Learning a new language

[UniverseA7X]

 I asked a similar question to this on ubuntuforums.org, and got amazing response, and seeing as how this is a pretty open minded and helpful place, I might as well ask here too.

How many people here are bi- or multi-lingual? If you are, What's your native language, and how did you learn your second? How long did it take you, and how old were you?

I ask simply because I myself want to learn German. I find it an awesome language to listen to, especially in music. Plus, German is part of my heritage. That and I've always wanted to learn another language because, come on, how impressive is it to walk through an American grocery store and start blurting out another language? Or to just be that educated in general.

I really want to go to Germany as well and apply what I learn there, perhaps even live there for some time. Europe just seems like such an amazing place full of history and culture. It intrigues me to say the least.

Anyway, The deed has been done. Any opinions?

Brandon

[M3R1IN]

I took 2 semesters of german in University and one when I was in High school
There are some websites i can refer you to
private message me and i will help you out

[Rich]

How long it takes depends on how you approach it - I did 4 years of German in high school and I'm still not that great, but I spent a few months learning Thai using the Rosetta Stone software and got better that I ever was at German! At the risk of sounding like an advert - I think for beginners at least you can't beat Rosetta Stone (http://www.rosettastone.com/) - because its designed to make you learn it naturally through image association, like a baby would. It also helps if you really want to learn the language (I wasn't too bothered about German) because the one thing you do need is willpower!

[M3R1IN]

www.trymango.com,  not too shabby either

[thartley]

I know this is not a direct answer to your questions, but after sitting in on a few of the english classes here at the ILC, I am enormously grateful that I was born a native english speaker.  English has got to be the most screwballed hairbrained approach to verbal communication on the planet.  And sad to say, but many other countries teach their children (from a very young age) another language.  I think America is maybe the only country that doesnt routinely begin mulit-lingual classes for the young.

I am learning enough thai to be laughed at.   

[Stasven]

Ciao, guten tag (if it's day  ), coma esta usted? J'mappelle Hayden.

I speak English natively but also know a little bit of Spanish, French, German, Nederlandian (Dutch?) and I'm learning Italian at school. I like screwing with people by speaking to them in Spanish or Italian. 

[thartley]

Ciao, guten tag (if it's day  ), coma esta usted? J'mappelle Hayden.

I speak English natively but also know a little bit of Spanish, French, German, Nederlandian (Dutch?) and I'm learning Italian at school. I like screwing with people by speaking to them in Spanish or Italian. 

I've always wanted to know a few languages so I could talk to people using a mixture of them all at once. LOL!

[Ming]

English is our second language here. Now the children must study it from kindergarten. Most thai are study Chinese is the third then Japanese and other.
It's fun to learn about languages but you also must learn about the culture together to make it work. I studied some Japanese before it was fun

[lambie83]

www.trymango.com,  not too shabby either

That looks pretty cool actually, since there is a free part you can try.

Once you begin to learn a language, a good trick to practice is to listen to music or watch movies in the language.  Looks like you're off to a good start, since you like German music.  Good luck.

[wendygirl]

I would recommend Pimsleur.  I tried it for Spanish and still remember much of what I learned.  Many people say it is better than Rosetta stone; I can't say since I have never tried Rosetta but I do like the method behind Pimsleur.  You can find it at Amazon.com or I think Pimsleur has a website.  Good luck.

[Ginafish]

My husband has the pimsleur for spanish, but really wants the rosetta stone because of the visual relations rather than just auditory.

[GabzillaSnuffles]

I'm learning German too, along WITH Brandon, and we're using Rosetta Stone.

We also go to school with kids who specialize in German language and culture so we get a lot of help from our friends there.

The only thing I don't like about Rosetta Stone is that it doesn't explain grammar. I know as a baby they don't explain grammar and you pick it up naturally, but as a baby, you don't know ANY language.

I find it difficult because I learned French in a classroom first, so I was told what was grammatically correct. In Rosetta Stone, you have to guess what is grammatically correct and most of the time, its wrong. I was trying to speak German with one of my German major friends, and she couldn't understand a WORD I was saying. When I told her what I was trying to say, she laughed (in a loving way ) at my grammar.

I think it would be easier to learn in a classroom first for grammar, then use Rosetta Stone for vocabulary, but that's just my opinion.

Rosetta Stone does wonders for vocabulary though. Its excellent with that because of the pictures.

[Nick]

I am learning Spanish right now, it was either that or French, and allthough I promote making English America's National Language, I figured if I was ever going to use one at all, it would be that one. It's also easier, I think ;-)

[wendygirl]

Found this in Parade magazine:

 Question: Which is the easiest major language for a
   child to learn?

 Answer: Probably Spanish, because the grammar is
 mostly regular, the spelling is straightforward, and 
 the words are easy to pronounce.  But for an adult 
 who just wants to be bilingual - and doesn't mind not
 being understood at parties - you could learn Taki-
 Taki (spoken in Suriname).  It has only a few hundred
 words.  By contrast, English has the most words of 
 any language: about 250,000.

Makes you wonder how it is that English has become such a common language for the world.

[thartley]

Makes you wonder how it is that English has become such a common language for the world.

Try TEACHING it to non-English speakers.  I watch PK and Sean, and I just don't know how they manage to make it make sense some days.  It is very difficult to explain why we say the things we do, and how it can mean something vastly different than what logic would tell you it does.

[thartley]

Ok, here is a question....at the market yesterday, I bought a rain poncho.  I asked "tao rai" (I dont know if my English spelling of that is right) or "how much".  The lady said "bhaet sip hah" or "85".  I handed her 100 and she gave me 20 back.  I figured she just didnt have change, so I tried to give her a 5 baht coin, but she wouldnt take it.  I dont know what she was saying to me, but she handed me back the 5.

Do you think she felt bad for overcharging me, or did I misunderstand the price?   

[ZeroG]

Actually, she said it was only 60 Baht, but she only had 20 change. You giving her more (5) made her feel worse. You should be ashamed of yourself. 

[Ginafish]

Stumbled upon this:
http://matadorstudy.com/1...uage-in-6-months-or-less/

[KitKat]

Ginafish, great find and good suggestions! I hope all our past, present and future volunteers for Isara see this!   

[RoS]

Hi there ! I really like learning languages because you get also a good flavor of the culture itself. And the best part is when you are able to travel around and make use of it ! I speak Spanish natively but can speak English quite well. I can also speak Portuguese and Swedish.  In my pending list I have Italian/French/German ... just need to find the time !. I think nowadays is far much easier to learn a new language as you can read newspapers, watch movies, even chat with native speakers. That's the good part of globalization 

[Sean]

You certainly can speak English quite well, or at least you can write it flawlessly.  Words like "quite well" and nowadays are definitely not for beginners.

Where are you from?  Welcome to Isara, feel free to introduce yourself here when you get a chance.  Member Introductions

Maybe Jennie will say hello, she speaks perfect English as well and is a native Swedish speaker.

Or as my students at the ILC said.  She speaks "Swedey"

[RoS]

Hi Sean ! I'm from Montevideo, Uruguay - which was once well known for football ! - but I've lived during the last 5-6 years in different places actually. I guess I should continue in the "Member Introductions" section  - don't want to upset the forum mods

[Sean]

Wow Uruguay that's awesome.  I think your the first person I've met from there.  I visited your neighbor to the north, Brazil, as well as Venezuala, but never made it that far south.

[ianh68]

I'm learning German too, along WITH Brandon, and we're using Rosetta Stone.

We also go to school with kids who specialize in German language and culture so we get a lot of help from our friends there.

The only thing I don't like about Rosetta Stone is that it doesn't explain grammar. I know as a baby they don't explain grammar and you pick it up naturally, but as a baby, you don't know ANY language.

I find it difficult because I learned French in a classroom first, so I was told what was grammatically correct. In Rosetta Stone, you have to guess what is grammatically correct and most of the time, its wrong. I was trying to speak German with one of my German major friends, and she couldn't understand a WORD I was saying. When I told her what I was trying to say, she laughed (in a loving way ) at my grammar.

I think it would be easier to learn in a classroom first for grammar, then use Rosetta Stone for vocabulary, but that's just my opinion.

Rosetta Stone does wonders for vocabulary though. Its excellent with that because of the pictures.

Rosetta Stone is very good but it does have its shortcomings. I'd appreciate any tips from people using RS as to what they found most useful. It sometimes seems so comprehensive I can't see the wood for the trees.

I'm trying to learn Thai and find www.its4thai.com very user friendly.