Barfy Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 I'm hopefully going to finish my law degree within the next few months, and to fill up the spare time that will leave me with, I'm thinkng about learning a new language. At the moment I'm torn between a couple of choices with Russian and Chinese currently in the lead. Does anyone have any experiance of studying languages outside of school/college? if so, can anyone recommend a method? I was looking at that Rosetta Stone company, anyone had any experience with them? Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baj Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 I learn my languages from evening classes. Its pretty good to learn as a group with people at the same stage/level, but you have to put in *serious* homework time to make it worthwhile. I've not used rosetta stone etc, as far as I know these teach you prefixed sentences, whereas I prefer to learn grammar, verb conjugation etc so I can form my own sentences. for the record, english, dutch, flemish (dialect of dutch), german. Learning French in evening classes and want to learn swedish but no classes locally, so would be interested to see how you get on outside of classes, might be useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastleighSoulBoy Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 There are some of us on here who struggle with the English language! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisobee Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 There are some of us on here who struggle with the English language! Not you surely !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dellgirl Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 The way the world is going I think Arabic would be most useful ,it is actually a very interesting language and being able to speak it gives you a great advantage both on a social and business level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint lard Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 I can't speak French,but i can kiss fluently. Coat got. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastleighSoulBoy Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 There are some of us on here who struggle with the English language! Not you surely !! Purely for demonstration purposes I invented the Royal 'Us'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 I've learnt Greek and Russian (well, tried to) in the past and have struggled with the alphabet. I think conversation classes are a good way to learn - after all that's how we all learn to talk in the first place! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dark Sotonic Mills Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 The trouble with evening classes is that you always go at the rate of the slowest learner, which can be unbelievably frustrating if you have any aptitude for language. I gave up learning Spanish for that very reason, the sense of utter frustration was too much; that, and the overwhelming urge to knock some sense into the morons who were holding us up. I mean, four weeks and we were still on " my name is...", "I am from England" and "where is the cat?" I still haven't managed to work that last one into any conversations in Spain yet, either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 I can use Visual Morse code as a form of communications...does tha count..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jillyanne Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 The trouble with evening classes is that you always go at the rate of the slowest learner, which can be unbelievably frustrating if you have any aptitude for language. I gave up learning Spanish for that very reason, the sense of utter frustration was too much; that, and the overwhelming urge to knock some sense into the morons who were holding us up. I mean, four weeks and we were still on " my name is...", "I am from England" and "where is the cat?" I still haven't managed to work that last one into any conversations in Spain yet, either. Where was the cat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Will Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 I can use Visual Morse code as a form of communications...does tha count..? What's Visual Morse code? Intrigued.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack rill Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 Haven't we had Chinees to Englees sayings posted on hear before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barfy Posted 8 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 8 November, 2009 Evening classes are generally no use to me anyway due to the hours I often have to work, hence having to use distance learning (as with the law degree). DSM - I did German and French at school and didn't have too much problem picking things up, so that point about evening classes is probably another reason to skip that option. I guess I'm really just looking to see if anyon has experience of distance taught language courses that they can recommend or not. Though it's useful to get an idea of what other languages people might suggest... BTF - how long were you studying Russian? Was it as incomprehensible as it looks in writing? Baj - I'm going to have a look at the Rosetta Stone free trial stuff this week, if it seems any good, I'll let you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 What's Visual Morse code? Intrigued.... Someone dot,dot,dot dash, dash, dashing on your eyeballs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastleighSoulBoy Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 I can use Visual Morse code as a form of communications...does tha count..? Semaphore? Lights or flags? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonManager Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 Semaphore? Lights or flags? No, you hold up big cards with 'Dot' or 'Dash' written on them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dark Sotonic Mills Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 Evening classes are generally no use to me anyway due to the hours I often have to work, hence having to use distance learning (as with the law degree). DSM - I did German and French at school and didn't have too much problem picking things up, so that point about evening classes is probably another reason to skip that option. I guess I'm really just looking to see if anyon has experience of distance taught language courses that they can recommend or not. Though it's useful to get an idea of what other languages people might suggest... BTF - how long were you studying Russian? Was it as incomprehensible as it looks in writing? Baj - I'm going to have a look at the Rosetta Stone free trial stuff this week, if it seems any good, I'll let you know. The trick is really to get to grips with the Cyrillic alphabet. It looks awful but once you transpose the letters it isn't so bad. I had a go at learning some Bulgarian this year when I was over there and it was relatively simple once you got round the letters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 I would like to be able to speak Chinese. That would be cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Will Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 I would like to be able to speak Chinese. That would be cool. Wa ya wan? Egg flied lice? 2 poun 40 pwease. I'm fluent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al de Man Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 I would like to be able to speak Chinese. That would be cool. I can understand a small amount of Cantonese. Just as everyone's starting to learn Mandarin. Booooooooooooooooooooo...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 I can understand a small amount of Cantonese. Just as everyone's starting to learn Mandarin. Booooooooooooooooooooo...... Yeah, that must be a bit annoying! Is Mandarin the main business language in China then? If there is a "main" language? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 ......... BTF - how long were you studying Russian? Was it as incomprehensible as it looks in writing? ......... Not very long TBH. It was after I'd finished my A levels. In those days, you weren't allowed to hang around town once your exams were over. You had to still keep going to school It was either Russian or binary maths IIRC! A few years ago my son was studying at Athens University and I went to stay with him. He was good at reading and speaking Greek because he'd lived there for a while. He would only let me have a coffee / wine if I correctly read a Greek word or two first. I was severely dehydrated, staying with him But strangely, I can read it more now than I did then :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amsterdam Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 The trick is really to get to grips with the Cyrillic alphabet. It looks awful but once you transpose the letters it isn't so bad. I had a go at learning some Bulgarian this year when I was over there and it was relatively simple once you got round the letters. I go along with that - I did a year of a Russian language degree before switching. Later with work I travelled around the CIS regularly and it was useful to know things like "PECTOPAH" is pronounced "RESTORAN" (restaurant) - it's quite a phonetic language, but not sure how useful it is to learn. Chinese and Arabic would both be useful, but coupled with a law degree? For "fun", Spanish and Italian would be much better? Dutch is a pig to learn! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al de Man Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 Yeah, that must be a bit annoying! Is Mandarin the main business language in China then? If there is a "main" language? Yes, very much so. The vast majority of the Chinese population speak Mandarin and the government is trying to unify the nation into speaking a single language. Most of the Chinese native to England descend from Hong Kong, so speak Cantonese. The exceptions tends to be university students from mainland China and Taiwan who will, on the whole, speak Mandarin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_language Twenty years ago, you would have mainly heard Cantonese and English spoken in Hong Kong, but since the 1997 handover, Mandarin is being taught in schools as the second language. Nowadays, public announcements tend to be made in all three tongues. The difficulty for a foreigner trying to learn spoken Chinese is mastering the tone since all Chinese characters are one of only 400 syllables. http://www.wku.edu/~shizhen.gao/Chinese101/pinyin/tones.htm This is why I can understand quite a bit, but unable to make myself understood when I try and repeat it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baj Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 Dutch is a pig to learn! Not sure how you can say it's a pig to learn when you've obviously been ok with Russian. I've not found Dutch a great chore, and like you (im guessing you're in Amsterdam) I get to speak to every day, well, interspersed with the flemish dialect. The only real obstacle is learning the guttural pronounciations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barfy Posted 8 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 8 November, 2009 The trick is really to get to grips with the Cyrillic alphabet. It looks awful but once you transpose the letters it isn't so bad... I saw a website that tried to explain this, but it was written by someone with too much knowledge, and not enough ability to teach. Then again, it might just be hard to get to grips with :confused: ... He would only let me have a coffee / wine if I correctly read a Greek word or two first. I was severely dehydrated, staying with him ... That might be a good teacing method to employ with me! I can become very focused if there is a threat of withheld coffee! I go along with that - I did a year of a Russian language degree before switching. Later with work I travelled around the CIS regularly and it was useful to know things like "PECTOPAH" is pronounced "RESTORAN" (restaurant) - it's quite a phonetic language, but not sure how useful it is to learn. Chinese and Arabic would both be useful, but coupled with a law degree? For "fun", Spanish and Italian would be much better? Dutch is a pig to learn! Chinese (Mandarin - sorry Al) is an option I've considered strongly for commercial use, though I hadn't necessarily considered Arabic. I had also considered doing Latin which I've been told can help understand a lot of European languages (sadly wasn't covered at my school!). Where I currently work we do have some strong links with Russian organisations, and we do have a couple of Russians working for us and from that I just seem to have grown to like the idea of studying the language. Having looked a bit more at this Rosetta Stone system, they have split it into three levels, and they offer a "6 month unconditional money back guarantee". If possible, I'm just trying to get an idea of what their teaching methods are like, and how effective they are. I don't know if it's coincidence, but most of the reviews of their products on their website give 5 out of 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Landrew Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 Not had much personal experience, but I understand the Michel Thomas method of learning works extremely well. http://www.michelthomas.co.uk/ The prime advantage is that there is NO homework, and NO having to make notes, or strict memorising. It's all conversation. Pretty much like learning a language if you go on a long holiday for a month or more. You pick it up. I do have some CDs for Italian myself, and had a go for 5 minutes with one. I did construct a phrase fairly quickly during listening, so the method does appear to work. When I get the urge to learn properly, I'll give them a real go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saints_is_the_south Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 I had a look at the Rosetta Stone demonstration for Italian in West Quay this afternoon - looks good. Quite a lot of money worth it in order to be able to speak it fluently, at the min I'm just at basic level. Would love to be able to speak half a dozen languages or so, its finding the time to learn them though - I'll just stick to my Italian for now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barfy Posted 8 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 8 November, 2009 Not had much personal experience, but I understand the Michel Thomas method of learning works extremely well. http://www.michelthomas.co.uk/ The prime advantage is that there is NO homework, and NO having to make notes, or strict memorising. It's all conversation. Pretty much like learning a language if you go on a long holiday for a month or more. You pick it up. I do have some CDs for Italian myself, and had a go for 5 minutes with one. I did construct a phrase fairly quickly during listening, so the method does appear to work. When I get the urge to learn properly, I'll give them a real go. Thanks for that. If it's mostly or all CD/audio based, I can spend up to 20 hours in the car commuting in an average week so it might just fill the void in the seemingly endless tailbacks! The introductory course is only £8.99 so I've downloaded it and will try next week. Certainly a lot safer than shelling out £170 on the Rosetta Stone level 1 course! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amsterdam Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 Not sure how you can say it's a pig to learn when you've obviously been ok with Russian. I've not found Dutch a great chore, and like you (im guessing you're in Amsterdam) I get to speak to every day, well, interspersed with the flemish dialect. The only real obstacle is learning the guttural pronounciations I'm probably being a little harsh as I live amongst the cloggies (just outside Amsterdam). I spent 2 weeks in immersion classes when I first moved here and when I was tested actually had a rating of 4.0 (1 is "novice" and 5 is "native speaker") and my kids are fluent, but I just don't find it a nice language to speak. Having said that, the Dutch are a lovely bunch of people and do like to speak English, so even the local Albert Heijn check-out girls and beggars recognize me and and always start with "Hello sir!" - I'd be disappointed if I spoke (at least 2 languages) fairly fluently and could only find work as a shelf-stacker or beggar... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baj Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 I'd be disappointed if I spoke (at least 2 languages) fairly fluently and could only find work as a shelf-stacker or beggar... lol,love that!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 I'm currently finishing off my A-level in French, and I really enjoy that. It's not spoken in many other countries in the world, but it's a good 'starter' language to get you ready for learning other languages. Spanish is going to be a really important language within the next 10 years as well, with the Latin American countries growing a lot in business stature over the last few years. Mandarin and Arabic are probably good routes to go down as well. I'd love to learn Japanese though, that and Russian. But there are hundreds of languages in the world, so find one that interests you, because learning a language is a bloody long process, so you'll need a lot of patience and find it interesting to keep you going! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridge too far Posted 8 November, 2009 Share Posted 8 November, 2009 ... I had also considered doing Latin which I've been told can help understand a lot of European languages (sadly wasn't covered at my school!). .... I did Latin at school and I've found it helps me understand and read a bit of Spanish and Italian although I can't speak it (apart from asking for a beer, coffee, 'where is' etc). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barfy Posted 9 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 9 November, 2009 For those that might be interested I had the Michel Thomas introductory course on in the car this morning. I did have to skip back a couple of times to remind myself of a few points. But it is taught with a couple of n00bs to the Russian language (one seemed to be much more adept than the other!), and I was making very similar mistakes to them, so the tutor's corrections were very relevant. At times it did seem to take big leaps forward, but that was probably because I was concentrating on driving, hence skipping back to refresh. It seems like a good introduction to speaking Russian, and understanding sentence construction, but it is only verbal so reading/writing may be another issue altogether! I'll definitely go through this introductory CD a couple of times, and then the next level. But beyond that I might look for something that focuses on the written langauage in addition to the spoken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UniS Posted 9 November, 2009 Share Posted 9 November, 2009 I'm currently using "teach yourself" Danish - it's a book/cd thing which gives you a good grounding in the grammar as well as the phrases. And for my Faroese I've got a thing by 'EuroTalk' - it's a computer program that is very good if you just want to know some basic phrases and words to help you around... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gudz Posted 9 November, 2009 Share Posted 9 November, 2009 I'm similar to a couple of you guys and I would have to reccommend learning the cyrillic alphabet before tackling Russian. i'm at that stage now - I've got the alphabet & pronounciations down but it's the use of the b & bl accents that are confusing me. Perhaps I'll get it as I move on. To learn Russian I've entered into a skill swap with a Siberian I met at a gig lately. We're going to get together once a week and in exchange for one basic Russian lesson from him he's getting a guitar lesson from me as he wants to learn. Obviousy guitar lessons is an example, but if you have such availabilty then it's a good free way of doing it. The best way is of course to actually go there, if you have the availability & opportunity to do so. A few years back I went to Greece travelling around the islands. I went in clueless & came out being ble to read & write the alphabet & hold a basic conversation. A Greek friend tells me I'm virtually at GCSE level and that's with no lessons whatsoever. http://www.russianlessons.net is worth a look-in just to get to grips with the alphabet. I think it explains the rules rather well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 9 November, 2009 Share Posted 9 November, 2009 Japanese isn't too difficult once you get to grips with it and understand that everything is the opposite to English (grammar wise). The best way to learn any language is to memorise 100 verbs, 100 adjectives etc then get drunk with a local and butcher their language. After a while you will pick up on their sentence structure, expressions etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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