maximus Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Anybody got any tips on learning a new language and how long on average, before i could have a basic conversation in that language? Want to learn German and currently using rosetta stone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wainy316 Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 German must be the easiest, there is so many similarities to English and I still remember shitloads from school. I'm thinking of going back to it. (Korean is too hard)! How much did you pay for Rosetta Stone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danwichmann Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Groupon currently have a special offer for Rosetta Stone, but will expire pretty quickly I think. I'm tempted to take this up, but would like to know peoples experience of using this software? http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/national-deal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLax Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I think it is pretty good. I have the Swedish one. You will need all the levels though if you want to get anywhere. By the end of it you can understand a lot and make simple sentences for yourself but learning a whole language is a lot of work. To get fluent though I think you need to actually move to the country for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danwichmann Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I think it is pretty good. I have the Swedish one. You will need all the levels though if you want to get anywhere. By the end of it you can understand a lot and make simple sentences for yourself but learning a whole language is a lot of work. To get fluent though I think you need to actually move to the country for a while. I'd be looking at the French one, I have a French girlfriend and try to speak / learn French with her but it's too easy to slip back into English all the time. I don't think I learn languages very well with 'normal' methods so Rosetta Stone appeals from that angle. I spent about 6 months living in France and still couldn't pick up that much, maybe I'm just a lost cause! Think I'll give it a crack though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLax Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Well my girlfrend is Swedish but she's never had the patience to talk with me in Swedish because the conversations are too simple and one sided. Also you don't get the spelling and I learn a word much better if I see it written down as well as hearing it. Having learnt more of the language it gets a bit easier from her point of view though as I can engage more so she is more willing to speak it to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted June 29, 2011 VT Supporter Share Posted June 29, 2011 The Michel Thomas courses are good for conversational level stuff. I'm always surprised when people say German is easier than French. I found the opposite; German grammar a nightmare is. Not to mention all those unpronounceablecompoundwords. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amsterdam_Neil_D Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Watch German TV with the subtitles on, kids programmes are also good as a foundation. Sounds stupid I know but sesame street or similar are good for the basics especially the pronunciation of certain sounds. I can get by in Dutch if needed but it's always tough unless you can think in the foreign language if that makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wainy316 Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Here is a good way to start. Words that are the same in both languages. So basically words you won't have to learn, although you'll have to remember that they are the same if that makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b23avfc Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Pimsleur is the best brand. Also when you learn, as with almost anything, keep the body active. It could be something simple like bouncing a balloon on your non dominant arm as you repeat words/conjugations/so on. By doing that your brain will be better suited to capture the information. Put it this way, what happens when you sit down for an hour long lecture? Eventually you feel drowsy. And generally then you only recall the intro and outro... at worst. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danwichmann Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Pimsleur is the best brand. Also when you learn, as with almost anything, keep the body active. It could be something simple like bouncing a balloon on your non dominant arm as you repeat words/conjugations/so on. By doing that your brain will be better suited to capture the information. Put it this way, what happens when you sit down for an hour long lecture? Eventually you feel drowsy. And generally then you only recall the intro and outro... at worst. Now that's an interesting idea..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted June 29, 2011 Moderator Share Posted June 29, 2011 Watch the video. If you have time, watch it from the start too. Very impressive. Duolingo. It's not fully released yet though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b23avfc Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Pimsleur is the best brand. Also when you learn, as with almost anything, keep the body active. It could be something simple like bouncing a balloon on your non dominant arm as you repeat words/conjugations/so on. By doing that your brain will be better suited to capture the information. Put it this way, what happens when you sit down for an hour long lecture? Eventually you feel drowsy. And generally then you only recall the intro and outro... at worst. Now that's an interesting idea..... It works. I learned it when I did a foreign language instructors course in '05. Definitely worked for me. I speak spanish now. I learned basic italian and brushed up on french too though I haven't practiced which is key. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh29 Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I found it's easier to let the whole world learn English rather than me learn a foreign language Saying that I can muster a conversation in Hungarian but they don't exactly go out of their way at times like when you have a smelly baby and you ask someone in Hungarian for a nappy (pelenka) and they think you've asked for a bottle of Brandy (Palinka) as the words are very similar :shock: (least they are to a foreigner ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danwichmann Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I'll have to try it. Not something I'd ever considered before but I'm genuinely intrigued. Would be curious to know if any research has been done on this. Certainly, thinking about the way I've always learnt I've never been active so it's really an idea that's grabbed me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b23avfc Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I'll have to try it. Not something I'd ever considered before but I'm genuinely intrigued. Would be curious to know if any research has been done on this. Certainly, thinking about the way I've always learnt I've never been active so it's really an idea that's grabbed me. There's definitely been papers written on it. I'll have to find some links for you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh29 Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Watch the video. If you have time, watch it from the start too. Very impressive. Duolingo. It's not fully released yet though. sounds interesting ..but wouldn't it just mean that you can read and write a language but not actually speak it ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted June 29, 2011 Moderator Share Posted June 29, 2011 sounds interesting ..but wouldn't it just mean that you can read and write a language but not actually speak it ? You mean like pronunciations etc? I would imagine given the smarts of the people involved that there will be the ability to hear what you are doing as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaretMahoney Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 HA! Buy programs? Really? People still do that? I've got Rosetta Stone, full French. Completely free. Thanks PirateBay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyh29 Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 You mean like pronunciations etc? yep ..I learnt French at school and can muster a few words but I still sound like an Englishman however much I try to speak like a native anyway it sounded good so I've enlisted and eagerly await my email from them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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