Our online language learning service, Rosetta Stone, has migrated to a new platform called Catalyst which is now live and available to all LJMU students and staff. There are 24 languages on the system and additional features such as phrasebooks and the new See & Speak feature. The content of each language course is divided into around 20 modules covering topics such as greetings and introductions, dining out, business vocabulary, emergency situations and family life. Learning a new language can help improve confidence, open up wider opportunities for travel and study abroad and provide a new skill to add to your CV. It is quite challenging, but you can reach a good level of comprehension and speaking by using the system for about 30 minutes a day over 3 months. Learning online is very flexible and can be fitted into your lifestyle on the go in addition to regular study time.
Logging in to Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone can be accessed from any pc, laptop, tablet or mobile phone. You can use Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox or Safari as your browser, but please note that Internet Explorer is no longer supported.
When you log in you will first be directed to your LJMU sign on page, where you should use your usual username and password. This will then take you through to Rosetta Stone Catalyst.
To get started and log in, use this link.
Mobile devices
Rosetta Stone works well on tablets and smartphones, especially if you download the free Rosetta Stone app, which is available on all app stores. Please note that there are two different Rosetta Stone apps: Foundations and Fluency Builder. The app you need will depend on the level you are studying at, so please make sure you have completed the onboarding process via an internet browser before you download. For instructions on using the app, see this guide.
There is also an Offline Mode that allows you to download learning units to complete when you won’t have access to mobile data or WiFi. As soon as you reconnect to the internet, your progress will be updated and synched to your learning account.
New features
If you have used Rosetta Stone already, you will notice some new features. There are proficiency tests for English, Spanish, German and French and an option to follow a tailored path based on your proficiency and personal goals. The beginner stage in English, French, Spanish, Italian and German has an embedded translation feature for more clarity on vocabulary and this will be extended to other languages. There is an enhanced phrasebook feature for English, French, Italian, German & Spanish which can be downloaded for use on the go.
Seek & Speak is an exciting new augmented reality feature developed in collaboration with Apple. Using object-recognition technology, it turns everyday objects into conversation practice with scavenger hunt-style challenges. With Seek & Speak you can point your phone’s camera at an object and receive a translation. The feature is currently available for ioS English, French, Spanish, Italian and German and will expand to include more scavenger hunt challenges and languages.
Additional help
Rosetta Stone is supported by the Academic Achievement Team in Library Services. If you need any help using the system, please email Skills@ljmu.ac.uk. Further guidance is available on the Languages web pages. There are also some useful online tutorials on the Rosetta Stone web site.
LJMU Library 