Thread: Learning Languages

How do you like using the Pimsleur CDs? I hear the idea is genearlly good, but have only heard from someone second or third hand

So far so good. I haven't gotten very far, but in the limited lessons I've done (about 4 15- minute lessons), I've gotten a simple vocabulary and the ability to separate most words from each other. I'm doing Arabic, so instead of sounding like that weird babble that most of us hear Arabic as, it actually sounds like words. My brother has been using the French set and has had quite good success with it- he's actually the one that told me about it.

Ill have to try it out when I get a chance then. Just to find out which language to try now

I was actually at hastings last night and found Pimsleur has starter sets. Instead of paying full price for the whole thing, you can get 5 or 10 lessons for $24 to try it out. They also have a guarantee that if you buy the full set, go through it all and aren't fluent, you can get your money back. Obviously it takes dedication, but if you are dedicated, that's a pretty good guarantee.

As for which language to learn, I'd go with something that you can at least practice on someone with. Something that's interesting about doing a non-latin based language is that you don't try to pick out similar words (as you would do with say French, German, or Spanish). It's more natural to me to pick up a non-latin language.

EDIT: And the lessons are actually 30 minutes, not 15.

I'm a little rusty but I can speak French and Spanish, 4 years of French in high school and then 2 semesters at SIUC and two semesters of Spanish at SIUC in addition to the use of Rosetta Stone software but I don't really like it, it works like flashcards.
I'm actually thinking about going back for a major in FL probably Spanish or French since I'm already familiar with them.
I'd like to learn German and Icelandic mainly because they're countries that I want to go to and I'd never dream of going to a country not knowing any of the language.

I tried learning Arabic with Rosetta Stone and it killed me on the reading because they have a different alphabet and I didn't know how to pronounce the words unless the program said them. I could speak it fine. I gave up on it but would like to try again if I could find some good reading/writing aids.

I'm a little worried on the reading and writing part as well. But, I figure if those Lord of the Rings crazies can speak, read, and write elvish blather, I can pick up Arabic

I've taken basic spanish and german, though I've probably forgotten most of it already. It seems to go quickly when I have no exposure. About the reading and writing, I've been meaning to pick up some kids books in german, a little more advanced than the 'see spot run' books. Full sentences would be ideal, if I stop being lazy and look them up. Icelandic was also on my mind, that or sweedish, but I was in no mood to try a language on my own while taking one at schhol.

Originally Posted by Kees

Sorry, I can read German very well but speaking and writing take a great effort. Movimaniac is Austrian, he might want to oblige. Nassrasur.com is the German site for shaving (more like B&B it is not strictly for straight razor shavers).

That's same as me. I can read it best, write it second, speak it third but hardest of all is listening to a local and trying to understand it.

I would also like to learn Spanish, as i'd perhaps one day like to live there for a short while.

I too enjoy learning languages. I have taken about 7 years of Latin, and 3 of Greek. I recently started the Russian Pimsleur CDs just for fun. my wife asks me why I want to learn Russian, I just say 'Why not?'

I am also a Software Engineer, so if you count those languages ... hmm I would have to think/count for a while.