Rocket Italian Reviews

For the most part, I do like the course. It is an easy and enjoyable way to learn. I am taking the Italian course.

My only MINOR COMPLAINT SO FAR is the specificity of some of the lessons. In Module 3 of the Premium Basic Course, the first 2 lessons are waaaay too narrowly focused. The first concerns a trip to Mount Vesuvius with conversation about walking around the volcano's crater and how cold it will be on the summit(!) - a dialogue I really can't imagine most ordinary travelers having much need for, and the second deals with a certain Italian liquor called Limoncello. I skipped the bulk of the conversation portion of those lessons, except for a phrase or two. The extra vocabulary sections also had some benefit.

Now I understand that sprinkling a little culture, geography, and traditional customs is an attempt to broaden the course's appeal, but I'd personally find the lessons much more useful if they conveyed more common everyday requests and conversations. For example: asking where to buy a newspaper, rent/park a car, ordering a beer/glass of wine/soda and leaving a tip, chatting about the weather or someone's family, or complimenting/discussing another's clothes, jewelry, home, etc.

Perhaps that's just me, though. However, up until those 2 lessons, I felt what I was learning had broader adaptability and usefulness.

I have been using RI for about 4 months after trying Rosetta stone (very boring) and Pimsleur (good but not quite what I wanted). I found that using RI I have a better comprehension especially when you use the extra lessons where you write and take some tests. Seeing, hearing and writing have made a big difference.

Great program! Easy to use on a laptop and mobile devise! Learn a language on the go then come home and hammer it down with the additional exercises . The customer service is prompt with fixing any bugs and they genuinely care about your success with their program. I highly recommend this product!

Great start with introducing simple useful words and a variety of conversation. Molte bene.
Uno: Reasonable speed to start
Due: Followed by increasing speed to normal speaking dialogue.
Tre: Steps you through with increasing dialogue in a manner easy to follow.
Quattro: Provides pronunciation tips of vowels and double consonants.
Cinque: Keeps up motivation
Sei: Self test requiring typing in the words as heard with proper spelling reinforces auditory and visual learning.

I need to get the microphone connected, but I am sure this feature will also impress and be very helpful.

It is a horribly frustrating program. I have yet been able to download it. Only two lessons in two modules have been downloaded. To be fair one of the chat support people told me to call and she would guide me through the download, but I am tired of playing with the program and haven't called. After the download to the computer I have to download them to CDs. Oh help!

I have tried them all (Rosetta, Pimsleur, Duolingo) and I must admit that this program does the best job of teaching Italian. The reason is simple -- repetition. As a former teacher, I believe in repetition. Too many programs give you a lesson but do not reinforce it. Rocket does. Another plus is the response to my feedback. If I have a problem, I get a response within a day (two at most). Most programs don't bother to respond at all. Another plus is the detailed lesson given at the beginning of the section. If you really want to learn the "ins" and "outs" of the language, the explanations are there for you. All you have to do is read and absorb. Some programs (I won't mention names) never bother to explain anything; they just expect you to learn on your own. If you wonder why I have only given 4 stars for would I buy again, it is because I am not that young and don't think I'll be trying another language. If I do, it will be Rocket. Oh, one more plus -- the one-time price. Yea!

1) Great Customer Service: after completing my first lesson, the sound stop! No more sound. It was not my computer because I had sound on everything else than Rocket Italian. I tried the chat and a very nice lady (Marie) helped me. She found the problem very quickly. In no time, I was back to my lessons.
2) Very effective method to learn a foreign language (at least for me!) I love the progression.
3) I find it very useful being able to record my phrase and listen to it after: it helps me improve my accent.
4) Only negative point so far: tooooooooo much English speaking by the guy at the beginning of every lesson. More Italian please!
5) It would help having many different persons talking Italian instead of only two persons. This would be more representative of the real life.

Bottom line: I think that I will be able to learn Italian with Rocket Italian. Would I recommend it to a friend? Mmmm Yes, but with a little hesitation because of the very small sample of Italian voices.

There is absolutely nothing I can say that would make my Rocket Languages experience any better. In terms of their content quality and organization, the lessons are top notch and sequenced fluidly and logically. As for the learning tools, the amount of application and immersive learning you experience from you very first lesson is unparalleled.

If I were to make any requests, it would be for the mobile app to have all of the functionality of the browser portal so that you can take your complete learning experience with you on the go. So far the only thing that is lacking are the flash cards, but I feel like that would be the best function to have available on your phone since it's the easiest review activity to do on the go.

All in all, 5/5, would buy again, would recommend, and would gift to a language loving friend!

Rocket Italian is a great primary tool to use in learning Italian. The interactive audio lessons are engaging and they do a very good job of getting you to speak and write in Italian. The language and culture lessons offer a more in-depth opportunity to delve into the grammar and other technical issues of learning a language.

Sometimes you see something in one of the lessons that isn't explained as thoroughly as it could be (it is hard to cover EVERYTHING without being overwhelming). A place where Rocket Italian really shines is the forum. For most web sites, the Q&A forum is a black hole where questions go to disappear. For Rocket Italian, it is truly a valuable resource for filling in the blanks - led by terrific tutor Lucia!

As a point of comparison, a few years ago, I tried the "big name" in language learning. It was terribly disappointing. I spent 3x on "big name" compared to Rocket Italian, and it was not 1/10th as good. When I decided to re-commit to learning Italian, I did a lot of research and demo'd a few other offerings. Rocket Italian is by far the most comprehensive and fun to use. Highly recommend to anyone who has decided to get serious about learning a new language.

I have started to learn Italian with Rocket Languages less than 2 weeks ago. I spend quite some time every day - and I can say that my progress is just fantastic. My goal is to have an awareness in basic situations within 2 months - and I am now sure I will come to it. I want to surprise my Italian friends and colleagues next time we meet - as they don't think I speak any Italian. Good idea - isn't it? And by the way just last week I have been refused to get a job - because Italian was needed. Never again I want to be in the same situation - it cannot be a point to be refused.
Italian is my third foreign language - and the Rocket Languages methodology is so efficient I could never think of. I encourage everybody thinking of picking up a new language - don't hesitate, go for Rocket Languages and for sure you won't be disappointed.