Learning a foreign language.

Mistral001

I started a post a few years ago about learning foreign language, which got a good response but the thread has since lapsed.


I am starting a thread again as I see there are no recent threads on the subject and perhaps it is relevant to many people out there. BTW, I have put the thread on the employment and training section as it is the nearest to education I could get and being able to speak a foreign language, I suppose, can increase your employment prospects.


With languages being far my worst subject at school I started to learn German a few years ago. Let's say I saw it as a challenge. I have since found that it is a bigger challenge than I first thought it would be! I know German would not be most people's first choice of foreign language to learn, but let's say since I was not taught it in school I have no hang-ups about it and also I picked up a little of the language when I worked there for a few months many years ago.


Most of it is self-study, but I have been to one beginner's evening class. . Also some courses such as Michel Thomas from my local library. I have tried some of the many internet language learning sites as well.


I would welcome comments on other people's experience of learning a foreign language

[Deleted User]

I've started learning Spanish on an App called Duolingo - I'd recommend anyone to give it a try! You play games, translate from English to your chosen language to learn and back again within usable sentences and it even helps with pronunciation!

InsideInsurance

Necessity is the mother of invention unfortunately, we believe the majority of the world speaks english and so have no necessity to learn other languages.

The easiest way to learn a language is to immerse yourself as much as possible in it. Ideally you move to a country its the native language in but short of that then listen to their music, watch their TV etc. Initially its probably more a case of translating the lyrics but you slowly progress.

On gumtree etc there are a fair few people wanting conversational partners, the theory being you speak a language they want to learn and visa versa. Meet up once a week and alternate each time if the conversation is in english or german. This can work well but you need to ensure the person does actually correct your errors and that you ensure the alternation happens otherwise you just end up teaching them english.

Pimsleur is supposed to be a good way of learning languages but never used it personally.

On the plus side, once you crack one additional language it makes learning any others much easier.

Mistral001

BirdNerdSophie wrote: »

I've started learning Spanish on an App called Duolingo - I'd recommend anyone to give it a try! You play games, translate from English to your chosen language to learn and back again within usable sentences and it even helps with pronunciation!

There are a lot of such internet sites. I have tried Duolingo and it is quite good. Others are Memrise. Antosch&Lynn and Busuu.


I would not rule out Google Translate if you use it along with a text book. Its speech synthesis is very good now.

trailingspouse

My French is reasonable, and my German is, erm, less so.

I go to a Language Cafe every Wednesday morning - it's a group of like-minded people who meet up in a local cafe (we're upstairs at Sainsbury's in Halifax if you want to join us...), and talk either French or German. We have some native speakers, some retired language teachers, and some enthusiastic beginners. It works well - there's an unwritten rule that we buy a coffee, but other than that there's no subscription fee or membership.

Mistral001

trailingspouse wrote: »

My French is reasonable, and my German is, erm, less so.

I go to a Language Cafe every Wednesday morning - it's a group of like-minded people who meet up in a local cafe (we're upstairs at Sainsbury's in Halifax if you want to join us...), and talk either French or German. We have some native speakers, some retired language teachers, and some enthusiastic beginners. It works well - there's an unwritten rule that we buy a coffee, but other than that there's no subscription fee or membership.

That is a great resource for you to have in Halifax. Practicing the language with others must be the key. It is when you find out your lack of knowledge. I learned French for five years at school, but could not say "hello, how are you" at the end of those five years.

jjlandlord

I think it's important to hear the language as spoken by native speakers. Even if you don't understand much you get used to the sounds, pronunciation, etc.

These days this is easy to do through, e.g., Youtube or TV channels streaming on the web.

TV also gives good clues about the culture.

DKLS

I found a native speaker via Gumtree, and we meet for coffee usually once a week and exchange emails and have skype calls. Which benefits us both as she improves her english and I am up to basic conversational standards of her language.

Mistral001

Just to add, some libraries have audio courses such as Michel Thomas and Pimsleur. These are the only two courses of this type I would recommend. I have tried a few.

Annisele

I know you weren't really asking for links, but I really like Lang-8. It only really works if you can find enough native speakers of your target language who want to learn English - but there are so many people learning English that I often find people correct my posts within a few minutes.

GwylimT

I speak Welsh, Swedish and English fluently, I know enough German, Spanish and French to manage on holidays give directions etc.

Personally I think the best way is just to use that language where possible, for exampls watch TV shows or even familiar cartoons in that language such as the Simpsons. It is good if you can find a conversation partner, whether face to face or through something such as skype. Have you tried contacting any local secondary schools, they often have language clubs or native speakers who assist the pupils tend to also offer private tuition during their year of work.