Although other language apps like Babbel and Rosetta Stone are more well-known, Rocket Languages offers an Italian course that is just as good, if not better. In this article, we take a look at the major pros and cons of the Rocket Italian program so you can determine whether it will be a good fit for your needs and budget.
Rocket Languages
- Free Trial
- Money Back Guarantee
Pros
- Affordable lifetime plans in comparison to other Italian language programs
- Comprehensive course that covers all aspects of the Italian language
- In-depth, engaging audio lessons that feature fluent Italian speakers
- Practical verbal practice exercises
- Accurate, easy-to-use speech recognition software
- Diverse set of practice drills and exercises to help with material retention
Cons
- No month-to-month plans available
- Lessons are long (~45 minutes each)
- Limited use of graphics and images (not ideal for visual learners)
Video Review: Is Rocket Italian Worth It?
In the video above, Bianca from the Guide2Fluency team discusses the pros and cons of using Rocket Languages to learn Italian.
How The Rocket Italian Program Works
Unlike most other language learning apps that offer short, 5 to 10 minute lessons that simply consist of quick hit practice drills such as fill in the blanks, flashcards, and matching pairs, Rocket takes a more detailed, comprehensive approach to learning.
For one, Rocket starts each lesson with a 20 to 30 minute audio exercise in which an English host walks you through a conversation between fluent Italian speakers. The host will introduce the speakers and the situation, and then regularly pause the conversation to explain key points, and ask you questions to ensure you stay engaged and alert.
Then following each audio exercise, you are prompted to complete a variety of reinforcement drills that touch on reading, writing, and speaking. That way you get experience with all of the foundational language skills, not just listening.
Finally, Rocket also provides dedicated grammar lessons that dive deep into Italian grammar rules and culture as well. All in all, it’s a very robust learning framework that exposes you to both receptive and productive language skills.
Rocket Italian Cost
When it comes to pricing, Rocket once again does things a little differently in comparison to other language learning apps.
Unlike say Babbel or Pimsleur, Rocket does not offer any monthly subscription options for their Italian program. Instead, they only offer lifetime plans. You can purchase each level for $150, or the entire Rocket Italian bundle for $450.
However, the prices listed above really don’t mean much, and that’s because Rocket is almost always offering some sort of sale or special promotion, so definitely make sure to keep an eye out for discounts.
In most cases, the true net cost of the Rocket Italian program is around $180. In other words, that’s what you should expect to pay come checkout, which is actually quite reasonable.
Obviously, it may look like a lot in comparison to cheap monthly plans from other language companies, but if you compare apples to apples (i.e. lifetime packages) the Rocket Italian program is actually quite affordable. For example, the Pimsleur lifetime plan costs north of $400!
Pros Explained
Now that we’ve discussed the Rocket learning framework and pricing, let’s move into the pros and cons that our team discovered as we tested this program, and let’s start with the positives.
Good Fit For Auditory Learners
First, the Rocket Italian program is a perfect fit for auditory learners since interactive audio lessons are really the starting point and backbone of their curriculum.
Plus, our team likes that the host of the audio lessons forces you to be an active listener since you need to understand what’s going on and participate/respond at the proper times.
This helps you from falling into a state of passive listening, which obviously isn’t nearly as effective as active listening when it comes to learning a new language.
Bottom line, if you retain and remember information better through sound or speech as opposed to written form, then the Rocket Italian program will likely match your preferred learning style extremely well.
Flexible Lessons
The next highlight somewhat relates back to the previous point, but because roughly 50% of the Rocket Italian curriculum is audio-based, it gives you flexibility in where and how you want to complete lessons.
In other words, you don’t have to cling to the screen on your phone or computer like you do with other language apps such as Babbel or Duolingo, for example.
Instead, with Rocket, you can slide your phone into your pocket and knock out the audio portion of each lesson while you’re on the treadmill or cleaning out your gutters, for example.
Overall, it’s just a nice change of pace from the typical Italian lessons from other language companies.
Realistic Speaking Exercises
Rocket offers more realistic and effective verbal practice drills compared to other language learning companies.
With others, like Rosetta Stone or Duolingo, you are essentially just asked to repeat words and phrases independently. For example, you’ll listen to the phrase “io bevo” and then you’ll repeat it back.
Whereas the verbal practice exercises from Rocket, on the other hand, help you learn and use the language in context so that you don’t fall victim to system forgetting.
How it works is that following each audio lesson, Rocket allows you to replay the conversation, but this time you are able to take the place of one of the fluent speakers. That way, you get accustomed to using the language under pressure and responding within the framework of an actual conversation, which ultimately is much more effective than simply repeating words and phrases in a vacuum.
Speech Recognition Technology
The next highlight has to do with Rocket’s speech recognition software, which provides feedback on your pronunciation during verbal practice exercises. The company’s software utilizes Google’s Web Speech API, which many linguists consider to be the most cutting-edge and accurate speech tool in the world.
Not only did our team find it to be accurate, but it’s also extremely easy to use and quick. Plus, we like that it grades your pronunciation on a scale from 1 to 100 rather than a blanket correct or incorrect.
Overall, it’s easily one of the best speech recognition tools I’ve tested so far. It’s way better than Duolingo’s for example.
Dedicated Grammar Lessons
Lastly, we have to mention the fact that Rocket provides dedicated grammar lessons, which is very unusual in the language learning industry. Most other companies simply provide a one sentence explanation here and there, or a simple verb conjugation chart, but not Rocket.
They take grammar to an entirely different level with detailed explanations, and interactive elements to ensure you understand the concept at hand. Plus, they even include cultural insights as well. That way you can get a feel for Italian culture as well as the most important grammar rules.
For example, in one of the most recent lessons we audited, there was an entire section dedicated to Italian geography, and the different regions within the country that was actually interesting. It really gives you a more complete understanding of Italy as a whole, not just the language.
Cons Explained
Now that we’ve covered the pros of using Rocket Languages to learn Italian, it’s only fair we also discuss the cons as well.
Long Lesson Format
While the Rocket Italian lessons are certainly detailed and comprehensive, the negative aspect to that is that each lesson is quite lengthy. You’re looking at around an hour or so to complete the interactive audio exercise, and subsequent reinforcement drills that make up each lesson, and then even more time if you add on the grammar portion.
Therefore, if you’re a busy parent or professional and you only have five to ten minutes per day to set aside for learning Italian, then Rocket just may not be in the cards for you given their extended lesson format.
Program Lacks Visual Elements
Given that interactive audio lessons are at the core of the Rocket curriculum, this means the program is not the most ideal choice for visual learners.
There’s no true video component and the use of graphics and images is even pretty limited, so needless to say, if you learn best by interacting with visuals, then Rocket may not be a good fit for your learning style since their lessons primarily consist of audio and text.
No Live Italian Classes
Lastly, it would be nice if Rocket offered live class options in addition to their standard lessons (kind of like what Babbel offers).
This would really be beneficial since it would allow you to interact with your peers at the same fluency level, and learn from experienced Italian teachers. That’s the one component that is sort of missing from the Rocket program. There’s just no real community feel like you get with say Busuu, for example.
Instead, you’re sort of just left on your own, which isn’t a big deal at the end of the day. As we’ve mentioned multiple times, it’s not like the Rocket Italian program is lacking as far curriculum goes.
Ultimately, it would just be nice if there was a way to connect with other learners, whether through live classes or other means.
Verdict: Is Rocket Languages Good For Learning Italian?
It’s finally time to answer the big question – Is Rocket Languages a good option for learning Italian?
Well, after testing the program, the answer is 100% yes. Sure, our team does have a few minor complaints like the lesson length, and lack of visuals, but by and large, this is the most complete and well-rounded Italian course we’ve tested to date.
There’s just a lot to like about the program between the interactive audio lessons that feature fluent Italian speakers, verbal practice exercises that are rooted in actual conversations, accurate speech recognition technology, dedicated grammar lessons, you name it.
Bottom line, if your goal is learn Italian and reach an intermediate level of fluency fast, then Rocket is an excellent choice.
The entire Rocket Italian course (levels 1, 2 and 3) costs around $450. However, in most cases, you can expect to find this Italian course on sale for closer to $180 after discounts and sales.
There are three levels within the Rocket Italian program (beginner, intermediate, and advanced). You can purchase each level separately or pay for the entire bundle up front.
Yes, the Rocket Italian program is absolutely worth the money. After testing the program, our team thinks it’s one of the most well-rounded and effective Italian language courses on the market.
The entire Rocket Italian course includes over 300 hours of lessons. If you complete all of the lessons, you can expect to reach an intermediate to advanced level of fluency.
