Large 141 Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 5 minutes ago, Eco said: I'm not lying when I say this, but something that has proven to help people trying to learn their first language, is to study Esperanto for a month or two. Now, Esperanto is about as easy as it is, and since it's a constructed language with set rules, it's easier to learn. The idea behind starting with Esperanto is that it'll help you understand how you learn languages, and what building blocks you need to go by to become fluent in a given language. I'll take a look. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eco 3,008 Posted June 2, 2017 Author Share Posted June 2, 2017 Just now, Large said: I'll take a look. Thanks. Cheers, and good luck. I have studied many languages so this has always been a passion of mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eco 3,008 Posted June 14, 2017 Author Share Posted June 14, 2017 Got an email saying Duolingo now offers Japanese! Check it out @Anton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
True Blue 971 Posted June 15, 2017 Share Posted June 15, 2017 Thinking about German but good God their grammar is difficult Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toinho 2,210 Posted June 15, 2017 Share Posted June 15, 2017 15 hours ago, Eco said: Got an email saying Duolingo now offers Japanese! Check it out @Anton Shall have a look. Cheers mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carefreeluke 722 Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Best tips from those who have learnt a language? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ 15,325 Posted August 18, 2017 Subscriber Share Posted August 18, 2017 1. Motivation. Probably the most important thing, haha. I know a lot of people who are tempted to learn a new language, but once they start, they never stick to it. If you want to learn it, you have to be willing to invest a lot of time and keep on doing it, otherwise you will have to start all over again and again and again. 2. Learn the basics - alphabet and phonology, a few hundreds or so most important words (vital verbs, useful verbs, useful nouns, pronouns), basic word order (subject, verb, object) to build simple sentences. Don't try to expand your vocabulary too much too soon, do it gradually once you have a good general understanding of how a certain language works. Don't focus too much on grammar at the start either, it will just make you confused. Practice the basics a LOT, repetition really is a key to success while learning a new language. Do a lot of listening to get the rhythm of the language. Start reading books to get a grasp on proper sentence structure and expand your vocabulary at the same time. Children books are especially great at the start. Good old grammar workbooks are very useful for practicing too. 3. Expose yourself to as much of your target language as possible. Newspapers, music, books, magazines, TV, movies, websites, radio, etc. 4. Conversation, conversation, conversation. Forums are good, chatting online/messenger is better, but you really need to start speaking if you want to improve (especially important for pronunciation) and become fluent. If you can't find anyone to talk to (there are plenty of resources online for that though), at least talk to yourself. Try to actually THINK in your target language instead of translating it in your head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inverted 1,776 Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 I'd wholeheartedly agree with the above. Points 3 and 4 are really key to me too. I only started learning German because my favourite book is written originally in German, and although I'm still not at a level where I can comfortably read it, that gives me a target. For now, I love a lot of German films, I can watch a lot more stuff about football, and I have some favourite newspapers. And I'd say don't be afraid of sounding stupid. It's better to write/say something with glaring mistakes than to avoid it out of embarrassment. My forays into the German speakers thread are a good example of this haha. I'd especially say anglophones can feel least embarrassed about mistakes, since in my experience people are pretty astounded when you can say/understand anything at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ 15,325 Posted August 18, 2017 Subscriber Share Posted August 18, 2017 58 minutes ago, Inverted said: I'd wholeheartedly agree with the above. Points 3 and 4 are really key to me too. I only started learning German because my favourite book is written originally in German, and although I'm still not at a level where I can comfortably read it, that gives me a target. For now, I love a lot of German films, I can watch a lot more stuff about football, and I have some favourite newspapers. And I'd say don't be afraid of sounding stupid. It's better to write/say something with glaring mistakes than to avoid it out of embarrassment. My forays into the German speakers thread are a good example of this haha. I'd especially say anglophones can feel least embarrassed about mistakes, since in my experience people are pretty astounded when you can say/understand anything at all. This is a big one, a lot of people are reluctant to try to speak because they are too shy, embarrassed or afraid of making mistakes and looking stupid. They are missing the point though; even complex ideas can be expressed by using shitty grammar and still be understood. Which is basically the point of learning a foreign language in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cicero 5,265 Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 2 hours ago, Cannabis said: Are there any good free language sites out there? I know that Rosetta Stone can get you talking a new language in a matter of months but it's about £200 which is a bit steep. I started to use Babbel but again to actually get anything done costs a monthly subscription fee. I'm quite keen to learn a second language but don't feel that invested to break into my wallet at this stage. Could always torrent Rosetta stone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toinho 2,210 Posted September 10, 2017 Share Posted September 10, 2017 I signed up for a Japanese proficiency test in December. I failed the same test last December (by 4% lol). Haven't studied this year so going to have to start. Kanji and grammar are my weak points. Edit: this should be in the Japanese thread my bad. It's Monday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honey Honey 3,767 Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 Talking mandarin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dickie 240 Posted September 13, 2017 Share Posted September 13, 2017 Only language I need to know is Amurican Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toinho 2,210 Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 On 9/14/2017 at 0:36 AM, HoneyNUFC said: Talking mandarin? I expect better from you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Large 141 Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 9 hours ago, Anton said: I expect better from you. Really? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Stan 18,364 Posted September 15, 2017 Administrator Share Posted September 15, 2017 On 10/09/2017 at 8:58 PM, Cannabis said: Are there any good free language sites out there? I know that Rosetta Stone can get you talking a new language in a matter of months but it's about £200 which is a bit steep. I started to use Babbel but again to actually get anything done costs a monthly subscription fee. I'm quite keen to learn a second language but don't feel that invested to break into my wallet at this stage. duolingo? Had it a while ago. Can't remember if it costs or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honey Honey 3,767 Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 Duolingo is free but from what I've heard it can sometimes teach you utter nonsense Things like "The monkey is in the library" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toinho 2,210 Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 28 minutes ago, HoneyNUFC said: Duolingo is free but from what I've heard it can sometimes teach you utter nonsense Things like "The monkey is in the library" Surely you've said that up north? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honey Honey 3,767 Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 12 minutes ago, Anton said: Surely you've said that up north? The Tory government closed all the libraries Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
...Dan 758 Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 48 minutes ago, HoneyNUFC said: Duolingo is free but from what I've heard it can sometimes teach you utter nonsense Things like "The monkey is in the library" Yeah, but it's teaching you how to construct sentences...it doesn't matter if they're weird. Duolingo's very good but will only get you so far. Once you learn the bases on Duolingo (you'll also have to study conjugation a bit elsewhere), move onto Hellotalk where you can speak to native speakers every day. I've spent years using Duolingo and Memrise, listening to Frech music and watching French films, and I'm now at a level where I can write to French people daily with very few misunderstandings. My reading and writing is much better than my speaking and listening. You need to put a lot of time and effort into it, you can't just download an app and expect to speak fluently in a few months. I enjoy learning French, I'm always curious about how to say things, and I think that's the key. You'll find plenty of time to practice if you really enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike 5,098 Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 On 9/13/2017 at 0:45 PM, Saturdays Are For The Boys said: Only language I need to know is Amurican Language is a gift; the ultimate divider between peoples. It defines cultures, sexuality, love, food, and family. Part of that is why I'm so resistant to Americanisms. Unfortunately I had to compromise with the dating system and Imperial measurements, but I'll be rooted if I'm saying shite like 'that was hella gay' or 'last night was lit as hell, bro'. Fucking American slang is so abhorrent to my ear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inverted 1,776 Posted September 15, 2017 Share Posted September 15, 2017 1 hour ago, HoneyNUFC said: Duolingo is free but from what I've heard it can sometimes teach you utter nonsense Things like "The monkey is in the library" Yeah but the point is to learn the rules of how to put sentences together. So it sometimes throws together random combinations to show you the grammar in action. The point is to know the structures so that you can then fill them in with whatever substance you need to in real life. So if using your example, Duolingo says "Der Affe ist im der Bibliothek", I know that what is normally "die Bibliothek" becomes "der Bibliothek" in that situation. Then I know that any "die" word becomes a "der" word. So even though that individual sentence will never be useful, it teaches me a lesson that I can use in lots of situations. Sometimes having relatively nonsensical sentences actually helps keep your attention on the technical side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Stan 18,364 Posted September 15, 2017 Administrator Share Posted September 15, 2017 1 hour ago, HoneyNUFC said: Duolingo is free but from what I've heard it can sometimes teach you utter nonsense Things like "The monkey is in the library" What's wrong with that? Monkey's gotta learn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber nudge+ 15,325 Posted September 25, 2017 Subscriber Share Posted September 25, 2017 Recently started learning Chinese (Mandarin). Want to get the grasp of the language structure/grammar on my own, and will join an in-class course later to develop conversational skills in particular. Tonal languages are tough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
True Blue 971 Posted September 25, 2017 Share Posted September 25, 2017 I would learn Japanese just to understand what the girls in the asian section of a certain filmography say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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