I leave for Japan in three months, so I’m trying Rosetta Stone

TL;DR: Mashable readers can save $219 on a Rosetta Stone lifetime subscription while codes last, but fewer than 100 codes are available at this price.

In three months, I’ll be in Japan, and I’d really like to avoid the whole ‘stereotypical tourist’ vibe. I’ve always heard that Rosetta Stone is one of the best language-learning apps, but I’m not sure if it can actually help me learn some Japanese in time for my trip. There’s only one way to find out — I’m putting it to the test.

Mashable has a deal right now where you can get lifetime access for only $179.99 (reg. $399). Not only is this cheaper than buying it through Rosetta Stone’s website, but it’s a far better value than paying month-to-month when I plan on learning other languages for future trips.

Learning Japanese with Rosetta Stone

I just opened Rosetta Stone for the first time, and it’s already throwing me straight into Japanese lessons — no word lists, no grammar drills, just matching pictures with new words and their pronunciation. It feels like how kids naturally pick up language, which is way less intimidating than I imagined. 

I always thought learning Japanese would be overwhelming (especially with the character system), but within minutes, I’m already trying to pronounce words and simple phrases out loud. The speech-recognition tool listens and gives instant feedback, which is super helpful, considering I don’t want to embarrass myself during my trip.

A few weeks in

Right now, I’m working through greetings and everyday phrases — stuff I’ll actually use when I land in Tokyo. If I keep this up, maybe I won’t have to rely on Google Translate the whole trip.

I’m also excited to try learning some of the other 24 languages included in Rosetta Stone. I plan to travel the world in my lifetime, so knowing I have access to Spanish, French, German, and more language lessons at my fingertips is perfect.

Learn languages for travel with Rosetta Stone, now $179.99 for lifetime access (reg. $399).

StackSocial prices subject to change.