Rosetta Stone has a great reputation as a software company offering technology-based language-learning systems. There is other quality software out there for learning languages, but Rosetta Stone is the most widely-known today. I often have students looking for supplemental resources to help in their learning, and they ask me about Rosetta Stone. Although I have no hands-on experience with it, I have asked some students who have used it exactly what they like about it. From what I've been told, the program does it right as far as immersing you in the language (as much as a computer program can, after all you will have to back away from the computer eventually). Plus, it's nice that once you purchase the software, it's yours forever, whenever you would like to come back to it. More importantly for some, the price is right. But I've been looking at the Rosetta Stone website to learn more about it, and here is why I think Croghan Language Academy will function better for many students.
For homeschool students, the parent is the teacher. Purchasing Rosetta Stone provides the lessons and the content. It also provides data as far as exercises completed, scores and time spent on exercises and assessments. I did not find availability of a Support Team as far as learning goes. There is technology and sales support. But what happens when you are in the curriculum and your student has a question, but YOU (parent) are the teacher and you don't know the answer, or feel insecure? Even if instructional support is offered by Rosetta Stone (maybe it's just not mentioned in the advertising, but I would think that would be important information to share), you will not be assigned to one instructor. You would be calling, emailing or chatting with different Rosetta Stone call center experts. While they certainly would be able to answer your question, they won't know you as a student... what you've already mastered, what you are struggling with, what you are on the verge of grasping but just need a little push, etc. I personally don't enjoy when I have an ongoing situation requiring support and I have to call in and re-explain from the very beginning.
With my courses, I am (or any instructor that I might employee is) yours for the duration of the course. I get to know you as a student and can provide more time-efficient help and feedback. In fact, students in my courses receive periodic elaborations on their learning... where you were, where you currently are, and how best to continue. (And by the way, my courses also provide parents with data as far as exercises completed, scores and time spent.) Having a living, breathing instructor helps inspire confidence in students.
For businesses, Rosetta Stone also offers some nice options. They do offer live sessions with a native-speaking "Studio Coach" in a small group format. But the curriculum is not specific to the needs of the company. You may be taught to speak in contexts that are not useful. Croghan Language Academy custom-develops it's Workplace Spanish courses to fit the needs of employees. Additionally, the live sessions might not be convenient. Croghan Language Academy offers both synchronous (live meetings) and asynchronous (when it fits your schedule) learning experiences. We will work in collaboration with your company to determine the ideals for the learning experience, what content will be taught and time frame.
If your only point of comparison is price, Rosetta Stone will win. But a hypothetical question comes to mind... is it worth the small investment if confident learning is not achieved, you are not taught what you need, or it is inconvenient for you?
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