Rosetta Stone Software: Learning French

It looks like I will be moving to Paris within a year. The problem... I do not speak French. I am fairly adept at picking up languages. I studied German, Spanish and Italian in college. Given my current work schedule I don't know how feasible it would be for me to start proper classes in French. I'm looking into various software, workbooks and CDs to teach myself French. Has anyone had success with Rosetta Stone before? Do you have any other recommendations?

Also, I realize conversing regularly in a new language is pivital. My boyfriend is French as is my boss, so finding people to converse with once I start picking things up will not be a problem. I just desperately need to get the ball rolling.

I've heard good things about rosetta stone, but it's really expensive.

The price is fine, I'm just worried about possibility wasting time. I'd like to use the most efficient method possible so I don't waste months repeating useless phrases like "The cheese is in the courtyard".

Rosetta stone work well, mad expensive yes, but effective. french (of all the languges you apperently speak) will be a pain in the ass to learn.

IMO, you should find a tutor. Talking to a real person is how everyone learns languages, after all.

I've tried the Italian one. As someone that took three years of Italian in high school and is a native speaker of a language that is 80% similar (Spanish) I figured it'd be easy to pick up. I've found that RS should not be used on its own, but only works as a complement with other materials.

Rosetta Stone's claim to fame is that you don't memorize and translate in your head, which is true. But that's also its weakness. You never get any instruction in English, just pictures and the word or phrase in the language, the equivalent of flash cards. You see something, you hear it, and you repeat it. You learn very little about grammatical rules, why they exist, and when they should be used.

And you're right about the useless stuff, very often the things you're learning aren't even things you'll ever use, (how often am I going to say that the kids are jumping on the trampoline?) and I know for a fact that some words aren't what is commonly used in real conversation.

Overall, it's a decent complement, if you don't mind spending the money for it. I...did not, and would not, based on what I've encountered thus far. I hear it's often available at libraries, and the government uses it for its employees.

Pay? For over-priced software? What is this concept of which you speak?

i just apologized for my terrible french (in french) and started butchering up their language until they couldn't stand it anymore and after a minute or two of this, they were more than happy to speak english with me.

If I was visiting this would be my plan, but living there I think I have a responsibility to at least make a damn good effort to learn the language.

This is a huge opportunity and do not want it to pass me by.