Anybody ever use Rosetta Stone? If so how does it work?
It is VERY effective for learning basic conversational language. It isn't good to learn academic or advanced reading/writing of the language (granted my use of it was limited to a month or so).
It uses pictures to associate the word to an object and then an action with multiple objects etc, getting more and more complicated until you learn basic sentences and conversation.
This way instead of rote memorization of translating definitions, you simply associate the word itself to an image. This is more natural (ie: the way we learn our primary language as a baby).
There are more advanced features to learn more advanced parts of the language (audio exercises with vocal practice via microphone and writing exercises etc) but the main premise is word and image association instead of translation/memorization.
It is VERY expensive (on the order of like a couple hundred depending on languages/levels).