Learning a Language

Has anyone here had any experience of learning a language in adult life? I was wondering what the difficulties are associated with it. I've been thinking of doing it now for a long time and realised today that there is presently no reason why I shouldn't start (well, in September I mean, once the local college is back open for business). However, seeing as I shall be parting with my own hard cash to make the imagination a reality, I'm not really sure. I'm torn between the toughness and exoticism of Chinese (Mandarin)/Japanese and the more practical, sultry Italian. My reasoning at the moment is heading towards Chinese seeing as they're going to rule the world in my lifetime anyway. So, what do you reckon? Too hard, don't bother, just shout louder when in another country? Or else 'you only live one life' why speak in one boring old tongue. I think I'm gonna do it. I just don't know in what shape yet. Should I maybe try Rosetta Stone instead? What are they like? I don't really know why I'm asking internet mongs about this but you know how it is, do as you've always done and don't wonder about why your life is f*cked up.

I'm still struggling with English....

According to past forum revelations, you are part Jock and part farmer boy. The idea that you struggle to command and dominate the English language in its present form is hardly a staggering one.

Go for the most romantic language you want to speak and won't regret spending money on if you only end up saying. "My name is Augustus, where is the nearest public toilet?".

Do it.

Go to live in a different country for a year, you'll be fluent by the end of it.

Learn Japanese.

Lever makes a strong case. But always thought it would be cool to learn Swahili.

vilkrang wrote:Go to live in a different country for a year, you'll be fluent by the end of it.

What if he chooses Wales? What will he be fluent in . . .

Phlegm

effluent . . . .

eowyn wrote:Go for the most romantic language you want to speak and won't regret spending money on if you only end up saying. "My name is Augustus, where is the nearest public toilet?".

This might have merit if my name was actually Augustus. The problem with romantic languages is they appear to be harder to learn. Though I suppose Chinese or Japanese would be very hard - as I guess would any language, starting from scratch.

Silly Vilks wrote:Go to live in a different country for a year, you'll be fluent by the end of it.

If I was rich enough to go and live in a different country, maybe. But I'm not.

Ah, more Welsh bashing. Let me step in here with my own blend of typical gibberish to set the trolls on fire (Taipan, tac and Horrie mainly - with a touch of Chiv in recent times).

Welsh is a beautiful language, filled with historical commemorations of how our fore-fathers once lived a very simple and rural way of life.

A little fact for you, there is no K, X, or Z in the Welsh alphabet. No, no, don't thank me all at once.


Note: Speaking the Welsh language is an extremely difficult task.
Note 2: It's too extreme for me.

DJ_Smerk wrote:Ah, more Welsh bashing.

áhafennes éower Wéalcynn

Chivalry Augustus wrote:

If I was rich enough to go and live in a different country, maybe. But I'm not.

You don't need to be rich, use the internet, there are a shitload of companies who can offer you work abroad for a year.

Vilks quoted for truth (QFT).

Chinese or Japanese are so much more difficult to learn than a Latin based language - you could study for years and still only have a basic grasp of them. I would agree that if you wanted to learn Chinese effectively the best way is to spend some time in China. Its very easy to get work as an English teacher there.

I would recommend going to classes over Rosetta Stone too, although RS might help support lessons. Rosetta Stone helps you to learn vocab, but to build sentences, learn grammar and get an all round knowledge of a language its better to have that interaction with a teacher. Plus, regular lessons help to discipline you to attend, whereas you need to be very disciplined to follow through with self directed study.

Get a sexy teacher. Worked for me with french.

doremi wrote:Get a sexy teacher. Worked for me with french.

d'ja feckher?

JKLever wrote:Learn Japanese.

...but don't aim to become an expert. Learn just enough to get by, and appear like you're really trying, but they'll find it really cute when you make mistakes, and your c*ck will be the better for it.

FWIW, vilkrang is the only one giving you relevant advice. Accompanied by a grammar book I've picked up four and a half doing just that. But I found sticking to scriptum latinum made it easier. Basically a vocabulary of 300 words besides verb conjugations and declinations is what you need to converse coherently. One other thing; picking up the first foreign language is the hardest. Subsequent languages come easier.

IMO, school teaching methods are useless. Berlitz introduced the direct method, (now also being used by Inlingua) which brings initial audio-comprehensive results within weeks.

Trev finally posts something useful and Jimbo just disses him straight up ...Are you applying for Ozzie citizenship , JR?

Meanwhile taccy whacks himself senseless over the Japanese schoolie pics.

Henry wrote:

JKLever wrote:Learn Japanese.

...but don't aim to become an expert. Learn just enough to get by, and appear like you're really trying, but they'll find it really cute when you make mistakes, and your c*ck will be the better for it.

Does that work for the ladies too?

jim rich wrote:FWIW, vilkrang is the only one giving you relevant advice. Accompanied by a grammar book I've picked up four and a half doing just that. But I found sticking to scriptum latinum made it easier. Basically a vocabulary of 300 words besides verb conjugations and declinations is what you need to converse coherently. One other thing; picking up the first foreign language is the hardest. Subsequent languages come easier.

IMO, school teaching methods are useless. Berlitz introduced the direct method, (now also being used by Inlingua) which brings initial audio-comprehensive results within weeks.

They were using it 30 years ago.