i want to learn japanese,and i was just wondering if rosetta stone is really worth the 320 dollars.

I am using it for French at the moment and finding it extremely useful. The whole notion of not having to learn lists and verb endings is great.

I disagree with the user's comment that it is lonely - effective language learning software can allow you to get in the hours (I try to log on three times a week to complete a few lessons), and because Rosetta Stone lets you practice your spoken language you develop confidence (I'm off to paris this weekend). i have done evening classes in the past and find that once a week is not enough time. You are also limited by the levels of the other people in the class, and trying to get your homework done during a busy week can be a real nightmare.

Obviously, the more ways of learning you use, the faster you will learn. Together with my Rosetta Stoen French, I try to read French magazines and newspapers.

Rosetta Stone is pretty good language software. However, using software is one of the worst ways to learn a language. It's appealing to people because it's flexible and you can learn in the privacy of your own home, but to master a language you need to practice it with real people. Many, many people spend lots of money on software and CDs and end up abandoning the program before they get very far because it's a slow, lonely process and they lose motivation. I recommend instead that you look for a class at a community college. If you can find one, it will probably cost less than $320, and you will learn much more quickly and effectively.

I don't remember paying $320 for our Japanese Language Rosetta Stone CD Rom Set. It was $199. It's really good, because you can hear a native speaker pronounce each word and you can sound it out yourself through the microphone and you get a feedback on how well you pronounced the word. You also practice vocabulary and how to spell the words. If you want you can even learn how to practice writing in Japanese. You see the pictures, but it doesn't tell you what the word in English is.... because you are supposed to learn the language like a child does.... in connection with a picture- not with another language. Definitely worth your money!!!