Recognize that the software has a specific structure. Each level of Rosetta Stone is divided into units (usually four or five), which are then subdivided into individual lessons in grammar, pronunciation, listening comprehension and writing.
Complete each unit's lessons. As you move through each lesson, you will receive a percentage grade for your performance on that lesson. If your score can use improvement, or if the software identifies that you struggled with it, the software will later prompt you to repeat all or some of that material. This is a mechanism Rosetta Stone calls "adaptive recall."
Finish the unit summary. At the end of each unit, there is a sort of test session that is largely spoken, although if you have the speech option shut off, this will be written instead. After you have successfully completed this session, the software will advance you to the next unit. Once all units of a level are completed, you can advance to the next level.
Remember your options. Despite the fact that you can progress through the units and levels in accordance with the software, none of these options are locked. In other words, you can click on a later unit even if you have not completed the previous one. The same is true for the individual lessons. This allows you to jump around and see what you are in store for later on if you so desire.
Understand that Rosetta Stone does not teach you grammar. While you may eventually learn it intuitively through the software, you will not necessarily learn its nuts and bolts. This may make advancing through levels slower and lessons more confusing. For example, recognizing noun declension is vital to German and Arabic, but English speakers have no immediate point of reference for it. To speed up some of the material, you may want to purchase an accessible grammar guide in your chosen language to supplement the software.