M2RTY
Member
Registered: 25th May 01
User status: Offline
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nik's post about too much spare time has gave me the idea to start my german again
anyone else self taught in a 2nd language?
best place to start? audio tapes etc?
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Fee
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Registered: 16th Nov 05
Location: With AK
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I think the only way to learn a language properly is to go to the country.
I studied French for 7 years at school and uni
I can get by, but dont think I could properly converse with a French person
Whereas I lived in Italy for 2 years and within 3 months was fluent.
That was when I was about 8 and would still say that I can speak better Italian than I can French
You can get these places though where you can go away for a week or so and study the language....
if you're planning on self teaching I would definitely recommend to do that after a while....so you actually use the language and get to speak it properly....rather than just 'where is the station' 'I'd like a beer please' crap
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drax
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Registered: 5th Feb 05
Location: Sittingbourne, Kent
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I learnt more french in a druken weekend in the south of france than I did in 10 years of learning french at school
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Ojc
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Registered: 14th Nov 00
Location: Reading: Drives : Clio 197
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My only regret from school was not listening more in German.
I know a little, can ask for directions and order food etc.
When me and Rach went to Germany for a break a while back German started coming back to me and I could find myself reading things on billboards etc and understanding what they said, if I were to live there for 6 months you would pick up the language so so quickly.
What Fee says is absolutely right.
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abdus
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Registered: 23rd Feb 06
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watch movies with subtitles 
yeah, the best way is to be in the country, I learned Russian this way and in less than 2 years was quite fluent, which I'm not anymore
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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Without going to the country, the best way, is to start seeing a girl who is German, for example
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James
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Registered: 1st Jun 02
Location: Surrey
User status: Offline
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I'd like to learn another language, think I'm going to pick Java 
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geordiecorsa
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Registered: 26th Mar 05
Location: South Tyneside or deepest darkest cumbria!
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It's more difficult for us grown-ups to learn a new language now; after about the age of 12 you struggle to pick language up easily - thats why they want to introduce french n spanish etc in primary schools.
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M2RTY
Member
Registered: 25th May 01
User status: Offline
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most people i work with on a daily basis are german so they can help.
we have germans who come over to learn their english too so might see about doing that
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Ian
Site Administrator
Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
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I've been to Germany, Spain and Turkey and shouted English at people and they understood me. I felt bad.
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--Dave--
Banned
Registered: 17th Feb 04
Location: Essssseeeeex Drives: Black Supra TT
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did you say everything slowly to make sure they understood?
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Sam
Moderator
Premium Member
Registered: 24th Dec 99
Location: West Midlands
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I speak French and Arabic, but only really speak them because my mum speaks said languages to me on a daily basis.
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Fee
Member
Registered: 16th Nov 05
Location: With AK
User status: Offline
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I was considering learning Arabic when I was thinking about moving to Dubai
Might still give it a go...might still move there a few years down the line
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Sam
Moderator
Premium Member
Registered: 24th Dec 99
Location: West Midlands
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Written Arabic is OK as all Arab countries understand it, however spoken Arabic differs from country to country due to local dialects etc.
I only understand Egyptian Arabic and other countries that speak it the same, can't understand spoken Arabic from some countries like say Syria for example.
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Rus
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Registered: 24th Jan 05
Location: SE London, Kent
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i know some japanese, if i hear it, i have half a clue what they're saying
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
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quote:
Originally posted by geordiecorsa
It's more difficult for us grown-ups to learn a new language now; after about the age of 12 you struggle to pick language up easily - thats why they want to introduce french n spanish etc in primary schools.
Aye thats right, it's the differene between language learning and language acquisition. Past the age of about ten or twelve your brain changes the way in which it picks up new information and its a lot harder  They've done loads of studies which have shown bilingual children have a higher average IQ than monolinguals too so teaching it in primary school I think is a really good idea, also there isnt the stigma attatched that there seems to be in 2ndry school (maybe it was just my school but hardly anyone gave a shit about french/spanish/german classes, which is a shame!)
As for picking one up now, go for it matey! I've just started giving Spanish lessons to one of my mates, start off with the very basics - alphabet, phonology, numbers then go on to learn the present tense verb endings. Grammar isnt the most fun part of languages, but once you have the basic framework you can start building up vocab and practising the four skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing). Have a look on ebay for beginners textbooks, I've never used any CD's but listening practice is very important (practice is the only way to improve, thats why I try to watch the news in spanish on TVE every day!) so it cant do any harm. I remember using an interactive CD-ROM for French when i was little too, might be worth a go.
If you decide to learn spanish for any reason then let me know and ill try and help you out finding some decent material.
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Dan
Premium Member
Registered: 22nd Apr 02
Location: Gorleston on Sea, Norfolk
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i was speaking to an entertainer at my hotel last week, he can speak 4 diffo languages, as well as i speak english lol.
he was thinking of moving to england to become a language tutor.
he seemend so annoyed that engilsh schools teach german and/or french, yet only around 3 coutries speak each as a primary language, yet spanish is spoken in over 10 diffo countries.
i can see his point, seems rather silly teaching a language that is hardly spoken anywhere in the world.
id love to learn spanish  might do a course on it soon
Adult GiftsClick here to vist us
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liamC
Member
Registered: 28th Feb 04
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Sam
Written Arabic is OK as all Arab countries understand it, however spoken Arabic differs from country to country due to local dialects etc.
I only understand Egyptian Arabic and other countries that speak it the same, can't understand spoken Arabic from some countries like say Syria for example.
Picked up some Arabic when I was living in Abu Dhabi, but very basic; directions, greetings, etc.
Didn't even bother with the writing though!
Wish I had learnt the vocal under tuition whilst I was there now though
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Sam
Moderator
Premium Member
Registered: 24th Dec 99
Location: West Midlands
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Oh yeah I forgot you were out there, why you back in this shithole country?
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liamC
Member
Registered: 28th Feb 04
User status: Offline
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Had to come back and finish Uni; had no choice.
6 months left then out of this lingering cesspit for good, inshallah.
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Sam
Moderator
Premium Member
Registered: 24th Dec 99
Location: West Midlands
User status: Offline
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drunkenfool
Member
Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Dan
i was speaking to an entertainer at my hotel last week, he can speak 4 diffo languages, as well as i speak english lol.
he was thinking of moving to england to become a language tutor.
he seemend so annoyed that engilsh schools teach german and/or french, yet only around 3 coutries speak each as a primary language, yet spanish is spoken in over 10 diffo countries.
i can see his point, seems rather silly teaching a language that is hardly spoken anywhere in the world.
id love to learn spanish might do a course on it soon
Yup, Spanish has about as many speakers as English, there's a bit of a debate as to which is more popular after chinese (mandarin I think but dont quote me on that) then either English or Spanish next. There are far more Spanish speakers outside of Spain than in it too, although I'll be going to mainland Spain next year to do a year at uni there. Another bonus of learning Spanish is you can watch TVEi (Televisión Española internacional) around 7:30PM on weekdays and see the gorgeous Sonia Ferrer
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