Rocket Japanese Reviews
Find out what actual users have to say about our courses through their Rocket Japanese reviews.
After taking a few Japanese courses in college, I ended up moving and having no access to formal instruction. While I was able to learn a few words here and there through various internet sources, most free resources give only very basic information about grammar and writing. I purchased a few textbooks which helped explain some basic grammar and writing, but there was no way to effectively test what I had learned. I was able to read and write a bit better, but I had next to no experience speaking the language since nobody around me also spoke it. So I finally started looking up instructional courses and stumbled upon Rocket Japanese.
As a full-time college student, it is a bit pricey, but nowhere near as bad as some other courses, and it's definitely not as expensive as a college course. It also covers more ground than my previous college courses did! As of now, I've finished the first module and gotten started on the second. I have a few criticisms, but they're mostly related to organization and romanization. The content itself is great, though the audio lessons start off with exaggerated pronunciation for people who have never heard or spoken the language before. It appears to lessen as you progress.
I have tried dozen of language learning courses including: Rosetta Stone, Duo Lingual, Udemy, etc. However, I think Rocket Languages is one of the best because it is well-structured with balanced among reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.
Like the introduction of vocabulary and the description of which particle to use and what the particle designates. Sample sentences are concepts that you would probably use in the real world. Also like the built in cards for review and the ability to record your speech. (Horrifying, in my case, how unlike the Japanese language pronunciations my voice sounds). Rocket also provides quiz in each lesson to test your program.
I just started the course and I just can't stop. I´m really enjoying it.
With a hungry passion to learn japanese for years I started off using only duo lingo pro. I quickly discovered I was going to need more than Duo if i really wanted to learn Japanese in a year. I downloaded a few more apps and I was burning through them as well, but still discovered I needed more to satisfy my hunger. Why? Because though these apps were good i was constantly questioning grammer and how i was being taught. I searched online and discovered rocketjapanese, but the price made me raise a eyebrow. At first I wasn't even going to try it, but I really wanted to learn japanese so i decided to give it a shot. I used the trial and knew right away this was what I needed. I bought it and have been using it everyday for at least 2-3 hours while still staying up on my duo and other apps if I even still have time. The fact i get to speak, speak with, and be spoke at while learning was beautiful to me. Sounds crazy, but i will actually look at a object and away from the screen on talking parts to make it feel more realistic when practicing. This is great, but i feel like should only be purchased/used by people who truly want to learn the language because though i'm a rookie at speaking japanese even I know consistency is probably the biggest factor into learning. It's worth every penny and you'll see if you decide to get it with all the lessons you'll probably go "wow, this is going to take some time" but it's totally worth it, if you're dedicated and motivated.
(Japanese, Level 1 review) Methodically located somewhere between Pimsleur, YesJapan/Japanese From Zero and Japanesepod101, Rocket Japanese provides a strong, content-rich guided learning experience that can serve as a backbone to any serious self-learning effort. Of all the programs I have tried (including Rosetta Stone, Textfugu, WaniKani, Living Language, the Genki textbooks and those mentioned above), this is certainly the most comprehensive and challenging from the start.
Conversation exercises, which are at the core of the program, are very well executed and the speech recognition system ensures that there is a degree of accountability here. For auditive learners such as myself, these work just as well if not better than Pimsleur, which is an old but effective way to memorize phrases and gain some initial conversational skills.
The main weakness of Rocket Japanese comes in the lack of a spaced repetition system. I STRONGLY advise learners to use an external flashcard software (such as Anki) or analogue flashcards for their vocab learning. Since actually creating flashcards is in itself good practice, however, I wouldn't deduct any points for this given the overall strong showing on display.
Finally! I can learn what I've always wanted to. Thanks to Rocket Languages, it helps me master a second language as if it were my own and twice as fast. The systematic lesson plan enables me to approach my lesson at my own pace and allows me to understand about the language in depth. Short, precise and intensive, it will help anyone master another language like they were natives, in no time.
The Rocket Language program is great. I used their Chinese and Japanese courses before traveling. I'm now working with their Spanish program. Their conversations introduce useful conversational vocabulary and the supplemental grammar and culture lessons are valuable. I'm really impressed by their user forums which discuss a wide range of topics - I've appreciated the discussions around how words are used in different contexts.
I came to Rocket Japanese as a refugee from Duolingo. It is so good to use such a well thought out and "grown up" programme. I am especially pleased to have so much listening and speaking practice. I guess it would be very challenging to start as an absolute beginner; I'm glad I already know hiragana, katakana and a few kanji.
I indicated I would be likely to buy again because I didn't want to give a negative response, but it's a one off subscription so I don't need to, Great!
I've been using Rocket Japanese for 38 days.
I have now completed over 100 days and have to say I am even more pleased with the course now. In addition to the excellent course materials if you do have a query you get a very prompt and helpful reply. Very encouraging.
265 day update: I'm now finding the course quite challenging, which is a good thing. The language has become more complex. I like the way vocabulary and grammar you have already learned keeps cropping up again to help reinforce what I have learned.
Rocket Japanese is an excellent, affordable way to learn Japanese. Sayaka and Kenny work together quite well, though sometimes their interactions seem a bit fake. This program is great for those who know next-to-nothing about the language they want to learn, like me.