anyone learn a second language as an adult?...what is best method?

by oompa 32 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  purplesofa

  I have learned baby talk. Hanging around my Grandaughter has taught me well.

  Grandpurp
• 

  oompa

  i just found out that on skype....where you can talk free worldwide through your computers....you can get a personal instructor in a language for an hourly fee....and you can record your own sessions for playback

  and thanks so much hampster....good info and website.......oomps
• 

  chickpea

  i am using rosetta stone for french
  as well as taking a few continuing-ed type courses
  at the local tech college in conversational french

  plus the open learning initiative hosted online by the
  carnegie-mellon institute offers a free course, 2 levels of french...
  not sure is spanish is offered but there is likely
  some college or university somewhere that has
  a basic spanish course online....

  check youtube too....

  then bé çertãin tô gèt the ïntérnatiónál keyboard!
• 

  White Dove

  Unfortunately, Oompa, that is exactly what you may need to do. The Spanish congs I've been in beat any Spanish church for the quality of Spanish spoken. I learned so much in a year of attending Spanish meetings.

  I also used cassette tapes in Spanish and listened to them all day, day after day. I studied it and also attended college classes for Spanish.

  I worked my butt off to learn it and could understand a simple conversation in only one year.
• 

  startingover

  I think you should start here:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngRq82c8Baw

  A few years ago I went to a local 2 year college and took a beginning spanish class. Big mistake. I had an ongoing headache and got further behind every class, something I had never experienced before. I just couldn't comprehend it fast enough to keep up. I finally had to quit to regain my sanity. The biggest problem was that there were a bunch of kids in the class that were just taking it for credit who were raised in a spanish speaking home. I didn't stand a chance with them controlling the class. So my advice is don't do what I did.
• 

  White Dove

  I also listened to and memorized songs in Spanish (before I...well, you know my story) by Ricky Martin and Selena. Awsome songs to learn! I also read children's books in Spanish and the entire Bible Story Book outloud and listened over and over again on tape, too. Because you know every story, you won't need an English version of the book.
• 

  White Dove

  And, I could understand a lot of the meetings in only 6 months depending on who was speaking. I attended on the west coast with Mexicans, so my accent is Mexican. You get Puerto Rican accents on the East coast.
• 

  watson

  I had a friend that did the fade by going to the spanish congregation. He learned the language, then made his elegant exit.
• 

  kurtbethel

  Absolute best method: Find a radio station that carries Piolín en la Mañana and listen to it. He has more listeners than Rush Dimbulb.
• 

  Gregor

  I learned some basic Japanese before and during a couple of business trips to Japan. Big mistake. They would assume i was fluent and start rattling off in their language. No way I could understand it and I felt foolish for greeting them with my flawless handfull of words. The great thing about english is that no matter where you go most other people can switch language to accomodate you. I hear that the French refuse to do this out of pride or whatever, even when they understand.

  Purp, I too have learned many new words from the toddlers! Funny thing is many of them have stuck!