Thread: Languages

I speak English (well as best I can, for just high school education lol) and some Polish , I understand more Polish than I speak if that makes sense, My Girlfriend who lives here with me in UK is Polish, for me sadly languages is not that easy esp Polish as it is quite tricky imho.

Good luck with the Japanese

Can't believe I never noticed this thread.

I wouldn't call myself a language buff, but I like the challenge a new language offers. I am fluent in Dutch (1st language), English(es? ) and Finnish (moved here back in '08), my German is okay but my vocabulary is severely lacking. I've been considering to take up a new one for a while now, Russian, Chinese or Spanish. Haven't decided yet, not in a hurry either; I feel obliged to first brush up on my German vocab and use as well as my Finnish grammar - too many slip-ups in my opinion.

My native is Portuguese. I speak English and Norwegian. A very goo understanding of Spanish. Some understanding of Italian (I'm starting a home course on this). I want to learn japanese too.

In college I took German, but sadly didn't stay up on it. I can still pick up a few things and speak a few sentences..but that is it. I have a desire to learn Spanish due to the influx of those from Mexico. Any suggestions on recommended methods of teachings? Is Rosetta Stone any good?

I am thankful for the auto translation capabilities available on the computer.

Fluent in Arabic, French and English. Working on my Greek...My kids speak all four.

Studied basic German in the past and would like to continue working on it in the future.

I find learning a new language to be a lot like learning to play a new musical instrument. Currently learning to play tenor saxophone, what a joy!

My Mother spoke Welsh fluently, before the British tried to stamp out the culture. She could have taught me more, but at the time I was uninterested. I've learned a bit online, but with no one to speak with on a regular basis, it's very difficult ...

But, whatever I learn is more than I had before ...

Originally Posted by ScottGoodman

.....Any suggestions on recommended methods of teachings? Is Rosetta Stone any good?

Doulingo is free online and I have heard good things about it, been wanting to try it myself. Just google it and you will find it.

I am currently toggling back and forth between Russian and Japanese given that I have known a local Japanese American community for over twenty years where I grocery shop and also know some Russians where I work. I love both languages and struggle severely as I am not linguistically inclined but I still try as I love each new word or phrase I learn .

Originally Posted by Druid

My Mother spoke Welsh fluently, before the British tried to stamp out the culture. She could have taught me more, but at the time I was uninterested. I've learned a bit online, but with no one to speak with on a regular basis, it's very difficult ...

But, whatever I learn is more than I had before ...

Maybe the phrasing is not too good but you statement comes across as if someone tried to stamp out the Welsh culture in your mother's time. I'm aware that the speaking of Welsh was discouraged in some schools in the 19th century but it was never official policy and I've never heard that the culture was under threat from the 'British'. I'd be interested in further details.

Mother tongue is Kiwi, but fluent in 'stralian'. Read an interesting book a while back called "The power of Babel" about language, ever evolving. Here is The lords prayer spoken in English a mere 900 years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wl-OZ3breE&t=119s