Find out what actual users have to say about our courses through their Rocket Languages reviews.
My overall impression of the level 1 program is that, with the exception of vocabulary, and the present tense, Rocket Italian Level 1 is very weak on teaching the student Italian grammar. An example of this is the use of prepositions. These seem to pop up everywhere with no explanation as to the rules governing their use (like the use of "di" which has at least 15 different meanings!), Level 1 aggravates this problem by frequently giving you lengthy Italian phrases in th flash cards & the "Know It" section to memorize. These contain grammatical structures that are never addressed in the course. Also, it makes no provision for different responses that the student may have translated correctly even though it is different from the translation in the course.
I would suggest they introduce a grammatical rule give some examples, & and then drills on that rule. The drills would also incorporate review of a verb tense. This would reinforce the latter and help us master both until they become second nature.
Instead, we waste enormous amounts of time memorizing lengthy sentences with no idea of the grammatical rules which govern the sentences. These are sentences which we will never use and quickly forget.
Response from Rocket Languages
Response from Rocket Languages: Hi Carl - Thanks for the feedback. We will be conducting a full review of Rocket Italian and will definitely take your comments into account.
The accent is laughable. As in, my spanish friends couldn't stop laughing. It's Mexican spanish, in a bad accent. The plays and lessons are mired in stereotypes, sexist, and awful. As far as actually learning Spanish goes, I'm struggling on with it, but I can't say it's really helped so far. Hopefully it will start sticking, but having spent six weeks in Madrid recently, I didn't feel this course helped me at all, and I was still struggling with even the most basic conversations. There doesn't seem to be any background to the lessons, or intricacies of the verbs and their conjugations, which are just brushed over.
I've paid for it now, so will keep persevering for the moment, but I regret the purchase.
Response from Rocket Languages
Response from Rocket Languages: A wide variety of voices are used on Rocket Spanish. They are mainly Latin American, as that is the Spanish being taught. Mauricio is from Chile, there are also voices from Ecuador, Nicaragua, Argentina and more!
I was very satisfied with Rocket French Intermediate, so I purchased the Travelogue. Unfortunately, the Travelogue was highly disappointing. It is of very limited value as a language learning tool, and its interest as a cultural document was modest at best. I can't imagine wanting to go through it more than once. Additionally, it is poorly recorded or edited, with the French dialogue for some reason sounding muffled. After a good initial experience with Rocket French, this course has soured me on the program.
Response from Rocket Languages
Response from Rocket Languages: Hi Bruce - I am sorry to hear your feedback. We have though just added in full French translations for every part of the Travelogues, as well as full recordings of the Travelogue scripts, so they now work very much like the Interactive Audio lessons from Levels 1-3.
Rocket Languages has interactive audio lessons that makes it easier and more fun to learn from. In addition, the reviews at the end are very helpful and different from any other program I've used. I have learned way more efficiently now with so much more to look forward too.
I have called you folks ten times, I have e-mailed you ten times and have received no response ever. What a way to do business
Response from Rocket Languages
Response from Rocket Languages: Hi Dennis - Sorry to hear about your issues contacting us. Please check your junk folders as we have responded!
I couldn't get into it as I am at a more advanced level and I could find much in my trial edition. I never signed up to pay because of that. I didn't use customer service and can't really say about the price and I don't remember what it was. I'm guessing it would be okay if I had seen that the program was helpful in the trial. It would help to have a more helpful trial version.
Response from Rocket Languages
Response from Rocket Languages: Hi Mago - If you did sign up for a Level and found it was either too easy or too hard then we would gladly swap it free of charge to a more suitable one.
Wonderful woman Italian speaker. Most beautiful Roman Italian. But totally exasperating waste of time as the American goes on and on and on with useless chit chat. I don't have that time to waste and have given up on this program
Hi Richard - Did you notice the Language & Culture lessons? They have thousands of Italian words and phrases that don't have the "chit-chat". In saying that many people do find the chit-chat entertaining.
Listening to the audio lessons is very boring. You hear someone saying something in Arabic, and then they tell you what it is in english with a little bit of filler and sometimes a lame joke. There's too much english speaking in between the arabic, and after listening to it I don't recall anything from it. I then started doing some of the other activities and they're all very basic. This is much less advanced than Rosetta Stone. Rosetta Stone doesn't choose the most useful phrases to teach you when you start off, but at least it reinforces what you are learning in an easy way to pick up the language without a lot of filler talk in the language you already speak (english in my case). It's hard to motivate myself to listen to more of these Rocket Arabic lessons because they are so boring.
Response from Rocket Languages
Response from Rocket Languages: Hi Robert - We have added in a ton more standalone words and phrases that can be used with voice recognition. As well as that we have revamped the Language & Culture lessons.
I decided not to pursue learning French after paying for the course the week after I purchased it as I wanted to change to the Italian course instead. I asked for a refund twice through the help section and have still not received a refund or acknowledgment that I have asked for a refund. This is a real shame as I was going to purchase the Italian course once I got the refund now I don't trust Rocket Languges to fulfill their promises.
Response from Rocket Languages
Response from Rocket Languages: Hi Clare - I am sorry about the miscommunication here. If the wrong course is bought, or even if a Level is too easy or hard, then we will swap it for no cost. I am not sure what happened with our emails to you, please check your junk folder. In the meantime a refund has been issued!
Overall, Rocket Languages is, without a doubt, well worth the price. The value for your money is the best. There really is not a better foreign language program out there. I have tried others as they do not match the quality of Rocket's.