discussion learning a new language.

[Guest]

ive realised i'll never get the hang of my mother tongue, so ive decided to learn Spanish.

Ive been ruminating about it for a few years and ive finally decided to get off my backside and crack on. My local college runs 3 different 25 week courses (levels 1,2 and 3) and a 10 week 'holiday' Spanish type course. I'd be interesting in starting on level 1.

I know a fair few Spanish words but im not a speaker. The next course begins in january so i'd like to get a head start.

Ive looked at the Rosetta Stone pack (which seems like a complete rip off), Michel Thomas and Pimsleur. The latter two systems seem to have very good reviews.

Has anybody learnt using any of these systems, or have any advice to offer me-the pros/cons/pitfalls etc etc.

Im a very motivated person and would have no problem committing to a course of study, and i learn pretty fast..something to do with my colossal IQ of 180.

Any advice or feedback would be really appreciated as im not sure which pack to proceed with.

x

 

[stona]

I can't tell you the best way to learn a language but I wish you the best of luck. It will be a very rewarding thing to do.

I learnt French,at first the hard way at school but then of neccessity. I did a lot of work over several years in France and eventually often found myself as the only Englishman on a French crew. Learning a foreign language is like opening a door into another culture.

I've since managed a little Italian and German. German is tough,not as a language but because when I work in Germany everyone wants to practice their English

A friend of mine started to learn French using one of the listen and learn systems. My reservation was that it would teach sentences with surprisingly complicated structures (tenses etc) but without explaining how that worked. I'm not an educationalist but I do speak French and found myself explaining how the verb "falloir" worked and what a subjunctive was !

Steve

 

[Guest]

I'm really happy to hear it!!!

Good luck!!

For experience I will say, that many Europeans who are my clients learn spanish very rapidly.

Principally to speak, it's a very easy language. The most difficult thing is the grammar ...

Providing that if you has some doubt, don't hesitate to say ... or if you wants to write something I can help you.

Here I'm in debt with all ... I commit many mistakes on having written and nobody criticizes me, they have many patience!!

Regards

Polux

In spanish...

Por experiencia diré, que muchos europeos que son clientes míos aprenden español muy rápido. Principalmente hablar, es una lengua muy fácil. Lo más dificil es la gramática... siempre que tenga alguna duda, no lo dude en decir...o si quiere escribir algo le puedo ayudar. Aquí estoy en deuda con todos...cometo muchos errores al escribir y nadie me critica, tienen mucha paciencia!!

 

[John]

I used Pimsleur for Spanish a few years back and found it very good, learning through repartition, I wish I had carried on but like everything else other things took priority.

 

[Ian M]

Only one way to figure that one out Funky....

One word of warning though. Don't get disheartened after the first few months. One day, some thing will happen and all the bricks will fall in place and you will then fly along. The problem I had was I am totally pants at grammar, so the explanations of verb, adjective, subjunctive etc., went right over my head...then one day the lights came on and I got to grips with it.

Oh and it helped a lot living in the country.

Ian M

 

[Guest]

of course nothing beats living in the country..that would be a plan further down the road. my ex's brother lived in Valencia and couldnt utter a word of spanish but in a few months could follow conversations if not join in full-tilt. years later he was talking like a native and has been there 19 years-the majority of his adult life.

they say spanish is one of the easiest to learn from english.

I'll just buy one of the course and start there i guess.

 

[Guest]

I'm really happy to hear it!!!Good luck!!

For experience I will say, that many Europeans who are my clients learn spanish very rapidly.

Principally to speak, it's a very easy language. The most difficult thing is the grammar ...

Providing that if you has some doubt, don't hesitate to say ... or if you wants to write something I can help you.

Here I'm in debt with all ... I commit many mistakes on having written and nobody criticizes me, they have many patience!!

Regards

Polux

In spanish...

Por experiencia diré, que muchos europeos que son clientes míos aprenden español muy rápido. Principalmente hablar, es una lengua muy fácil. Lo más dificil es la gramática... siempre que tenga alguna duda, no lo dude en decir...o si quiere escribir algo le puedo ayudar. Aquí estoy en deuda con todos...cometo muchos errores al escribir y nadie me critica, tienen mucha paciencia!!

Thanks Polux!

Ive wanted to learn spanish for years and years and FINALLY have got off my backside. I love Spain and Spanish culture...im not a big fan of ex pat Brits though and Benidorm isnt my idea of fun.

Im starting a course on Tuesday so i'll let you know how i get on...when i start getting to grips wth it, dont be surprised if i start writing emails to you in very bad Spanish!

Simon

 

[Ian M]

Go for it Simon.

When I moved to Denmark I could say thanks, yes and no....

Ian m

 

[Guest]

try lithuanian. too hard!

 

[stona]

Go for it Simon.When I moved to Denmark I could say thanks, yes and no....

Ian m

A couple of years ago I was sheltering from the rain in a place called Middlefart (honestly!). It was at a festival imaginatively called "Rock Under Broen" which,given the location,I figured out meant under the bridge.

I asked one of the Danish festival crew why everyone spoke such good English to which he replied,"noone else speaks Danish".

Cheers

Steve

 

[Guest]

A lot of places in Spain are like British or German Ghettos..i dont want to live like that...i hate Karaoke, and im not a football, beer and food type of bloke. I want to live on a Spanish community.

My ex's brother lived just outside Valencia in a town called pablo de farnals, its right on the coast. he's the only foreigner in the entire town and everyone knows him and calls him 'John" (everyone from England, Ireland, Wales or Scotland is John apparently.

Im sure i could get the hang of it. Ive always fancied Italian too, they are quite similar arent they, but one step at a time!

What made you move to Denmark Ian..and dont say the cold nights and hot women because that much is obvious?!

 

[Ian M]

Well people that are into language say that the beat place to start is, for European languages, Latin. but who speaks that these days!

Easiest to learn? Japanese!!! Some thing about only having words in the pure form.

Why did I move to Denmark. Well I had a Danish Girl friend and we came here for a holiday, Haven't been back since. Except for the odd visit that is.

Seriously came back from the Holiday, sold the house and my Motorbikes, (bummer) quite the job and bought a plane ticket! Never looked back.

Traded the girl friend for a newer model though! LOL

Ian M

 

[Guest]

Yes - I learned talian with the website download version of Rosetta Stone. Amazing - I tried for years with the Linguaphone system - could not get on with it. Go for Rosetta Stone - it's brilliant. You have to be disciplined but it's fun so it's easy. You speak what you hear and the computer software determines how accurate your accent is. All the time you are learning by rote but you are not aware of it.

Aidan

 

[Guest]

When we did Spanish at school, the emphasis was very much on the spoken language and the written part was sidelined to a minimum for ages. Looking back on it I found it the best way to learn. I would talk to myself at home in Spanish until it sank in. Good luck with it, Funky and I know you won't regret it. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Keith

 

[Ian M]

A thing I found very helpful was reading some thing that interests you, In my case I got a book on fly tying in Danish. Maybe Polux can send you a couple of magazines on a subject that interests you. I found it a good motivation.

Ian M

 

[Guest]

Ive always fancied Italian too, they are quite similar arent they,

the beat place to start is, for European languages, Latin. but who speaks that these days!

I had Latin as a compulsary subject at school, my grandmother (nonny) was Italian so i speaka da lingo , knowing Italian didn't help much with the Latin to be honest, the roots of the words are there as they are in most European languages (i.e. ambulat = to walk or amble) but the dialect will throw you.

Spanish has a lot of simularities but it's not as easy as you'd think to learn even if you speak Italian, i know as i've tried and only have a "tourist" comprehension of the tounge.

Rosetta Stone and similar "learning tapes" are ok for the basics but if you go to the country when you're thinking you've learnt enough you will end up a little lost because of dialects throughout the country (just think of the different dialects here in the UK and then multiply it) I can always tell if someone has lived in italy or learnt italian through a course just in a few sentences.

For instance i speak French but couldnt fully understand a Parisienne local at a show a few years back due to his accent, if i come across someone from southern Italy it's harder to converse than if he/she were from "oop norf"

My advice is get the basics and then go and visit the country for as long as you can to top up the dialect.

 

[Ian M]

Hey I been mis-quoted, T'was not me that said that I was just saying "wot i erd."

lol I think they where referring to the grammar being a good foundation.

Language has always fascinated me but I have never really learnt any for fun. A rarely heard one such as Danish was a pain in the bum. But having learnt it, it's surprising how much German I can read!!! Swedish is a sub-division as is Norwegian. Hey they were all the same land once with the same people, so if you like the the Scandinavian languages are the same but the dialect has gone to the extreme and become each their own. A bit like England and Yorkshire...... Yep I'm running for cover already !!! But all you in England should also be thankful for the Vikings. A lot of town names in England are in fact Danish in origin....

Getting way off topic here sorry Funky.

Ian M