Question
I’m torn between taking Babbel and Rosetta Stone to learn Spanish. Which Is Better for Learning Spanish?
Answers
These are the answers of Spainguru’s Facebook group members:
“Get a tutor—from personal experience, those programs only teach you to memorize words and phrases, not actually learn the language.”
“My Spanish improved from conversant to fluent by hanging out in grocery stores talking to people. Daily immersion is key!”
“I used Rosetta Stone for almost a year, but after just two weeks in an immersive course in Mexico, I realized how much I was missing, especially with verb conjugations.”
“Babbel has online classes with real instructors where you can practice conversations, though it costs extra.”
“Neither. Try Language Transfer and Dreaming Spanish on YouTube. Also, consider Madrigal’s Magic Key book for structured learning.”
“I am absolutely loving James Spanish School, I’ve tried classes here in BCN and Duolingo, neither were as helpful and immediately useful.”
“Pimsleur is great! It helped me move from basic to conversational Spanish. It’s worth checking out.”
“Duolingo is free, and Netflix has many Spanish-language shows with subtitles. Pimsleur might be available at your local library.”
“Watching series like ‘Mar de Plásticos‘ on Netflix helped me follow along thanks to its simpler plot and Spanish subtitles.”
“Coffee Break Spanish is a helpful podcast for learners. It covers everyday vocabulary and useful phrases.”
“SpanishDict has comprehensive lessons on grammar topics like verb tenses and conditional forms, and it’s free.”
“Mango Languages has a voice-over comparison feature that helps you perfect your pronunciation.”
“Consider using Memrise. It features native speakers in real-world contexts and is far more dynamic than other apps.”
“Babbel works better for me because it offers different ways to review, including translating written words or answering spoken questions.”
“Rosetta Stone helped me a lot, especially when I spoke the exercises out loud. After six months, I added a tutor to improve even more.”
“Old-school methods like textbooks, flashcards, and phrasebooks can be surprisingly effective, especially for foundational learning.”
Conclusion
Choosing between Babbel and Rosetta Stone depends on your learning style. Many members recommend combining language apps with real-life practice, tutoring, or immersive experiences.
Babbel offers live classes, while Rosetta Stone excels in pronunciation exercises. Apps like Duolingo, Pimsleur, Memrise, and SpanishDict also provide valuable learning tools.
For a well-rounded approach, consider podcasts, Spanish-language shows, and even local classes.
