by Bubblegum Apotheosis 22 Replies latest jw friends
No doubt there are polyglots on JWN, what do you think the best language to learn is? Spanish, French, German, Tagalog or?????
What language did you find most diffucult to learn, does anyone speak Hindi, Farsi, Arabic or any Asian languages? What is the least amount of time I need to apply, to learn another language?
Choose one that interests you, or one that you can use sometime in the future, either for work or travel. If it's one you're interested in, or have a reason for learning, you'll persevere with it when you may feel like giving up on other other languages.
I studied French and German at school, with an emphasis on French. Although I've never had to use it in real life, it's stuck with me. Maybe ONE day I'll get to Paris.
The most difficult are Hungarian, Finnish and other languages from that family. I'd put asian and Indian based languages up there too, because they don't use the alphabet like we do. So not only would you have to learn a new language, but a new alphabet as well.
I think Spanish or Italian would be easiest, because they are based on the latin language, like English. But if there's a country you'd really like to visit one day, then go and learn the language. It makes travel far easier when you can say more than "Hello" in their language.
edited to add: I didn't see the other thread before replying to this one.
One more piece of advice: Don't accept just any teacher of the language. Ask what qualifications they have, and how long they've been teaching. Ask to speak to other students to get their feedback. A good teacher won't mind you doing this.
Whatever language you choose, immerse yourself in it.
Buy a dictionary. See if you can find books in it in the library. Find a course to listen to. Watch subtitled flms in the language.
Get books about the country. Find a local evening class so that you can practise speaking it.
When I was at school, my Latin teacher was Polish. She had come to the UK during the Second World War, knowing no English at all, but with just an English dictionary, and an English novel. (I don't know which one...for some reason we never asked.)
Anyway, that's how she learned Eng;ish. She could speak 8 languages!
Sigh...forgot to hit compatability...
Mandarin Chinese. I really stretches the brain! I had one year in undergrad, and I intend to re-start my studies after law school. However, if you are interested in spending the "least" amount of time possible, this is NOT the language for you.
I studied French for years. It was the diplomatic language of the world when I was young. Almost everyone in Western countires could speak their native tongue and French. French has helped me with English. The Normans were French. England held vast provinces in France for a long time. It always amazes me how many French words are picked up in English. It is extremely helpful with luxury items, Hermes scarves, French restaurants, fashion terms. Some English grammatical rules are rooted in French grammar.
My big regret and one that I hope that I can rectify is that I was never immersed in French language. People say to beware of studying French in Paris. The accent is considered vulgar.
England has replaced French as a common language.
Spanish would be helpful here. Some people say that the local dialects are very different from Spanish from Spain.
I could read and write French well. Speaking it is a true struggle. I can understand Creole much more readily than French itself.
Unless you have extraordinary skills, most people need immersion to truly know another language. My father told me it was very difficult based on one year in high school. I feared French as I feared math. Perhaps if he had told me how much fun it was, my ability would be better. Friends who were not raised in France but are fluent all lived there for a while. It used to be part of good education to spend one year in France after college to hone your French skills. A friend of mine was an international civil servant at the UN. He had certificates from the UN in about 8 languages, with a core of five. I don't think my brain could cope even if I had the same opportunities.
It seemed to me that once you master one foreign language, others come more readily, especially if they are related languages. Attitude is a lot.
One piece of advice from my struggles with oral French. I had to attend French lab several times a week. The college hires French speakers to listen on your practice and correct you. They kept me correcting me by saying their pronounciation clearly. I could hear the difference. It made me very anxious. No one ever told me how to make the French sound. A lot of it is just mouth and throat mechanics. I purchased French software to practice with a friend. The computer corrects you now! The programs seem to have two speakers now. Both my friend and I heard slightly different to different pronounciatoins from each speaker.
It all depends where you might be able to use a second language, like if your going on a extended trip to Europe or South America.
French and Spanish have similarities to English pronunciations alphabetically so they're easier for people who
are already culturally immersed with this language.
I play around with a computer software called Rosetta Stone, which helps in your pronunciations, check it out, it makes learning fun.
I am bi-lingual, I speak fluent Bollocks and a little English !
Years ago, I took a short course in another language, then went to the country and immersed myself in it for a month.
I am still able to speak fairly fluently after decades, but sometimes I get stuck with only having a small vocabulary in that tongue, and have to ask for the correct word, the natives don't mind,they are pleased we have a go at their language.
I look forward to the day when the whole world speaks English, after all ,God is an Englishman.
(Only joking, He is Chinese)
www.busuu.com is a brilliant website for learning languages. Most of the major ones. You can do a free version or if you want get the premium version (very reasonable) and be able to have your work checked by natives of the language you learn and check theirs. You can also chat to other people in a chat box if you want. It's very good.
I am a not a native English speaking who have been studying English more seriously last a coupl of years in my 40s'. Learning English is not the easiest thing. I endeavor to listen and watch English chennels whenever I can. Coming here JWN site has helped me with furthering my English writing skill beside being enlightened.
Thank you for putting up with my English. BTW Tornapart, thanks for the site.
