Learning Japanese On-The-Go with Rosetta Stone (Part 2)

Published August 28, 2017

If you saw the first post, you know that I’ve been learning Japanese with Rosetta Stone. It’s crazy to think that the trip to Japan is in a few short days, and I am getting more and more excited to use everything that I’ve learned. 

Over the past few months of using the resources that Rosetta Stone has to offer, I’ve come to really enjoy going through the lessons. Each afternoon, I’ve been trying to be diligent in doing an hour and a half of lessons, averaging around one unit per week. There are 12 units in total, and I’ve loved how diverse each one is — from “Home and Health” to “Dining and Vacation.” Focusing my efforts on understanding the grammar and growing a vocabulary that will be most useful while I’m traveling, the lessons have helped develop these skills. Throughout the units, I’ve been able learn things like how to order at a restaurant, how to ask for directions, and basic conversational skills (and much more). Each lesson builds up from basics like grammar, numbers, verbs, and nouns to full sentences. Putting it all together towards the end of each unit was really cool to see how it all played out. The steps to learning a language are really well done and feel easier to grasp with practice.

Rosetta Stone gives you access to lessons across two platforms: desktop and a mobile app, both of which have incredible features. I’m going to break down what I love about each and why I’ve been able to continue my lessons on-the-go with Rosetta Stone.

Learning Japanese On-The-Go with Rosetta Stone

Desktop Software

With Rosetta Stone, you can complete lessons via your web browser on your computer or mobile app. The desktop software has been super helpful for me when I am at home for a few reasons:

• Live Tutoring: This is my favorite feature. I knew there was tutoring included with Rosetta Stone, but I did not realize how in-depth it was. You schedule an appointment after making progress in lessons, then take a live tutoring session with a few other students and a native speaker. She or he helps you through a lesson and you get an opportunity to practice what you’ve learned. It’s been incredibly helpful and encouraging as the tutoring develops the speaking in public skillset.

• Extended Learning: A new tool that I have been playing around with is the Extended Learning section, as I’ve discovered the games to be a great way to continue practicing. One of my favorites is BuzzBingo where you listen to someone speak and select the words you hear. It has helped me develop an ear for the words out of the context of lessons. (This feature is also available on the mobile app).

• TruACCENT™: This feature is available on both the desktop software and mobile app, and always amazes me. The speech recognition technology has helped me to develop my accent (when you speak into your microphone it will let you know if it is correct). I think the toughest part of learning language is definitely pronunciation, so this has been helpful in being sure that I will be able to say what I want to say!

Mobile App

Rosetta Stone’s mobile app has been an absolute lifesaver for me to continue my lessons. Being on the road most of the time makes it incredibly hard to have time to sit down at the computer. The mobile app has given me an opportunity to be successful in completing lessons for a few reasons:

• On-the-go learning: I can literally do my lessons whenever and wherever. The best part is you can pick up your lessons from your desktop to mobile, so you don’t lose your spot. When I take a coffee break, I’ll pull out my phone and do a few lessons — it’s seriously awesome. I thought there was no way I would be able to work through the units, but being able to use my phone has been a huge help. My husband always chuckles at me when I am in the kitchen with my phone out, completing lessons while I prep my meals.

• Offline capabilities: This feature about the mobile app is great — you can download a lesson and use it while offline. Can we say my newest addiction on the airplane?

• Easy to use: One thing that cannot be overlooked about the entire experience (and this goes for desktop, too) is how easy it is to use. The design of the app makes it simple to complete lessons in a timely way, through efficient layouts and bright colors. I love working through the different screens and getting to see the progress.

It’s crazy to think that in a few days I will be putting this to use. Part of me is a bit nervous, but I am excited to give it a go here soon! And I know that all of this work will pay off. I have a few last lessons to complete and when I return from Japan I will be sharing Part Three about how using my Japanese went. Be sure to stay tuned for the last post and an exciting giveaway next month on Instagram!

*Thank you to Rosetta Stone for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own.

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