No firsthand experience, but have heard that Rosetta Stone is very good from several people I work with.   If you make a decision either way, please share your thoughts.  Next week I start an online French conversational course through the local community college. 

There are free language lesson podcasts available on iTunes. They are under the Podcasts->Education->Language Courses Category

-- jcw

We have Rosetta stone for Spanish.  The concept is great. It takes a while to learn how to use the program, i.e., what should you do first (reading, hear and respond back, speak back.) What should be your plan of attack?  

DH feels that they teach you some vocabulary that is somewhat worthless, such as "elephant".  It would be better if they taught traveler's or simple conversational Spanish.  For example, "Where is the train station?" 

All being said, it is the best program for learning a language we have ever seen (and between us we've studiend 6 foreign languages).

I use Arriba (fourth Edition).  I had 3 semisters, but didn't study enough so didn't get past that semister.  It has 15 audio CD's.  It would be great if you have someone to converse with, like a spouse, you'll learn it a lot faster.  This set of books also helps for travel, like learning bathroom, directions, dates and times.  I need to get back to it.  I hear you make good friends in southern states even if you TRY to speak Spanish.  You get help quicker too.  Dee