Learning a new language

[Parklife]

Anyone done it? 

What methods did you find helpful? What methods did you find a waste of time? 

Any particular unusual methods that worked for you and helped with any of vocabulary, learning of verbs or comprehension? 

[BrianFaePerth]

Just now, Parklife said:

Anyone done it? 

What methods did you find helpful? What methods did you find a waste of time? 

Any particular unusual methods that worked for you and helped with any of vocabulary, learning of verbs or comprehension? 

Easy. Done it. Next.

[Parklife]

Obviously I mean "another" new language, in addition to the first one you learned as a baby. 

Before The Boof jumps in. 

[Guest milne_afc]

Helpful as ever Briski 😂

[sigh]

Learned French.

Need to practice using your tongue more than usual.

Good to try it when in the USA.

[Tommy]

3 minutes ago, Bad_Mobby said:

Aye, Spanish 

Easy 

Just put an ‘io’ after every word 

eg - Beerio 

As recommended by Old MacDonald.

[Redforever86]

Used some app to learn a view sentences of Swedish once, seemed a lot easier than the text books etc back at school. 
 

You considered paying for lessons? I think that helped Edwin’s loon learn Spanish as having set lessons each week forced you to put the time in.  

[Redforever86]

I think if I was learning another language I’d use their version of the hat. 

[Redforever86]

4 minutes ago, Sooper-hanz said:

A lot of the English language comes from French anyway, Norman Conquest and all that etc..,

A lot of the French language comes from Latin anyway, Roman Empire and all that etc.., 

[Roberto]

Tried Italian, quite difficult.

Know enough to get by and not being killed by the mafia.

[The Boofon]

23 minutes ago, Parklife said:

Obviously I mean "another" new language, in addition to the first one you learned as a baby. 

Before The Boof jumps in. 

I wouldn't have jumped in. It's plainly obvious to even the simplest of people what you meant.

 

I got the Rosetta Stone stuff for French but found it a load of merde.

[Don Fonte]

26 minutes ago, Parklife said:

Anyone done it? 

What methods did you find helpful? What methods did you find a waste of time? 

Any particular unusual methods that worked for you and helped with any of vocabulary, learning of verbs or comprehension? 

One to one lessons with a native speaker plus whatever other method works for you.  Listening to lessons in the car I'd suggest.

[Parklife]

12 minutes ago, Redforever86 said:

Used some app to learn a view sentences of Swedish once, seemed a lot easier than the text books etc back at school. 
 

You considered paying for lessons? I think that helped Edwin’s loon learn Spanish as having set lessons each week forced you to put the time in.  

Done a set of lessons via zoom but found the zoom aspect of it shite tbh. The local college do some classes but I've missed the start date, so will need to wait until they come around again. 

[Redforever86]

Ditch the bird and start dating latinas. 

[Redforever86]

Just now, Parklife said:

Done a set of lessons via zoom but found the zoom aspect of it shite tbh. The local college do some classes but I've missed the start date, so will need to wait until they come around again. 

Not any private tutors in the area? Be more expensive than college but 1 on 1 at least. 

[Parklife]

23 minutes ago, Sooper-hanz said:

When we used to go to France I used to drive about and listen to these cds during the day, at work etc. Quite enjoyed this method.

image img

I've actually got the Michel Thomas stuff from when I illegally downloaded it a few years ago. 

Might give them another go. See if they stick a bit better second time around. 

[Clydeside_Sheep]

28 minutes ago, Parklife said:

Anyone done it? 

What methods did you find helpful? What methods did you find a waste of time? 

Any particular unusual methods that worked for you and helped with any of vocabulary, learning of verbs or comprehension? 

I learned (a little) German at the Goethe Institute (Park Circus, Glasgow) which shares the building with some organisation teaching that French muck.

This built on my earlier exposure to the language via "Commando" comics.

I am in no way fluent, but can manage in most touristy situations and would be competent to take prisoners in a combat situation.

I prefer "set piece" conversations with the Boche, but they often fuck it up for me by asking questions back, or saying something unexpected.  I have found that making an effort, even a rubbish one, is often unexpected by them and will result in them trying to be helpful.

My only advice would be immersion in the language, hear it as often as possible - e.g. listening in the car, listening on you-tube etc. 

This eventually helps beat back the confused revulsion we British naturally feel on hearing languages other than our own!  👍

One thing the Goethe classes highlighted to me was how poorly our own language is taught to us.  Concepts like the various cases of speech were entirely new to me (accusative, dative etc)  and this was an additional hurdle then to learning these in German.  If we were taught English rigorously, it would help in learning other languages.

[Parklife]

Just now, Redforever86 said:

Not any private tutors in the area? Be more expensive than college but 1 on 1 at least. 

I want to get to a stage where I'm able to have some very basic conversations before I go to that expense. Feel I'd get more out of them if I got myself to some sort of basic level first. 

[Guest milne_afc]

The world would be a much better place if we all agreed on using just one language. This shouldn’t be too hard to implement?

[Redforever86]

3 minutes ago, Clydeside_Sheep said:

One thing the Goethe classes highlighted to me was how poorly our own language is taught to us.  Concepts like the various cases of speech were entirely new to me (accusative, dative etc)  and this was an additional hurdle then to learning these in German.  If we were taught English rigorously, it would help in learning other languages.

Got to agree with you here. 
 

On your other point about German’s being friendly because you talk the language, I’d say they are normally always friendly anyway. 

[Clydeside_Sheep]

3 minutes ago, Redforever86 said:

Got to agree with you here. 
 

On your other point about German’s being friendly because you talk the language, I’d say they are normally always friendly anyway. 

Yes, they are very different to how they are often portrayed (dour / humourless etc).  A nice bunch.

[Misers Hill]

A good way Parklife is foreign film,and that's unusual but effective ....

 

Speech ,vocabulary, delivery of words in changing circumstances 

Wonder if the 🐸s are rewriting a good few nouns pronouns🐸🎳

 

[Redforever86]

To be honest Parkie you come across as condescending enough without being able to say you talk x number of languages. 

[Parklife]

Just now, Redforever86 said:

To be honest Parkie you come across as condescending enough without being able to say you talk x number of languages. 

😂

 

[Redforever86]

Just now, Sooper-hanz said:

What would be his name? 

That would be a Latino. 
 

Idiot. 

[Dal Riata Don]

If you are a beginner and not living in a place where a second language is predominant:

<First 6 months> Buy a textbook for the basic vocabulary that you'll need in common situations as well as common grammar patterns.

There will be a ton of freemium stuff online so combine the textbook with stuff from youtube teaching videos and branch out from there.

<Next 12 months> Take classes with a teacher where you are with other beginners or in one-on-one situations with the teacher - online is OK and at this stage it doesn't really matter if the teacher is a native speaker or not provided they don't just use English 100% of the time.

<After 18 to 24 months>Once you get a bit better try to find a language partner (boy laughing at the back, see me after class), that is someone who is a native speaker or highly fluent who is either willing to teach you or spend time with you where you can practice actually talking and interacting.

Final two points:

If possible, try to record yourself speaking the foreign language - you'll notice a  lot of your own errors this way.

When you can't say what you want to say - take a note of it and later, try to work out with dictionary or other apps how to say what you wanted to.

 

[The Boofon]

19 minutes ago, Clydeside_Sheep said:

I learned (a little) German

 

[BrianFaePerth]

1 hour ago, Parklife said:

Anyone done it? 

What methods did you find helpful? What methods did you find a waste of time? 

Any particular unusual methods that worked for you and helped with any of vocabulary, learning of verbs or comprehension? 

Genuine answer. You can’t beat being amongst the foreigners when you learn. Persist when they smile patronisingly and speak English to you . You’ll make mistakes but it is way easier than some shitty course.

[Parklife]

28 minutes ago, Dal Riata Don said:

If you are a beginner and not living in a place where a second language is predominant:

<First 6 months> Buy a textbook for the basic vocabulary that you'll need in common situations as well as common grammar patterns.

There will be a ton of freemium stuff online so combine the textbook with stuff from youtube teaching videos and branch out from there.

<Next 12 months> Take classes with a teacher where you are with other beginners or in one-on-one situations with the teacher - online is OK and at this stage it doesn't really matter if the teacher is a native speaker or not provided they don't just use English 100% of the time.

<After 18 to 24 months>Once you get a bit better try to find a language partner (boy laughing at the back, see me after class), that is someone who is a native speaker or highly fluent who is either willing to teach you or spend time with you where you can practice actually talking and interacting.

Final two points:

If possible, try to record yourself speaking the foreign language - you'll notice a  lot of your own errors this way.

When you can't say what you want to say - take a note of it and later, try to work out with dictionary or other apps how to say what you wanted to.

 

Thanks. I feel my vocabulary is getting a bit better (I've got a couple of Spanish short story for beginners books and can mostly make out the gist of what's going on), so I'm getting there on that front. 

Will stick with reading/listening/writing/speaking as much as possible for now and try and get in-person lessons sorted ASAP. 

19 minutes ago, BrianFaePerth said:

Genuine answer. You can’t beat being amongst the foreigners when you learn. Persist when they smile patronisingly and speak English to you . You’ll make mistakes but it is way easier than some shitty course.

Thanks. 

Going to Spain for a long weekend next month. Will try and speak as much Spanish as I can when I'm there. 

[Redforever86]

29 minutes ago, Sooper-hanz said:

You should have put Latino in the first instance then.

i

d

i

o

t

You calling Parkie a poof?