Rosetta Stone versions - Spanish - educate me, please?

[Colleen in NS]

I've been looking into RS for Spanish. What I've discovered so far is that some RS is in "version 3" now, but it doesn't seem that the homeschool version is. Plus, RS personal edition has three levels, but it doesn't seem that the homeschool version has three levels.

What can you tell me about version 3 - is it so much better in some way than older versions (I saw a 2002 version used, cheap online)? If so, how?

Also, what's the difference between the homeschool editions and the personal editions? Does anyone here use the personal edition with no problem for their kids (I saw a personal edition with three levels that was a fairly decent price)? Or would it be much better to use the homeschool edition? If so, why?

Last question - does anyone here use level 3 of any language (I'm a bargain hunter, and would tend to buy all three levels in one package just to save money)? If so, why?

Thanks so much for your help!

[nmoira]

What can you tell me about version 3 - is it so much better in some way than older versions (I saw a 2002 version used, cheap online)? If so, how?I haven't seen Version 3 other than a few screen shots and the update announcement. The look is much slicker, but it appears to be the same program, perhaps with a couple bonus modules, or whatever form the "Milestone" feature takes. [Versions 1 and 2 were pretty much identical other than updated pictures.] It looks like they've rejiggered some of the tracking algorithms in the personal product; that's a minor change. They claim to have improved the speech analysis -- if that's true it could represent a bigger change, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.

Also, what's the difference between the homeschool editions and the personal editions?The homeschool edition comes with the Student Management System (SMS) which allows you to assign a sequence of lessons (there are four default tracks and the ability to customize) and set minimum thresholds that must be exceeded before the child moves to the next lesson. It allows some tracking of progress.

Last question - does anyone here use level 3 of any language (I'm a bargain hunter, and would tend to buy all three levels in one package just to save money)? If so, why?I haven't seen Level 3.

Have you looked at the Learnables? My eldest is doing well with it, and I find my retention is much better than with Rosetta Stone. I like how they move quickly into simple story telling and dialog.

[Colleen in NS]

That was very helpful!

I don't think the homeschool edition was in version 3, but from what you say about version 3, it's probably not a big deal. And maybe I will go back and hunt down the 2002 homeschool editions I saw....I like the features you explained about the homeschool edition.

Also, we do have the Learnables for Russian. I looked it over this morning and analyzed how it teaches. I think I like Rosetta Stone better because it seems to incorporate more ways of learning (seeing, saying, hearing, typing) than the Learnables does. From what I can tell, Learnables is just seeing and hearing.

As an aside, I am in Canada, but really want to do Spanish with my kids (I figure they can always have the opportunity here to learn French later). Dh and I were talking about it last night, and I was thinking I'd need to search really hard around here to find a Spanish speaking person with whom to practice. Well, we went to church this morning, and I discovered that a guy who goes there, whom we've not met yet, is from Nicaragua!!!! I was so excited, introduced myself and told him that we wanted to study Spanish, and he agreed to have Spanish conversations with us!! Just had to share because I was so excited that this just plopped into my lap today. :)