Rosetta Stone, Spanish (Spain), Version 4, TOTALe, Level 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 (Mac/PC)

Rosetta Stone gets a lot of unfair criticism on various review sites on the internet and it's usually from people who seem half-hearted about learning a language or expect it to be some magical pill that'll instantly give them the ability to speak another language. I wish some of these people would get real.

Learning another language takes a lot of time and effort. Simply studying the first level isn't enough, nor should you expect it to be. What Rosetta Stone does well is demystify the language you're learning and present it in everyday situations using what is essentially an expensive visual flash card system, one that for me works better than other methods.

I've nearly completed level two and feel that my Spanish level is improving all the time. I try and do an hour everyday, two if possible, plus watch some Spanish TV on the internet (Telemadrid.es is my favourite). Already, I'm starting to understand what's going on in some programmes and I've still got another three levels to go.

Rosetta Stone isn't perfect, but you know what? No product on the market is. In my opinion, Rosetta Stone is the best there is right now, a conclusion I've come to after using many other products such as Michel Thomas, numerous textbooks, Linguaphone, part-time evening courses at a local college (never again), plus others. It's the only product that has kept me motivated.

No product on the market right now is going to make you fluent in speaking your target language because they are all designed to improve your receptive skills (listening and reading). Only interacting with native speakers in the real world will bring fluency in speaking. I know after studying the first two levels that my speaking ability isn't going to be great when I've finished all five levels. This is simply because I don't have anybody to practice with and it's the spontaneity and thinking on your feet that unrehearsed real-life conversation brings that will ultimately improve my speaking fluency. However, I know that my listening, reading and pronounciation skills will be a solid intermediate level when I've completed all five levels. I can already read Spanish to a lower intermediate level with my listening skills not far behind.

The online activities are good, if a little light on content and a tad pricey, especially considering how expensive the initial product is. I really like the stories with audio and wish there were more. Maybe there will be at the higher levels.

It gets a little boring at times, which is when I'll watch some Spanish TV or listen to Spanish radio online to still keep me in the frame of mind of learning, without actively taking part. I'll then return to Rosetta Stone and this usually does the trick.

It's a comprehensive package that will improve your Spanish, if you're willing to put the work in on a regular basis. To all those who criticise Rosetta Stone so freely, I say complete at least three levels, preferably all five levels, then give your opinion. If your Spanish still hasn't improved, then by all means, moan til your heart's content. I'm pleased with what I have experienced so far.

We already have the Rosetta Stone French, German and Italian so Spanish was next in line for us to try and get to grips with. I found the software loads and runs well on our HP Intel i5, 10Gb RAM, Win 7 (64bit) PC. I note the comments on this page that this is an expensive package. I too, feel over £300 is a great deal of money to invest, but, to be fair to Rosetta Stone, it's not just the physical package you're buying, it's obvious a huge amount of research into learning techniques and production resources have gone into this package.

The box includes the discs for Modules 1-5 (Mac or PC) plus a quality headset with mic for the interactive element and access to a number of on-line practice sessions with a native speaker of the language concerned. Once you've completed a module you go to the "Studio" and select a time slot - the fact that you'll be conversing with a tutor is a great incentive to really get to grips with the module first! A cardinal principle of the Rosetta Stone learning process is that the tutors will only converse with you in the language you are studying - no reverting to English if the going gets tough! I find the online charging structure confusing (and that's why it drops a star)- the first 3 months are free, but, I'd like a clearer tariff regarding charges outside this period. You also get an "Audio Companion" to load learning material onto your MP3 player, and, there is also an IPad application which is I believe is free for the first three months.

The learning methodology is clever and, in my opinion, very effective using a number of techniques including voice recognition, as well as interaction via the PC keyboard and games. The visual scenarios are all professionally staged with credible models and locations save the odd one or two which look a bit "photo shopped". It is an aspect of my personal learning style (rather than a shortcoming in the package) that I am less keen on the written (keyboard) aspect of the programme. The voice recognition seems to work quite well, without some of the hiccups referred to by other reviewers - I've had the odd issue where I've coughed, and, the software has tried to recognise it as a word but it's easily recoverable. I think anyone buying this package should think if this "immersive" learning style is right for them - in my case, it's effective, because, it fits with the way I gain confidence and learn. Others may have a different style of learning, which may need a different approach like a series of online "Skype tutorials" which may work better for them. The good thing is that this package really tries to teach you to speak a language naturally rather than the way I learnt at school in the 60s/70s.

A message for Rosetta Stone is that we need a clearer tariff of charges outside the free service period, and, for a company whose core business is language studies, the sales/support websites need to be a bit less US centric. These issues however, don't detract from the fact that the core product is very good indeed. To the prospective buyer of this package I'd say, only you know your individual learning style, and, there are plenty of resources on the web where you can look at the Rosetta Stone approach (and others). If this "immersive" approach is right for you, then, I'd say this is a very good package, especially, if you've got to "shoehorn" your learning into a busy lifestyle.

Not having any experience of learning a language, apart from my school French lessons over 25 years ago, it was hard to know what to what to expect, but at this early stage in the process it is a mixed bag of experiences for me.

When it arrives, you will no doubt be keen and eager like I was, to get underway with your learning. However, I was forced to wait while the software, once installed, was updated with the latest information & updates. In total the whole process took over an hour which did take the shine off my initial experience.

Once up and running & having registered the activation code & sorted out the position of the headset & its microphone (nice quality & supplied) I was ready to start my learning.

I may have done something wrong, and if I did I can't work out what, but I was launched straight into the online version of the programme. This was confusing but not something that I didn't overcome eventually. It's a handy aspect, in as much that you can learn while away or at a different PC, even if you don't have the software, but note you will need another headset or to carry out the learning without the voice recognition part.

After approximately an hour I was familiar with basic words & simple annunciation, typed, read & spoken. All aspects are covered but it does feel very much regimented and I will be interested in to see how later parts of the course develop.

There is a tendency to assume that you know what to do next, in terms of clicking points on the screen, moving on or going back to recap & if you can't work it out then you can get frustrated - not ideal for a learning environment.

There appears to be an awful lot of lessons and information to learn and practice with - this is definitely something that you should be able to commit 2 -3 hours a week to as a minimum - the more frequently you can practice, the more familiar you become with the process. If you decide a couple of weeks before going on holiday you want to be able to converse with locals better than most holidaying tourists, buy a phrase book but if a year before you decide the same, the try Rosetta Stone and remember you will only get out what you put in.