languages

~~Cuthbert~~ · 03-17-2013, 02:40 PM

Hi, does anyone here speak any other languages, or are you currently learning any other languages? If so what one(s)? How long did it take before you were comfortable speaking in that language? How did you learn?

Etc

Cheers.

misspoptart · 03-17-2013, 03:44 PM

I speak Spanish and Turkish pretty fluently. For Spanish, it's largely because I've lived in Spanish-speaking countries and I have worked in Spanish-speaking environments. Since making friends who speak Spanish, using it every day has kept my skills alive and well.

I live in Turkey, and it's a work in progress. I'm never really "forced" to use it, so I'm at more of a conversational/functional level. I can't read or write very well.

I also understand Arabic and Japanese. I studied both of these languages for 3 years each at the university level. For Arabic, my skills are very literature and book based. I can read and write, but I'll be damned if anyone asks me to speak. Beyond that, it's necessary to learn a dialect, separately from "modern standard" arabic (MSA), which takes time. Learning MSA for use in today's world is like learning Latin to use in Italy.

For Japanese, I can read about 200 characters and I taught myself the syllabic alphabets at 14 or 15, so they'll stick with me forever. I can understand most Japanese people talking and I can interject a thing or two, but I'd put me somewhere at a pre-intermediate level if tested. This is largely because I never studied in Japan or wrote essays in the language. I also lost interest in Japanese culture after university so it's fallen into disuse.

I dunno if you were looking for advice or if you were just curious about other people's experiences, but from my rambling you can largely take away "use it or lose it". It's not worth learning a language if you're not going to do stuff in it. That is, make friends, work, watch movies/listen to music, or even study the history of places where it is used.

Anyway, I love learning languages. I'm addicted and I can't stop!

**Exo** · 03-17-2013, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misspoptart

I speak Spanish and Turkish pretty fluently. For Spanish, it's largely because I've lived in Spanish-speaking countries and I have worked in Spanish-speaking environments. Since making friends who speak Spanish, using it every day has kept my skills alive and well.

I live in Turkey, and it's a work in progress. I'm never really "forced" to use it, so I'm at more of a conversational/functional level. I can't read or write very well.

I also understand Arabic and Japanese. I studied both of these languages for 3 years each at the university level. For Arabic, my skills are very literature and book based. I can read and write, but I'll be damned if anyone asks me to speak. Beyond that, it's necessary to learn a dialect, separately from "modern standard" arabic (MSA), which takes time. Learning MSA for use in today's world is like learning Latin to use in Italy.

For Japanese, I can read about 200 characters and I taught myself the syllabic alphabets at 14 or 15, so they'll stick with me forever. I can understand most Japanese people talking and I can interject a thing or two, but I'd put me somewhere at a pre-intermediate level if tested. This is largely because I never studied in Japan or wrote essays in the language. I also lost interest in Japanese culture after university so it's fallen into disuse.

I dunno if you were looking for advice or if you were just curious about other people's experiences, but from my rambling you can largely take away "use it or lose it". It's not worth learning a language if you're not going to do stuff in it. That is, make friends, work, watch movies/listen to music, or even study the history of places where it is used.

Anyway, I love learning languages. I'm addicted and I can't stop!

Well, you win.

misspoptart · 03-17-2013, 03:59 PM

It's not a contest Exo. Even it was, I'm sure you wouldn't necessarily lose it.

~~Cuthbert~~ · 03-17-2013, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misspoptart

I speak Spanish and Turkish pretty fluently. For Spanish, it's largely because I've lived in Spanish-speaking countries and I have worked in Spanish-speaking environments. Since making friends who speak Spanish, using it every day has kept my skills alive and well.

I live in Turkey, and it's a work in progress. I'm never really "forced" to use it, so I'm at more of a conversational/functional level. I can't read or write very well.

I also understand Arabic and Japanese. I studied both of these languages for 3 years each at the university level. For Arabic, my skills are very literature and book based. I can read and write, but I'll be damned if anyone asks me to speak. Beyond that, it's necessary to learn a dialect, separately from "modern standard" arabic (MSA), which takes time. Learning MSA for use in today's world is like learning Latin to use in Italy.

For Japanese, I can read about 200 characters and I taught myself the syllabic alphabets at 14 or 15, so they'll stick with me forever. I can understand most Japanese people talking and I can interject a thing or two, but I'd put me somewhere at a pre-intermediate level if tested. This is largely because I never studied in Japan or wrote essays in the language. I also lost interest in Japanese culture after university so it's fallen into disuse.

I dunno if you were looking for advice or if you were just curious about other people's experiences, but from my rambling you can largely take away "use it or lose it". It's not worth learning a language if you're not going to do stuff in it. That is, make friends, work, watch movies/listen to music, or even study the history of places where it is used.

Anyway, I love learning languages. I'm addicted and I can't stop!

A bit of both tbh, advice and just interested in other members experiences with languages.

That's really impressive. What is your first language and how old were you when you first started to learn a new language? I am 23 so would probably have been better off starting earlier. I am learning Spanish at the moment, first choice was German but going by what other people told me that seems very difficult, and I have an interest in Spain + have Central American family so made sense to go for Spanish. Possibly more useful too as I wouldn't mind working in Spain. I can read a fair bit and write it and would be able to construct a few sentences. It's bloody hard

Did you do anything else to help you learn other than living in countries that speak those languages?

misspoptart · 03-17-2013, 04:26 PM

I'm from the US and I speak English as a native language (of course). I took my first Spanish class when I was 13, and I wasn't particularly good at it.

With Spanish, if you're planning to use it in Spain, make sure you learn the Spanish accent. For some, it is really disorienting to arrive in Spain with a pretty decent knowledge of Latin American/Mexican Spanish and not understand a damn thing. The Spanish accent sounds kinda dumb at first to most English speakers, but I assure you it is both eloquent and much sexier.

In terms of learning, try to get in sitautions where you can only speak Spanish. Do not rely on English for anything, and find a native-speaking teacher, tutor, or friend that forces you to use it. I really started to learn when I was 17, because I got a scholarship to study it for 1 year at the local university in combination with the high school course. The teacher at the uni was Dominican and threatened to fail us if she even heard one word of English in the classroom. Her strategy worked, because we were all struggling at first but it became more and more natural for the class as the course went on. As is the case with any language-learning environment, if the mother tongue can be used, it will always be relied on. So just try to get immersed. It could be better to go to Spain or Costa Rica for example and learn, but chances are you'll meet english speakers and the whole experience will be different anyway. You have to want to speak Spanish only in those situations. so go prepared to meet resistance.

both study abroad programs I participated in were full of English speakers and we all just talked English. needless to say, I learned more at home in Maine with my Dominican nazi teacher

Another option (which also works wonders) is to fall in love with a spanish speaker. Even if brief, your emotional attachment to the language will be heightened, and learning it will become more imperative. Think about the reasons we have a language. Is not the most important one to express ourselves? Aaaaand...do you not feel an uncanny need to express yourself when you're in love? The two things CLEARLY go together. Again, good luck. And you made the right choice with Spanish. It's WAY more useful than German.

Unknown Soldier · 03-17-2013, 04:36 PM

Fairly fluent in Spanish both Castellano Spanish and Latin American Spanish. I also have an understanding of both French and Italian when I concentrate

~~Sansa Stark~~ · 03-17-2013, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misspoptart

]

Another option (which also works wonders) is to fall in love with a spanish speaker. Even if brief, your emotional attachment to the language will be heightened, and learning it will become more imperative. Think about the reasons we have a language. Is not the most important one to express ourselves? Aaaaand...do you not feel an uncanny need to express yourself when you're in love? The two things CLEARLY go together. Again, good luck. And you made the right choice with Spanish. It's WAY more useful than German.

Ugh I can't imagine whispering sweet nothings in German, German sounds terrible over all and it always sounds angry

Burning Down · 03-17-2013, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hermione

Ugh I can't imagine whispering sweet nothings in German, German sounds terrible over all and it always sounds angry

No kidding! One of my friends briefly dated a German guy three years ago who used to whisper things to her in German while trying to get into her pants

I can speak French pretty fluently - I did most of my elementary education in French and then continued it throughout high school. I'm always eager to practice French with people, because the only chance I got to speak it everyday was when I was in school. I never got to take the class in university - it always filled up and there were only 40 spots. And I don't live in Quebec (where the French language police are out in full force right now

), so it's hard to maintain the spoken aspects of the language. Reading and writing is fine for me, though.

In high school we also had a choice to take an extra language course - either Spanish, German, or Latin. I took German for one term but only because there was a guy in the class who I had the biggest fucking crush on

. In hindsight I wish I took Latin. It was always more interesting to me anyways.

I know some things in Italian due to all my musical training, and bits and pieces of Serbian because of my boyfriend (it's his native language). I teach him to say things in French and he'll teach me things in Serbian. Currently working on Serbian, would like to be able to string together a coherent sentence someday, haha.

~~Cuthbert~~ · 03-17-2013, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misspoptart

I'm from the US and I speak English as a native language (of course). I took my first Spanish class when I was 13, and I wasn't particularly good at it.

With Spanish, if you're planning to use it in Spain, make sure you learn the Spanish accent. For some, it is really disorienting to arrive in Spain with a pretty decent knowledge of Latin American/Mexican Spanish and not understand a damn thing. The Spanish accent sounds kinda dumb at first to most English speakers, but I assure you it is both eloquent and much sexier.

Good thinking actually, yeah I'm learning Spanish um.. Spanish

Castellano isn't it?

If you were to learn Castellano, how hard would it be to visit places like Mexico and Belize and be able to speak with them? Are the accents that different?

Quote:

In terms of learning, try to get in sitautions where you can only speak Spanish. Do not rely on English for anything, and find a native-speaking teacher, tutor, or friend that forces you to use it. I really started to learn when I was 17, because I got a scholarship to study it for 1 year at the local university in combination with the high school course. The teacher at the uni was Dominican and threatened to fail us if she even heard one word of English in the classroom. Her strategy worked, because we were all struggling at first but it became more and more natural for the class as the course went on. As is the case with any language-learning environment, if the mother tongue can be used, it will always be relied on. So just try to get immersed. It could be better to go to Spain or Costa Rica for example and learn, but chances are you'll meet english speakers and the whole experience will be different anyway. You have to want to speak Spanish only in those situations. so go prepared to meet resistance.

both study abroad programs I participated in were full of English speakers and we all just talked English. needless to say, I learned more at home in Maine with my Dominican nazi teacher

This will be hard as I'm doing it on my own at home, I am using the Michel Thomas course and the Pimsleur course, Memrise and a few other things. I have been thinking about finding a Spanish pen pal to help (and me help with their English) as that is the only way I'd be able to speak with a native speaker other than to go there, which isn't an option atm. I know there's no substitute for living in a country that speaks it but I'm trying to do my best without that

.

Quote:

Another option (which also works wonders) is to fall in love with a spanish speaker. Even if brief, your emotional attachment to the language will be heightened, and learning it will become more imperative. Think about the reasons we have a language. Is not the most important one to express ourselves? Aaaaand...do you not feel an uncanny need to express yourself when you're in love? The two things CLEARLY go together. Again, good luck. And you made the right choice with Spanish. It's WAY more useful than German.

Will try my best to find a Spanish girl

Thanks misspoptart.

03-17-2013, 02:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
~~Cuthbert~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Black Country Posts: 8,827	languages Hi, does anyone here speak any other languages, or are you currently learning any other languages? If so what one(s)? How long did it take before you were comfortable speaking in that language? How did you learn? Etc Cheers.

03-17-2013, 03:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
misspoptart gimme gimme Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: istanbul Posts: 897	I speak Spanish and Turkish pretty fluently. For Spanish, it's largely because I've lived in Spanish-speaking countries and I have worked in Spanish-speaking environments. Since making friends who speak Spanish, using it every day has kept my skills alive and well. I live in Turkey, and it's a work in progress. I'm never really "forced" to use it, so I'm at more of a conversational/functional level. I can't read or write very well. I also understand Arabic and Japanese. I studied both of these languages for 3 years each at the university level. For Arabic, my skills are very literature and book based. I can read and write, but I'll be damned if anyone asks me to speak. Beyond that, it's necessary to learn a dialect, separately from "modern standard" arabic (MSA), which takes time. Learning MSA for use in today's world is like learning Latin to use in Italy. For Japanese, I can read about 200 characters and I taught myself the syllabic alphabets at 14 or 15, so they'll stick with me forever. I can understand most Japanese people talking and I can interject a thing or two, but I'd put me somewhere at a pre-intermediate level if tested. This is largely because I never studied in Japan or wrote essays in the language. I also lost interest in Japanese culture after university so it's fallen into disuse. I dunno if you were looking for advice or if you were just curious about other people's experiences, but from my rambling you can largely take away "use it or lose it". It's not worth learning a language if you're not going to do stuff in it. That is, make friends, work, watch movies/listen to music, or even study the history of places where it is used. Anyway, I love learning languages. I'm addicted and I can't stop!

03-17-2013, 03:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
misspoptart gimme gimme Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: istanbul Posts: 897	It's not a contest Exo. Even it was, I'm sure you wouldn't necessarily lose it.

03-17-2013, 04:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
misspoptart gimme gimme Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: istanbul Posts: 897	I'm from the US and I speak English as a native language (of course). I took my first Spanish class when I was 13, and I wasn't particularly good at it. With Spanish, if you're planning to use it in Spain, make sure you learn the Spanish accent. For some, it is really disorienting to arrive in Spain with a pretty decent knowledge of Latin American/Mexican Spanish and not understand a damn thing. The Spanish accent sounds kinda dumb at first to most English speakers, but I assure you it is both eloquent and much sexier. In terms of learning, try to get in sitautions where you can only speak Spanish. Do not rely on English for anything, and find a native-speaking teacher, tutor, or friend that forces you to use it. I really started to learn when I was 17, because I got a scholarship to study it for 1 year at the local university in combination with the high school course. The teacher at the uni was Dominican and threatened to fail us if she even heard one word of English in the classroom. Her strategy worked, because we were all struggling at first but it became more and more natural for the class as the course went on. As is the case with any language-learning environment, if the mother tongue can be used, it will always be relied on. So just try to get immersed. It could be better to go to Spain or Costa Rica for example and learn, but chances are you'll meet english speakers and the whole experience will be different anyway. You have to want to speak Spanish only in those situations. so go prepared to meet resistance. both study abroad programs I participated in were full of English speakers and we all just talked English. needless to say, I learned more at home in Maine with my Dominican nazi teacher Another option (which also works wonders) is to fall in love with a spanish speaker. Even if brief, your emotional attachment to the language will be heightened, and learning it will become more imperative. Think about the reasons we have a language. Is not the most important one to express ourselves? Aaaaand...do you not feel an uncanny need to express yourself when you're in love? The two things CLEARLY go together. Again, good luck. And you made the right choice with Spanish. It's WAY more useful than German.