I am here in Berlin.  All of my German friends and most of my Expat friends speak German — except me.  So, I am doubling down by using Rosetta Stone’s TOTALe product to really get me past all of my “language shyness.”

I tried Rosetta Stone’s online version (no longer available) of their CD-based German language program but I didn’t give it nearly the time and attention — immersion time — that I should have. You get out what you give in and, before, I would try to shoehorn a little time here and there.  The immersion method of learning a new language needs to be as complete as possible — not passive learning, which is what I had been doing, but a lot more active.

Now, I am spending lots and lots of time on the program.  In addition to the main program, called Rosetta Course — the stuff you get on the CD — there are live native language teaching coaches — via Rosetta Studio — you can schedule time with as well as many opportunities to interact and communicate with other students who are online and studying your language — in my case, German — through this thing called Rosetta World.

While I have spent a lot of time on the Rosetta Course, I have yet to do my first Studio appointment, on the 26th, and I have not explored World much — but I look forward to it.   What have I learned so far?  Well, like flying or SCUBA diving, language-learning rewards hours in the air or under-water.  I really want to and need to spend an hour or so/day, every day.

The good thing is that there are a team of folks, called the TOTALe Success team, who call, email, and even tweet me to make sure I keep focused, which is something I do surely need.

Introducing Rosetta Stone TOTALe^™

Our ultimate language-learning solution.

With access to TOTALe, you’ll learn, practice and play your way to a new language. It’s the easiest, fastest and most enjoyable way to learn—and it’s online.

• Learn naturally and speak immediately with our award-winning Dynamic Immersion^® method.
• Practice conversation with live native-speaking Studio Coaches.
• Connect and play with fellow learners, including native speakers of your new language.
• Get live guidance and support from our dedicated Customer Success Team.

TOTALe combines our revolutionary learning program and live interaction to deliver the world’s ultimate, online language-learning program.

Rosetta Course — Learn to speak, read, listen and write in our award-winning program.

Rosetta Studio — Practice in our live online sessions with a native-speaking Studio Coach.

Rosetta World — While I have been using their online version of the software on and off for a year, paid out of my own pocket, Rosetta Stone recently asked me to blog about my language-learning, German language-learning, and Rosetta Stone TOTALe experience — not on this blog but on a blog they’re putting together. Therefore, I thought I would disclose that since I am accessing TOTALe for free and getting some compensation as a writer.

Play games and practice speaking with other learners and native speakers in our online community.

While I have been using their online version of the software on and off for a year, paid out of my own pocket, Rosetta Stone recently asked me to blog about my language-learning, German language-learning, and Rosetta Stone TOTALe experience — not on this blog but on a blog they’re putting together. Therefore, I thought I would disclose that since I am accessing TOTALe for free and getting some compensation as a writer.