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Foreign Language. The best ways to learn?

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
I will have a bit of free time in the next months and I was thinking about restarting learning some of the languages I tried in the past but this time doing it effective. I know of some people who managed to learn in super short amounts of time and I have one friend who knows over 15 languages (i've heard him speak 6 so far).

So what is your recepie for fast learning? Rosetta sucks and lectures take waay to long.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
It works with the basics or as support but it won't really teach you all you need. At least the spanish one.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
I've learned english watching cartoon network and discovery as a child but I think I don't have enough time for that. I just know some people manage to learn very fast I and really want to know how.
 

Mr Jones

Turbo Monkey
Nov 12, 2007
1,475
0
Learned spanish with rosetta stone many years ago. I can still communicate sufficiently in spanish but my spanglish is better. Honestly the best way to learn a new language is to find a lover who speaks the language you're interested in learning.

I'm married and faithful btw.... just in case you're wondering
 

Pete..

Monkey
Feb 11, 2009
450
0
Santa Cruz
Complete immersion, the only way to go.

I like to think taking classes, etc is like only getting the tip in. Actually going where they primarily speak it with little to no knowledge of the language gets you balls deep into it.
 

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
40,942
13,135
Portland, OR
Complete immersion, the only way to go.

I like to think taking classes, etc is like only getting the tip in. Actually going where they primarily speak it with little to no knowledge of the language gets you balls deep into it.
I learned a lot having Mexican neighbors. But I think they spoke more spanglish than actual spanish. I could understand 80% of what what being said.
 

velocipedist

Lubrication Sensei
Jul 11, 2006
559
702
Rainbow City Alabama
Complete immersion, the only way to go.
That being said, everyone learns differently, so I would try to figure out how you yourself best learn. I would guess that an aural based curriculum would benefit you the best, based on how you have picked up English. I would also look at the base linguistic syntax of the target language, to use Japanese as an example the verb imparts so much information and it awkwardly comes at the end of the sentence, making it different (ie unique, possibly easier to absorb) and very efficient for being able to communicate quickly.

Obviously it is dependent on what language you want to learn, but I would first analyze the language and then think of your goals and start studying. Good luck!
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
Right now I think about Spanish. I will read a bit about it. I have a problem that if I don't see a clear plan/system I loose motivation so I can't do it randomly. Going to spain is not an option right now. Not for a long enough time at least.
 

?????

Turbo Monkey
Jun 20, 2005
1,678
2
San Francisco
You just need some motivation. Move to Spain or get a Spanish lover. That's what I did and my fraulein's English has improved quite a bit over the past two years. :D
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
You just need some motivation. Move to Spain or get a Spanish lover. That's what I did and my fraulein's English has improved quite a bit over the past two years. :D
Nope. I can't move because I want to get some work experiance outside of my current field of education. That requires some serious networking and I'm not going to waste opportunities I currently have. Moving is not an option for the next 3-5 years for me.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
I just want to know more languages. It's usefull when you travel and when you meet new people.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
Never got convinced to those ads that pop up around RM all the time. Guess I'm too close to places where they really come from.
 

norbar

KESSLER PROBLEM. Just cause
Jun 7, 2007
11,346
1,587
Warsaw :/
Who doesn't speak English? :confused:
Half of the Spanish and Italian population? All the people in smaller towns in non english speaking countries. All the French pretending not to speak english. Basicly everybody if you don't travel the world like a turist?
 

JohnE

filthy rascist
May 13, 2005
13,430
1,949
Front Range, dude...
Immersion...when I moved to Germany the first time I spoke a little, mostly residual from HS. Playing soccer with the village guys, riding and playing hockey in the German leagues helped. But mostly hanging out with my nieghbors and listening to them. I am still not fluent but can get by. Although the dialect here in Stuttgart is kicking my ass...
 

lovebunny

can i lick your balls?
Dec 14, 2003
7,310
209
San Diego, California, United States
Learned spanish with rosetta stone many years ago. I can still communicate sufficiently in spanish but my spanglish is better. Honestly the best way to learn a new language is to find a lover who speaks the language you're interested in learning.

I'm married and faithful btw.... just in case you're wondering
that is by far the best way. ive picked up quite a bit of spanish just from being in daily contact
 

mrbigisbudgood

Strangely intrigued by Echo
Oct 30, 2001
1,380
3
Charlotte, NC
Another vote for immersion.

The bitch here in Sweden is that everybody speaks English, and they switch as soon as an accent is detected, Swedes love speaking English. Makes it a bit tough, but you just have to say "jag vill talar Svenska, tack".

Another thing that makes learning hard in Sweden is the literacy rate. Practically everyone is literate and speaks with proper grammar. If you make a grammar or spelling mistake, you come off like a complete moron immigrant asshole. Unlike the US were y'all and gots seems r ekseptable their......yet another reason why I am disappointed in my home country after living abroad.
 

JohnE

filthy rascist
May 13, 2005
13,430
1,949
Front Range, dude...
Same goes here in Germany. I used to tell my buds to speak German to me, but they were all eager to exercise their English skills on me. Eventually we compromised with a speak English at my house, in my car, German at your house, out on the town, in public etc. Its interesting to have your grammar corrected by a non native speaker..
 

?????

Turbo Monkey
Jun 20, 2005
1,678
2
San Francisco
I've never met a person in Sweden or Germany that couldn't speak English so long as they had teeth and weren't senior citizens. Sweden will have migrated to English as it's primary language within the next 50 years.

I think it's great as a cultural art, but unless you're moving there for work, speaking the local language is not necessary.
 
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velocipedist

Lubrication Sensei
Jul 11, 2006
559
702
Rainbow City Alabama
I've never met a person in Sweden or Germany that couldn't speak English so long as they had teeth and weren't senior citizens. Sweden will have migrated to English as it's primary language within the next 50 years.

I think it's great as a cultural art, but unless you're moving there for work, speaking the local language is not necessary.
I'm sure your naive eurocentric view will serve you well in life....
 

kickstand

Turbo Monkey
Sep 18, 2009
3,441
392
Fenton, MI
I had 4 years of spanish in high school, but I didn't know how to speak spanish until i spent a summer as a crew leader on a landscaping/lawncare crew.
 

velocipedist

Lubrication Sensei
Jul 11, 2006
559
702
Rainbow City Alabama
You've quoted some historical Japanese measurements. Are you trying to say that the metric system is not the official system of measurement in Japan?

How's the Gregorian Calendar working out?
It is the 24th Year of Heisei now... anyhow

actually I quoted from your idiotic imperial units thread.... my point was about language and Asia in general, that your impression of their understanding of English and their actual understanding vary greatly. Learning another language has more value than simply "cultural art", but then again your arrogance at assuming everyone in the WHOLE world can or will in the future speak English seems to fit nicely with your understanding of racism.