Slateman Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 So I've decided I want to learn another language. I was curious if any had tried any of the books or computer programs they have to learn languages. I have the spare time to use it everyday, but I was wondering if any of those things actually work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockeyguy1721 Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 im taking german and have a tutor... its ruff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autographcollector Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 So I've decided I want to learn another language. I was curious if any had tried any of the books or computer programs they have to learn languages. I have the spare time to use it everyday, but I was wondering if any of those things actually work http://www.RosettaStone.com :2cents: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rincewind Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 I started a thread about this last semester (my first semester of French). You might want to check it out for some good advice from fellow ESers: http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/showthread.php?t=145585 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Williams Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 I've had 3 spanish couses and I can't friggin' order at taco bell out here in AZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SackMachine Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Good luck with french, so many damned exceptions and rules and chairs are females... Trust me, I live in Montreal. Speaking french you might learn on your own, but writing it... like hell. Watch tv shows in french, they'll help you. Of course if you learn french then spanish will be easy to learn afterwards because of some ressemblances. How are you - English Comment est tu - French Como estas - Spanish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drums and skins Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 I'm taking my language class (spanish) in college now. I really want to learn something like Tagalog. My girlfriend is filipina and her parents still speak their language many times. I'd love to just sit at a dinner table and be able to hear something and then say "Excuse me, what did you say?" in their language. Hopefully they'd have a sense of humor about it . p.s.- Rosetta Stone, as mentioned, from what I know is ranked fairly high. I'd check them out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfitzo53 Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Learning a language is all about practice, especially when it comes to perfecting your accent and your listening skills. Once you've chosen the language you want to learn, immerse yourself in it as often as possible. For example, if you're teaching yourself Spanish and you know a native speaker, set aside a chunk of time (daily if possible, but definitely weekly) to practice conversation with that person. Check out foreign films from Blockbuster, Netflix, or the library. If you're still in school, find out if your college has a club for the language you want to learn. At Purdue we have both a German club and a coffee hour in the middle of the day on Fridays where people can meet to chat and practice their language skills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slateman Posted September 7, 2006 Author Share Posted September 7, 2006 Learning a language is all about practice, especially when it comes to perfecting your accent and your listening skills. Once you've chosen the language you want to learn, immerse yourself in it as often as possible. For example, if you're teaching yourself Spanish and you know a native speaker, set aside a chunk of time (daily if possible, but definitely weekly) to practice conversation with that person. Check out foreign films from Blockbuster, Netflix, or the library.If you're still in school, find out if your college has a club for the language you want to learn. At Purdue we have both a German club and a coffee hour in the middle of the day on Fridays where people can meet to chat and practice their language skills. Not in school anymore. Just graduated I am going to try and learn Arabic or Farsi. I figure it may come in handy during my career in the Marines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Unfortunately for most, the best way I've found to learn a new langauge is to move to that country and get out amongst the populace But like I said, that's not an option for most Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SackMachine Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Make sure you learn the arabic language of the country where you are heading. They are all different, a few words are similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monte51Coleman Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 http://www.RosettaStone.com :2cents: AC- Have you actually used this product successfully? If so, would you mind giving us a review? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slateman Posted September 7, 2006 Author Share Posted September 7, 2006 Slight problem with that Rosetta Stone software. Its expensive. Like Level 1 was $180 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bostic Hog Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Not in school anymore. Just graduated I am going to try and learn Arabic or Farsi. I figure it may come in handy during my career in the Marines I was an AF Linguist -- studied German, Russian, and finally Arabic after the Cold War ended and we didn't need any more German linguists. Maybe you can put in to go through DLI (Defense Language Institute) in Monterey, CA. I was stationed there 2x, best language training IN THE WORLD, total immersion, GREAT place to live, etc. The Arabic course at DLI was 63 weeks of Monterey heaven !! It is an all-service school ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the burgundy and gold Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 i take spanish at school, its pretty easy for me. i suggest you check ebay for a spanish text book Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slateman Posted September 7, 2006 Author Share Posted September 7, 2006 I was an AF Linguist -- studied German, Russian, and finally Arabic after the Cold War ended and we didn't need any more German linguists. Maybe you can put in to go through DLI (Defense Language Institute) in Monterey, CA. I was stationed there 2x, best language training IN THE WORLD, total immersion, GREAT place to live, etc. The Arabic course at DLI was 63 weeks of Monterey heaven !! It is an all-service school ... At this current time, I'm trying to re-qualify for OCS. Got a long way to go (there's a running thread started by me around here somewhere). If I were to enlist, I'm fairly sure I wouldn't qualify for a language school. I haven done poorly in spanish in college. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raub Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 I highly recommend Rosetta Stone. I have access to it in a load of different languages through the Army, and have used it quite a bit. It's a great way and mostly painless way to learn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinsfan1311 Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Unfortunately for most, the best way I've found to learn a new langauge is to move to that country and get out amongst the populaceBut like I said, that's not an option for most Sarge is spot-on. That's how we learned....back in the day,(late 70's early 80's), my Dad got stationed in Naples...he refused to live near any of the American "compounds". We moved in to an Italian neighborhood and were the only American family for miles. It didn't take long.. You'll know when you've arrived when you start dreaming in a foreign language....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 12th Commandment Posted September 8, 2006 Share Posted September 8, 2006 For a couple grand you can go to mexico and study in a immersion program for a month. I went to Cuernavaca in '99 and besides learning more spanish in a month than the previous 3 semesters, it was a hell of a good time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bostic Hog Posted September 8, 2006 Share Posted September 8, 2006 At this current time, I'm trying to re-qualify for OCS. Got a long way to go (there's a running thread started by me around here somewhere). If I were to enlist, I'm fairly sure I wouldn't qualify for a language school. I haven done poorly in spanish in college. The military qualifies you for language school SOLELY on your DLAB score. That test uses a fake language to see if you have a "knack" for learning foreign languages. They dont care if you have ANY previous foreign language knowledge. See if you can take the DLAB through your base. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted September 8, 2006 Share Posted September 8, 2006 Good luck my friend. IMO some people have the knack for languages and some don't. I am a pretty well educated person, and all my classes came easily to me except one. French kicked my azz. I studied that one subject more than all of my othre classes put together, and it never ever sunk in at all. Frankly, it was humiliating. My wife, on the other hand, was a French major who graduated with honors. She took German and Spanish as her electives because, to her, those were the easiest "gut" courses she could find. Insanity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashburnskinsfan Posted September 9, 2006 Share Posted September 9, 2006 If you don't have access to formal instruction, after learning the basics, immersion is the way to go. If you can't spend time in the country, or work with a native speaker, watch movies in that language. Supplement it with readings in the language in subjects you are interested in, such as newspapers, and continued study. Nowadays via the web it is easy to read foreign language newspapers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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