Author Topic: Learning a new language. (Read 26388 times)

Elli · « **Reply #40 on:** June 18, 2008, 11:08:12 am »

Aye. Finno-Ugric languages, I think. Basque is another if my memory hasn't failed me yet?

I loved this bit of my degree but to take modules in it, you had to get to grips with Old English and Optimality Theory, which I hated, so I ditched it and went for how children acquire language instead!

MattLFC08 · « **Reply #41 on:** June 18, 2008, 11:12:05 am »

Quote from: Elli on June 18, 2008, 10:53:57 am

This (though it's upside down, not how I'd draw it) gives you a little taster of how the Indo-European languages are related, and why, for instance, Italian might get you by in Romania. Notice the absence of Finnish, even though all the other Scandinavian languages are there.

No irish either... rubbish map

trigger · « **Reply #42 on:** June 18, 2008, 11:13:20 am »

Believe it or not Russian is quite easy to get to grips with...once you get the alphabet sorted it's a piece of piss

Elli · « **Reply #43 on:** June 18, 2008, 11:33:37 am »

Quote from: MattLFC08 on June 18, 2008, 11:12:05 am

No irish either... rubbish map

It is a pretty crap diagram, but the clearest of the ones I could find whilst supposed to be working. There'll be one with Irish Garlic on it, as that's definitely not Finno-Ugric so far as I'm aware!

deadlybuzz · « **Reply #44 on:** June 18, 2008, 11:41:01 am »

Take up Irish, our language is dying, we need the fresh blood.

Honestly though, I took up Spanish this year for college and I'm enjoying it more than I had with French for 8 years. Couldn't get my head around French; terrible teacher and my language skills weren't as crisp as others. But Spanish so far has been more enjoyable and easier to grasp so far. If you have iTunes, download the free podcasts for any language lessons.

Cochise · « **Reply #45 on:** June 18, 2008, 12:19:52 pm »

Quote from: Elli on June 18, 2008, 11:33:37 am

It is a pretty crap diagram, but the clearest of the ones I could find whilst supposed to be working. There'll be one with Irish Garlic on it, as that's definitely not Finno-Ugric so far as I'm aware!

I read somewhere that Finnish, Turkish and another that I can't remember are the only 3 languages that haven't evolved from another language.

BTW whats Irish Garlic?

After reading some of the posts (and looking at the fit Euro 2008 birds) Spanish is probably the one which i'll go for.

Thanks for your help.

dante · « **Reply #46 on:** June 18, 2008, 12:23:53 pm »

Quote from: Cochise on June 18, 2008, 12:45:30 am

OK, I want to learn a new language and I was just wondering what would be the easiest to learn.

That seems a weird motive, wanting the easiest language ?
What do you want to learn the language for? You plan on visiting spain a lot the next few years, go with spanish. You have an eye on an italian beauty, pick that one. You want to move to Russia, pick Russian

It's likely that you would pick up Spanish or Italian quicker than Russian, but I'm just saying, think about the intent and worry less about the difficulty

just my opinion of course

LFCsnoopz · « **Reply #47 on:** June 18, 2008, 12:36:30 pm »

i'm 18 and have always wanted to learn spanish or something but can just never bring myself to buy a pc program or whatever because i'm quite thick to be brutal.

i did german in school and the smart kids did french for some reason, all i remember from german is how to count to 11.. and some other numbers which i can't remember.

any good programs out there that people would recommend? seen some adverts for them but i can't remember the name of it

kingjari · « **Reply #48 on:** June 18, 2008, 12:44:34 pm »

Spanish.

ying_agger · « **Reply #49 on:** June 18, 2008, 12:52:11 pm »

Spanish for me. Using Coffee Break Spanish. Find it quite good.

sydred09 · « **Reply #50 on:** June 18, 2008, 12:55:25 pm »

Learning spanish in the next month.

Go for spanish.

LFCsnoopz · « **Reply #51 on:** June 18, 2008, 12:58:35 pm »

my sister is fluent in french and she said when she was studying it for exams and whatnot she actually started thinking in french which i don't know how that would work, or how you'd notice.

spanish seems good though so i think i'm going to have a go at that while i'm still youngish.

LFC on tour · « **Reply #52 on:** June 18, 2008, 12:58:52 pm »

Id love to learn spanish but i cant be fucked.

pathetic · « **Reply #53 on:** June 18, 2008, 01:13:20 pm »

Quote from: Cochise on June 18, 2008, 12:19:52 pm

After reading some of the posts (and looking at the fit Euro 2008 birds) Spanish is probably the one which i'll go for.

Thanks for your help.

Actually mate you'll be better off learning italian if you'd like some spanish ladies

or so i've heard

Btw thanks for all the tips guys. Anyone can suggest any books or audio books which can help me learn spanish without going to any schools? thanks

deadlybuzz · « **Reply #54 on:** June 18, 2008, 01:27:33 pm »

Quote from: ying_agger on June 18, 2008, 12:52:11 pm

Spanish for me. Using Coffee Break Spanish. Find it quite good.

Aye that's what I'm using on the iTunes. Very helpful.

ying_agger · « **Reply #55 on:** June 18, 2008, 01:30:27 pm »

Quote from: deadlybuzz on June 18, 2008, 01:27:33 pm

Aye that's what I'm using on the iTunes. Very helpful.

Have you found any other podcast to listen to after it ends at Unit 10?

deadlybuzz · « **Reply #56 on:** June 18, 2008, 01:40:29 pm »

I'm not so sure, I just download the podcasts once they're released. I haven't come across anything past Unit 6 so far.

ying_agger · « **Reply #57 on:** June 18, 2008, 01:42:36 pm »

Yea it's up to Unit 6 now but I think in one of the earlier episodes he said he'll end at Unit 10. Just wondering what to do once it ends.

deadlybuzz · « **Reply #58 on:** June 18, 2008, 01:55:45 pm »

Quote from: ying_agger on June 18, 2008, 01:42:36 pm

Yea it's up to Unit 6 now but I think in one of the earlier episodes he said he'll end at Unit 10. Just wondering what to do once it ends.

I hope it doesn't end, but I'd understand, they've been making the podcasts for over a year.

CB · « **Reply #59 on:** December 27, 2008, 05:16:13 pm »

I speak French and Italian and would say that the best way to learn is to lean the very basics and then start to converse in the language. I now think and even dream in both and it is thanks mostly to speaking regularly to people from the country or people that speak the language fluently.

By the way, there are a lot of similarities between Spanish and Italian so it probably makes sense to learn the one that interests you most rather than just picking one that sounds likes the easiest.

Slick_Beef · « **Reply #60 on:** December 27, 2008, 05:31:44 pm »

was practicing me spanish the other day and came across this gem from the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/cool/sexual_flash.shtml

Very handy!

Lady_brandybuck · « **Reply #61 on:** December 27, 2008, 06:31:29 pm »

Quote from: Slick_Beef on December 27, 2008, 05:31:44 pm

was practicing me spanish the other day and came across this gem from the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/cool/sexual_flash.shtml

Very handy!

Hahahahahahaha
But those are used in Spain... there are lot's more in other countries

I've learned English and French (just a bit), I'm starting to learn Italian, which is nicer than French.

Kaka 22 · « **Reply #62 on:** December 27, 2008, 06:34:36 pm »

would love to learn Spanish but spair time i spend doing ultimately worthless things - oh well.

my mum is learning Polish and is doing very well and regularly speaks to the kids in school in polish and anyone down town who she recognises to be a pole.

GermanCarra90 · « **Reply #63 on:** December 27, 2008, 08:36:09 pm »

It's nice to see that people think german is easy to learn.

For me, german is horrible, I mean even I as a German find grammar hard (not when you speak but when you have to do the right things is grammar school tests and all that, god I'm bad in those things).

Like you say in german, "deutsche sprache, schwere Sprache" (german language, difficult language"

CF999 · « **Reply #64 on:** December 27, 2008, 08:42:39 pm »

Would love to do Spanish but my school only does french. It's not too bad but it's ridicilously boring and I can't see it helping me in future when i'm finished.

If i had a choice from any i'd go for spanish.

TheKid. · « **Reply #65 on:** December 27, 2008, 08:44:53 pm »

Quote from: CF999 on December 27, 2008, 08:42:39 pm

Would love to do Spanish but my school only does french.

Oddly, my school (and other's i've taught at) only does Spanish

Kaka 22 · « **Reply #66 on:** December 27, 2008, 08:49:18 pm »

our school used to give an option in year 9, German or French?

all the geeks got to do Spanish in year 11.

CF999 · « **Reply #67 on:** December 27, 2008, 08:50:15 pm »

Quote from: TheKid. on December 27, 2008, 08:44:53 pm

Oddly, my school (and other's i've taught at) only does Spanish

yeah most do. most people go on holidays to Spain and will be more likely to have links with spain when their older, so i really think they should all do spanish

TheKid. · « **Reply #68 on:** December 27, 2008, 08:53:26 pm »

Quote from: Kaka 22 on December 27, 2008, 08:49:18 pm

all the geeks got to do Spanish in year 11.

My year 11 Spanish class would eat you alive

Lady_brandybuck · « **Reply #69 on:** December 27, 2008, 08:54:22 pm »

Quote from: GermanCarra90 on December 27, 2008, 08:36:09 pm

It's nice to see that people think german is easy to learn.

For me, german is horrible, I mean even I as a German find grammar hard (not when you speak but when you have to do the right things is grammar school tests and all that, god I'm bad in those things).

Like you say in german, "deutsche sprache, schwere Sprache" (german language, difficult language"

German is hard to learn, but not impossible. I may do a course of german, but in a few years, right now I'm with the Italian and English...

liverpoolfcmike · « **Reply #70 on:** December 27, 2008, 09:10:05 pm »

Quote from: GermanCarra90 on December 27, 2008, 08:36:09 pm

It's nice to see that people think german is easy to learn.

For me, german is horrible, I mean even I as a German find grammar hard (not when you speak but when you have to do the right things is grammar school tests and all that, god I'm bad in those things).

Like you say in german, "deutsche sprache, schwere Sprache" (german language, difficult language"

I do German and i'm pretty good at it, although i don't like the language at all to be honest.
Half the time it sounds like you're trying to dislodge something nasty out of your throat $:-\$
And for the people that think a language won't help, you'll be surprised to find out that having a good qualification in a language other than English is really helpful when finding jobs (apparently).

GermanCarra90 · « **Reply #71 on:** December 27, 2008, 10:58:17 pm »

Quote from: liverpoolfcmike on December 27, 2008, 09:10:05 pm

I do German and i'm pretty good at it, although i don't like the language at all to be honest.
Half the time it sounds like you're trying to dislodge something nasty out of your throat $:-\$
And for the people that think a language won't help, you'll be surprised to find out that having a good qualification in a language other than English is really helpful when finding jobs (apparently).

I think when you get used to it you will see it as a normal thing

Do you have to learn it in school or why do you do it?

TheKid. · « **Reply #72 on:** December 27, 2008, 10:59:00 pm »

English and german are related languages so that should help

DizzyMunchkin · « **Reply #73 on:** December 27, 2008, 11:17:35 pm »

I had a this cd rom recommended to me Teaching - you 31 languages of the world you can record,& playback your voice to compare how you say words to how a native speaker would. cost about £9.99 by a company called Focus haven't tried it yet I've just installed it,will give it a try when I work out the set up.

apart from French,Spanish, German etc., it also has Hebrew, Yiddish,Swahili

Car · « **Reply #74 on:** December 28, 2008, 03:44:21 am »

Finished a ten weeks beginner course on Spanish. It's quite easy to learn. It's very encouraging when you browse http://www.espnsoccernet.es/ and found yourself able to read some of the headlines in Spanish!

GermanCarra90 · « **Reply #75 on:** December 28, 2008, 10:29:12 pm »

Quote from: Al Bol on December 28, 2008, 07:17:53 pm

The longer I spend in Germany, the more difficult the language gets. Or rather the, the more I realise I don't know.

I know you can do it

woozie · « **Reply #76 on:** December 28, 2008, 11:22:10 pm »

does anyone speak portuguese? i really want to learn it but finding lessons is a bit difficult!

TheKid. · « **Reply #77 on:** December 28, 2008, 11:28:48 pm »

Quote from: woozie on December 28, 2008, 11:22:10 pm

does anyone speak portuguese? i really want to learn it but finding lessons is a bit difficult!

Sim, eu falo portugues!

I learnt it at Uni, not sure you'll have an easy time finding lessons as it's not as widely learnt as the main ones

woozie · « **Reply #78 on:** December 28, 2008, 11:33:18 pm »

is it difficult? i have found some in manchester at the language college, just wondering if its gonna be far to difficult for my brain to handle!

High_Cotton · « **Reply #79 on:** December 28, 2008, 11:39:45 pm »

I picked up french at Uni, and it helps for the pick-up football games since most of the lads are francophones, but I'm working on spanish now as it will be more useful in the future.