here had any experience with the Rosetta Stone or similar packages.  Rosetta stone is pricey and before I drop 500 buckazoids on it I'd like to hear if someone has had a positive experience with it.

If you have an alternative package you think is better feel free to pimp that out as well.

[bhodi]

I would never advocate piracy on here. It would be really wrong. $500 is an extremely reasonable price to pay for some audio tapes and a software program.

[Salamok]

I want to brush-up/learn another language (Spanish) and I was wondering if anyone here had any experience with the Rosetta Stone or similar packages.  Rosetta stone is pricey and before I drop 500 buckazoids on it I'd like to hear if someone has had a positive experience with it.

If you have an alternative package you think is better feel free to pimp that out as well.

My boss has been doing the Rosetta Stone Spanish course, he likes it but if your going to latin america then $500 will buy you a whole lotta interpreter.

[SnakeCharmer]

I've used the Rosetta Stone stuff to brush up on my Spanish, get a bit of French under my belt.  It works, but like anything else, you have to put some effort into it.

What about taking language courses at your local college?  I think it would actually work better, honestly.  That is, of course, if you have the time.

[WayAbvPar]

I want to brush-up/learn another language (Spanish) and I was wondering if anyone here had any experience with the Rosetta Stone or similar packages.  Rosetta stone is pricey and before I drop 500 buckazoids on it I'd like to hear if someone has had a positive experience with it.

If you have an alternative package you think is better feel free to pimp that out as well.

My boss has been doing the Rosetta Stone Spanish course, he likes it but if your going to latin america then $500 will buy you a whole lotta interpreter.

Maybe you could purchase the annoying Heroes twins to interpret for you so the rest of us don't have them fucking up the show.

[Murgos]

What about taking language courses at your local college?  I think it would actually work better, honestly.  That is, of course, if you have the time.

I took a lot of Spanish in grade/middle/high school and having spent 10 years growing up in Miami, (until I was 16) I even felt brave enough to venture into attempting to speak Spanish to a native speaker (to this day I am told my accent is quite nice) but that was, uh, closing in on 20 years ago.

I am going to Spain for a couple of weeks at the end of the year (New Year in Barcelona!!!) so I don't have loads of time but I am not starting from zero either.

Mostly what I am looking for here is confirmation that getting Rosetta Stone isn't wasting my time or if there is a better alternative.

Also, yes, I know they speak Catalan in Barcelona, one thing at a time.

[Grand Design]

I recommend 501 Spanish Verbs combined with a Spanish dictionary.

Drink Modelo and watch Univision for a week.

If it works, I'll charge significantly less than Rosetta.

[Murgos]

Well, I'm certainly up for drinking Modelo or Pacifico and watching Univision.

I wonder if they have the World Series on with Spanish announcers?  That would be fun.   

[Raging Turtle]

Funny, I'm an language teacher who just spent over a month in Barcelona    Use the metro, never taxis, and avoid La Rambla if you can.

Rosetta stone is pretty good, but pricey.  I also took a fair amount of Spanish when I was younger, and you'll be surprised at how quickly it comes back.  Depending on where you're living now, there might be some free or cheap speaking groups/classes, and something like that would be good at kickstarting your memory, or at least figuring out what level you're at.  If you do really want to *learn* it and you're not the self motivated type, a small class with a competent teacher will top just about anything else.

Edit:  You really need to set a concrete goal before you start learning a language.  If you just want to get around a tourist-friendly city like Barcelona, studying a phrase book and verb book will probably be enough with your background.  If you want to approach a high level of fluency, you'll need either a long-term class or something like Rosetta Stone with a huge amount of self discipline.  People who say "I just want to study Spanish/language X" lose motivation after that initial oh-wow-I-can-talk-about-the-weather-and-order-paella level.

[Phildo]

I wonder if they have the World Series on with Spanish announcers?  That would be fun.   

Hoooooome ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun

[Teleku]

I downloaded (I'm evil I know) the Pimsleur Japanese stuff, and was pretty happy with what I listened to.  Its all audio, and concentrates on learning practical speech.  I'd recommend it based on the Japanese stuff, but I haven't actually tried the Spanish.  I know Pimsleur does a ton of languages though, and has been around a long time.

[lamaros]

Funny, I'm an language teacher who just spent over a month in Barcelona    Use the metro, never taxis, and avoid La Rambla if you can.

A prostitute punched me in the groin on La Rambla. I was just walking past laughing at a friends joke. It's a dangerous place!

Edit:  You really need to set a concrete goal before you start learning a language.  If you just want to get around a tourist-friendly city like Barcelona, studying a phrase book and verb book will probably be enough with your background.  If you want to approach a high level of fluency, you'll need either a long-term class or something like Rosetta Stone with a huge amount of self discipline.  People who say "I just want to study Spanish/language X" lose motivation after that initial oh-wow-I-can-talk-about-the-weather-and-order-paella level.

Seeing how I speak no spanish at all I would agree that you don't need it just for the sake of it. I find in places like Barca where many locals speak english they would rather you talk in fluent spanish or stick to english. Bad attempts at conversation so you can practice tends to just annoy them.

[Engels]

I'm a native spanish speaker, and lived in Barcelona for many many years. I'm curious about you guys that went there with some spanish and how you found the experience, since Catalan is so prominent there. Small derail, I know.

[Raging Turtle]

Did I really type "I'm an language teacher"?   

I found that pretty much every single Catalan knew Spanish as well, so it wasn't a problem.  If I had already been fluent in Spanish or had been planning on living there, I would have made an effort to learn it, if only to be polite.  And to read the restaurant menus in the non-touristy areas - I don't speak a word of Italian or French, so those influences on Catalan go right over my head.   

[Murgos]

I'll be there with several native Catalan speakers, which will probably be doing all the translating, but I'll let you know if I run into any issues.