Rocket German Review
When you learn to speak with another culture’s language, this can be a mind-expanding experience. One of the most rewarding and exhilarating challenges you can undertake is to make the decision to speak a second language. In order to graduate from their high schools, many countries require that their students learn a second language.
I had planned a trip to Germany because I had wanted to experience another culture. Before embarking on the trip, I first wanted to learn to speak in the native tongue. I had no time to attend a class so I opted for a home study course.
A person can find several courses that say they teach a foreign language. How do you know which courses are suitable and which ones will not make the grade? I established this site in an effort to share my experience with anyone who wants to learn how to speak German.
I have taken the time to review Rocket German™ which is produced by a company called Rocket Language Ltd. This particular course was written by Paul Weber, a native of Germany. The company also has a fine reputation for producing high quality language learning courses which include Spanish, Italian, Chinese, French, German, Japanese and the American Sign Language.
There are 31 audio lessons in the beginning module. You will be able to speak some basic German words after your very first lesson. You will feel well within your comfort zone asking simple questions, ordering food, receiving directions, etc. You will be learning conversational German so you will be able to communicate with the native Germans as you travel throughout their country.
The print transcripts of the audios are included in the course materials and I found this to be very helpful. The first module is approximately 14 hours long. This may seems rather lengthy, but I became excited that I was learning so fast. It seems that I just consumed this part of the course. I was learning and was having a great time at it!
The course materials also include software. The first software application is what is known as MegaVocab™. As I made use of this software, it made my learning much easier and more fun.
MegaVocab™ is a vocabulary recognition tool. You basically run through a series of words that you learn not only through repetition but you learn to associate each word with a picture. This is the same concept that is used with flashcards.
This software has 2,000 words and pictures built into it. However, you are allowed to add more words and pictures of your own choosing as you make the decision to learn more words.
I immediately went on to the MegaAudio™ software as soon as I began to learn the vocabulary. It was during this particular time in the course that I began to feel a certain confidence with all I had learned thus far.
The software provides exercises that not only test but improve your recognition of the spoken words. The course materials provide scores for every exercise that you do, and it is by referencing the score that you are able to make not of the progress you are making.
This software was indeed fun to use. I had a great time learning the vocabulary. However, when I began to understand it when it was spoken, I really became excited! I had a difficult time trying to find another program that offered this kind of software.
This German course was designed with the assumption that the student has no knowledge in the language when just getting started. However, this course caters to the advanced student as well. This added value to the program because I would not have to go out and get a more advanced course as I progressed.
When you become a student of this program, you are given a free membership to the Rocket Language Online Forum. I was really impressed with this aspect of the course. The ‘members’ only forum’ is not only a place where you can ask questions but you can chat with other students who are taking the same language as well as with the Rocket Language online instructors. You can try to get different ideas from other students about things that may have you stymied. This forum is what makes the cost of this course a great deal! It would be well worth my while to pay a monthly fee to belong to this forum. However, it is great that it is already a part of the course!
You are probably thinking that the cost for this kind of course is prohibitive. When you choose to go with the downloadable version, you get the course for a steal at just under $100. The download was simple and I was able to watch it all on my computer, burn the material to a CD and even listen to it in my car. I even downloaded some of the audio on my ipod. You may also have the course shipped to you on CDs. Of course, the program will probably be a bit more expensive this way. If you are on a tight budget, you will be very satisfied with the downloadable version of the course. It is your choice.
This course is very user friendly, and you may have a hard time finding another course like this. I am very pleased with the results I have had while using this program and I would recommend it highly. The company offers a 60 day money back guarantee with no questions asked. If you decide the program does not work for you, you have the option of receiving a full refund. When the quality of the course work is considered, the forum, the bargain price, the software and the guarantee, I bestow upon the Rocket German™ program my highest rating of 5 stars.
Return to Language Learning Software. For more related language software information check out Rocket French
