Thread: Learning Languages

I am fluent in English (written and conversational) and my French is good enough to get by if I need to, but not that good.

In the near future I am going to start on Japanese. I know it will be a big challenge. I have always been interested in the Japanese culture, but never gotten around to registering for evening classes. Youth is wasted on the young... Atm I already spend monday and thursday evening in MA class, so additional evening would be problematic.

Anyway, my sensei is a Japanese linguistic. I asked him if he could recommend a good book on learning some language basics. He said he'd do better than that, and help me learn Japanese. He proposed preparing bundles of stuff to learn via self study, and then meet regularly for private tuition.


I am really looking forward to it.

I admire you bi-tri-quadri-etc-linguals. I'm a native born American and find that I am still on the threshold of learning it.

Originally Posted by Bruce

I admire you bi-tri-quadri-etc-linguals. I'm a native born American and find that I am still on the threshold of learning it.

Yes..Its a shame that they dont teach languages when we are young here in america.

It is a pain in the arse learning a new language as an adult. Especially if it falls outside of the romantic languages.

Gentlemen,

I speak the Aramaic language. This is the ancient language that Christ spoke. Aramaic is also the basis for Hebrew, Persian (Farsi), Arabic and a number of other languages.

It is also the language of the Assyrians, the Biblical people. I myself am a full-blooded Assyrian. Now Assyrian-American.

The Assyrian empire flourished in the land between the two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, in what constitutes the present day Iraq. Those who have read the Bible will recognize the name Assyrians.

The Assyrian empire fell in 612 B.C. to the Medes and the Babylonians. Yet the Assyrian people continued to flourish. Eventually they embraced Christianity. Today they are scattered all over the world, many in the U.S.

Of course, I grew up speaking Assyrian, as well as Farsi. I studied Farsi in school, but there never was the opportunity to study Assyrian.

Several months ago I began to study Assyrian on my own. I found several books of grammar and a dictionary. At the same time, I began a refresher course, again on my own, in Farsi.

Gentlemen, sometimes I feel as if I am sitting on a cloud with a good cigar and cognac.

Regards,

Obie

I know this is an old thread, but I think in the meantime you get very good apps for iPhone/ iPad.
Some weeks ago I found book2 in the app-store.
I bought some language-apps, every language you get with 100 lessons and you pay around 6 Euro for this 100 lessons.
The apps work very well.
You should test it.

Originally Posted by Bruce

I admire you bi-tri-quadri-etc-linguals. I'm a native born American and find that I am still on the threshold of learning it.

Polyglots. We are called polyglots...

I love the English language. To say the same we need so many more words in Dutch than you need in English.

To understand and read English well is one, but speaking and writing is a different story.

Luckily enough here in Holland we do not synchronize on television like they do in most countries. To hear English on television certainly improves my language skills.

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Yes..Its a shame that they dont teach languages when we are young here in america.

It is a pain in the arse learning a new language as an adult. Especially if it falls outside of the romantic languages.

I totally agree, learning a language as a child is really easy its not really learning it just happens,as a child there was always two languages spoken in the house, when the whole family was there it was french and as soon as somebody else came into the house we all switched to english.That was the rule in my childhood home and no talking back to anybody in french if you have something to say just say it! dad rule lol

Originally Posted by scroc

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

I'm using the Pimsleur CDs for Russian. Very helpful if you are alone, and have no one to practice with. You should complement with some grammar studies and watch movies, learn songs etc.

I also use LiveMocha. This is a social network that has language courses, in many languages. For someone starting it's very good. You learn by doing the exercises and native speakers will correct the exercises. You will also make friends and as you progress, you can chat and talk on Skype with them. I learned French a bit with study at the Alliance Francaise and a bit with girlfriends. I can't do the same with Russian, as SWMBO knows where I keep my straights.