Learning a new language

[Antifa Hibs]

For a while i've fancied learning a new language, dunno what yet, probably Italian, German or Spanish as that's the places I visit most.

Done French at school and picked it up okay, so I think i'll be fine with learning something new (Can hardly speak a word of it now though)

Thing is I dunno what is the best route to go down? Go to actual classes or try the interactive stuff. Keep seeing that Rosseta Stone software getting punted on TV and quite fancy that.

So for those multilingual dot netters, what is the best way to go down? Any tips etc would be greatly appriciated :thumbsup:

[Leicester Fan]

I got GCSE Spanish at night school years ago. I probably taught myself more from the book and tapes that we used on the course rather than the teacher but she was useful if you had any questions.
I've also got Rosetta stone Spanish just to keep my hand in. It's a bit repetitive but if you didn't know any Spanish you'd probably want that.

[CropleyWasGod]

I always reckon it's best to do things in a class setting, with a teacher. That way basic errors of pronunciation can be sorted out early on. With a tape, you might think you're saying it right, but you don't know...:greengrin

Try Arabic.... it's a real intellectual challenge. The different alphabet, reading right to left, and lack of vowels makes it a real mind-****. Mind you, there's not much call for it in these parts.... I was reduced to showing off that I could read some shop signs in Leith :greengrin

[Jack]

For Spanish away out and find yourself a young Spanish girlfriend. There's lots of Spanish folks in Edinburgh.

Multi lingual girlfriends are a bit more difficult but not impossible. Heriot Watt does an exchange with those studying to be simultaneous interpreters at Heidelberg University. They come over for 12 weeks but have been known to stay considerably longer ;-)

We're still friends.

[J-C]

Alan ytl türk bu kolay öğren

trate español que toma que es muy fácil de aprender.

kokeile suomen ottaminen, joka on hyvin helppoa oppia

Versuchen Sie, Deutsch zu nehmen, das es sehr leicht ist, zu lernen. :greengrin

[Phil D. Rolls]

I always reckon it's best to do things in a class setting, with a teacher. That way basic errors of pronunciation can be sorted out early on. With a tape, you might think you're saying it right, but you don't know...:greengrin

Try Arabic.... it's a real intellectual challenge. The different alphabet, reading right to left, and lack of vowels makes it a real mind-****. Mind you, there's not much call for it in these parts.... I was reduced to showing off that I could read some shop signs in Leith :greengrin

I had a go, but it just ended up in a Farsi.

[Dashing Bob S]

Agree with Leicester that the best way is to go to a class, to keep your motivation levels up, and supplement with a learning pack. I did Rosetta Stone for Spanish but I really made progress when I switched to Michael Thomas.

I travel a lot of business and Arabic would be very useful, but it just intimidates me. I'm rather OCD about these things and once I start I get obsessed about them and wouldn't want something quite so difficult and time-consuming taking over my life.

[Big Ed]

I suggest you have alook at this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/
It'll give you an idea what language you'd like to try and gives you the basics, so that if you get bored you can change or pack it in all together.
An added bonus; it's free:greengrin

[Houchy]

I know it's probably not the easiest way but I learnt fluent Italian while living there for 6 months. I've found that once you've picked up a language out of Spanish, German, French, Italian, it's a lot easier to pick up one of the others.:agree:

[Hibrandenburg]

Get yourself a pillow dictionary!

[Antifa Hibs]

I always reckon it's best to do things in a class setting, with a teacher. That way basic errors of pronunciation can be sorted out early on. With a tape, you might think you're saying it right, but you don't know...:greengrin

Try Arabic.... it's a real intellectual challenge. The different alphabet, reading right to left, and lack of vowels makes it a real mind-****. Mind you, there's not much call for it in these parts.... I was reduced to showing off that I could read some shop signs in Leith :greengrin


Agree with Leicester that the best way is to go to a class, to keep your motivation levels up, and supplement with a learning pack. I did Rosetta Stone for Spanish but I really made progress when I switched to Michael Thomas.

I travel a lot of business and Arabic would be very useful, but it just intimidates me. I'm rather OCD about these things and once I start I get obsessed about them and wouldn't want something quite so difficult and time-consuming taking over my life.

Been reading alot of reviews on Rosetta Stone, they're fairly mixed, maybe leaning slightly to more positive than negative. The positive everyone has mentioned is the immersion as opposed to translation. It's also done with speaker and microphone with speech recognition software thingy so pronunciations are pretty much spot on.

Was looking at classes last year, the thing that put me off (other than the fact it was Tynie high school!) was they were Monday evenings, meaning with my work shifts I could potentially miss 2 a month. Also with home learning you can go at your own pace...


I suggest you have alook at this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/
It'll give you an idea what language you'd like to try and gives you the basics, so that if you get bored you can change or pack it in all together.
An added bonus; it's free:greengrin

Cheers man, i'll check that out later. :wink:

[ArabHibee]

Polish would probably be a useful language to have in this country.:duck:

[.Sean.]

It's unreal how quickly you forget a foreign languague when you're not using it - I got a 2 at Standard Grade Italian but remember none of it now and struggle with the basics. I wasn't fluent but could more than hold a sentance.

[Dashing Bob S]

It's unreal how quickly you forget a foreign languague when you're not using it - I got a 2 at Standard Grade Italian but remember none of it now and struggle with the basics. I wasn't fluent but could more than hold a sentance.

But if you go to Italy for a couple of weeks, you'll be surprised how much comes flooding back when you start using it.

[Calvin]

It's unreal how quickly you forget a foreign languague when you're not using it - I got a 2 at Standard Grade Italian but remember none of it now and struggle with the basics. I wasn't fluent but could more than hold a sentance.

They teach standard grade Italian?

I got Higher As in German and French but didn't continue with either at Uni because we were spoiled at school by the classes being that small that our teachers were basically tutors.

[Hainan Hibs]

I'm currently trying to study Italian. My girlfriend is Italian, so I've got the reason, it's just trying to keep the concentration and getting into a routine which is easy to fall out of.

I should speak more Italian, as actively using a language keeps it in your mind. However, my girlfriend is near enough fluent in English, and neither of us can be particularly arsed to go from complexed conversations in English to nursery level Italian. However, at the same time I know I need to learn another language as we plan to continue living in Europe after I complete my degree and the language ability of many people here makes me very insecure about my inability to speak a different language!

When learning a language by yourself it's best to dedicate some time each day, as studying 10 - 15 minutes each day is better than a 3 hour session on one day per week. Also make sure you have a variety of materials, so you don't get bored. Also if you get a hold of listening material such as radio or even tv shows to listen to native speakers it would be very beneficial, as I find listening the most difficult area of language learning (especially in languages such as Italian which seems to go at about 100mph).

[(((Fergus)))]

I also found Michel Thomas very effective as he starts out showing you how much you already know of each supposedly foreign language. There are samplers on his website and probably YouTube too so you can see if it suits.

http://www.michelthomas.co.uk/how-it-works.php

Bob, he does Arabic too.

[.Sean.]

They teach standard grade Italian?

I got Higher As in German and French but didn't continue with either at Uni because we were spoiled at school by the classes being that small that our teachers were basically tutors.
At Knox they did mate yes :agree:



Think it's the only school in East Lothian that teach Italian over German. German wasn't an option.

[hibsbollah]

At Knox they did mate yes :agree:



Think it's the only school in East Lothian that teach Italian over German. German wasn't an option.

Italian over German?
John Knox would turn in his grave :-)

[RyeSloan]

Italian over German?
John Knox would turn in his grave :-)

:top marks :greengrin

[Calvin]

At Knox they did mate yes :agree:

Think it's the only school in East Lothian that teach Italian over German. German wasn't an option.

I was gonna say that PL had failed me again but I love German so am quite happy. At PL they let the bottom set kids do some Spanish but it wasn't an option for the smarter kids - I have no idea of the logic.


Italian over German?
John Knox would turn in his grave :-)

:greengrin


Funnily enough I'm going to watch The Cube get recorded on Thursday... in Italian. Should be challenging!

[PeeJay]

For a while i've fancied learning a new language, dunno what yet, probably Italian, German or Spanish as that's the places I visit most.

Done French at school and picked it up okay, so I think i'll be fine with learning something new (Can hardly speak a word of it now though)

Thing is I dunno what is the best route to go down? Go to actual classes or try the interactive stuff. Keep seeing that Rosseta Stone software getting punted on TV and quite fancy that.

So for those multilingual dot netters, what is the best way to go down? Any tips etc would be greatly appriciated :thumbsup:

Think learning a foreign language has never been "easier" what with all the classes available and the interactive media to study in the comfort of your home. I've suggested to the kids here in Germany to watch a favourite DVD in the English original language - great for getting a feel for the language and "picking it up". You could try it the other way round - watch, e.g. Star Wars in German with the subtitles on.... reading magazines and newspapers are also a great help.
To do it properly nothing beats the long, hard slog of studying the grammar / vocabulary in a classroom environment or - better still living for a while in the country of your chosen language.
Good luck!