Learning a foreign language?

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  • Skerik
    Living in this tube
    • Mar 2004
    • 5215

    #1

    Learning a foreign language?

    I'm toying with the idea of learning a foreign language, mostly out of boredom. Has anyone had any good experiences with any PC-based courses for picking up a language? I saw an infomercial on TV for these "Rosetta Stone" courses and while they seem to be pretty expensive, they also seem to work pretty damn well. Price isn't really an issue, but I want something that really works and won't bore me to tears with lame exercises, etc.

    Anyone got any experiences to share?
    Helen: Everyone's special, Dash.
    Dash: [muttering] Which is another way of saying no one is.
  • CeltBhoy33
    Love Celtic, Hate Racism
    • Dec 2005
    • 1446

    #2
    Re: Learning a foreign language?

    Originally posted by Skerik
    I'm toying with the idea of learning a foreign language, mostly out of boredom. Has anyone had any good experiences with any PC-based courses for picking up a language? I saw an infomercial on TV for these "Rosetta Stone" courses and while they seem to be pretty expensive, they also seem to work pretty damn well. Price isn't really an issue, but I want something that really works and won't bore me to tears with lame exercises, etc.

    Anyone got any experiences to share?

    I took Spanish my freshman year last year in high school I hated every part about it. lol But mostly becuase I got way behind and ended up with a C becuase I never ever studied.
    MCRD October 29. Oh Rah!
    Soon to be a United States Marine

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    • Blzer
      Resident film pundit
      • Mar 2004
      • 42537

      #3
      Re: Learning a foreign language?

      I've been taking Spanish for four years of high school and two semesters of college. That said, I know how to translate... I just can't make conversation. I don't know, to me everything sounds the same when someone speaks so quickly. It's like, Spanish only has like one sound per vowel, so there's not much variation. In English, you have your long and short vowel sounds.

      Not only that, but I don't know what the rule is for a second language in terms of having conversation. What I do before speaking a sentence in Spanish is I quickly think of the sentence in English then translate into Spanish as I'm speaking. When listening, I do the same... hear individual words, then try and translate them all and come up with a sentence in English. To be honest, I'm not sure if English is supposed to be in the equation when it comes to conversation, and if I'm just supposed to strictly think in Spanish terms or not. I think that would be very hard and would require a lot of practice, but I'm determined.



      P.S. Lame exercises are a must for almost anything that you're starting from scratch with... including playing guitar, programming in Java, or driving with strict knowledge to rules of the road.
      Last edited by Blzer; 01-04-2008, 04:14 PM.
      Samsung PN60F8500 PDP / Anthem MRX 720 / Klipsch RC-62 II / Klipsch RF-82 II (x2) / Insignia NS-B2111 (x2) / SVS PC13-Ultra / SVS SB-2000 / Sony MDR-7506 Professional / Audio-Technica ATH-R70x / Sony PS3 & PS4 / DirecTV HR44-500 / DarbeeVision DVP-5000 / Panamax M5400-PM / Elgato HD60

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      • olec
        Rookie
        • Oct 2002
        • 181

        #4
        Re: Learning a foreign language?

        hey
        i am german so english is a foreign language for me -
        i learned the basic stuff at school so i have no advice for you as far as starting goes, but once you know a bit of the language you wanna learn i highly suggest downCENSOREDing movies or tv shows in that language!
        you will find most american shows dubbed in foreign languages!!

        good luck

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        • Da_Czar
          NBA 2K Gameplay Producer, Offensive AI System - SIM NATION
          • Jul 2002
          • 5408

          #5
          Re: Learning a foreign language?

          if you want to learn how to speak the language with appropiate accent I HIGHLY recommend the Pimsleur courses. The are all audio you listen for 30 minutes a day everyday and they are great for learning how to speak many languages.

          We home school and my son speaks adequate spanish and hebrew. The cia uses pimsleur to train their field agents and stuff so its high quality stuff and no textbooks just tapes or cd's
          Catch me on that #SimNation #SimHangOut Friday's @ 10:00 pm est https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...N7yxMiElOpMl_B

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          • The C
            Banned
            • Apr 2005
            • 7538

            #6
            Re: Learning a foreign language?

            Trying to figure out new ways to boo various Philly teams, eh Skerik?

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