posted on January 2, 2006 10:02:09 PM new
English is my second language, I spoke Spanish first before going off to school. Adults learn language by a different mechanism than kids. When young kids are exposed to language, neural pathways are physically created in the brain, in other words that language is "hard wired" in. You may have heard stories of somebody who spoke another language as a child, then "forgot" it out of disuse, and then had it come right back when visiting a foreign country. After about age 10 or so that feature of the brain shuts down and older individuals have to rely strictly on memory to acquire another language. Makes it much harder, but not impossible. I'd say, no artificial system is going to make you fluent in any language, but it could teach you conversational basics, which you can then enlarge upon through practice in an environment where that language is spoken all the time. An immersion class isn't a bad idea. One where Spanish is exclusively spoken and no translation takes place. Immersion is really the fastest and most effective, and for adults the most stressful way to learn. Once your brain gets past trying to make word for word translations, you'll have made a quantum leap and things will get easier. Get a good CD system, one that stresses conversation and leaves writing alone, then get yourself immersed to improve on what you learned in theory on the CD.
Buena Suerte!
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Habla siempre que debas y calla siempre que puedas....
posted on January 2, 2006 10:17:20 PM new
I speak Spanglish.
Prof is right about immersion. I bought a bunch of the CDs and computer programs but ultimately, I learned much more just from being with my friends that spoke spanish, shopping by myself (flash a great smile to any male shopkeeper and they'll teach you the words for anything you want - especially if you are a redhead) and from watching Spanish TV and subtitled subtitled movies. You learn more "conversational" spanish that way.
A friend of mine spent 4 months living in Mexico and learned notihng until she started helping her niece with her homework. She started learning vocabulary and structure as a child does and now she is fluent. And her niece is now bi-lingual
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
[ edited by fenix03 on Jan 2, 2006 10:17 PM ]
posted on January 2, 2006 10:34:32 PM new
Some Latin and working on starting Greek. German will eventually be on my list as well if the Grad school thing happens as planned.
Try the PIMSLEUR series. Expensive, but there is no better way to learn a language.
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Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum sonatur.
posted on January 2, 2006 10:42:50 PM new
I speak English and HillBilly.
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Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
posted on January 2, 2006 11:31:05 PM new
Took Spanish for 2 years in college, but can't speak it. Just don't have the aptitude, though a few words have hung on, and if I have to I can usually figure out printed text.
Some people have the aptitude to learn other languages and some don't. Now my sister picked up other languages with no problem at all, including dead ones like Latin. Go figure.
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posted on January 3, 2006 03:56:08 AM new
Replay's right, I had forgotten about Pimsleur. I looked it over a few years ago for a friend who wanted to learn. I see their complete Spanish I course is about 300 dollars but you can get introductory lessons for as little as 25. Might be worth it to try it and see if it's something you're likely to stick with.
posted on January 3, 2006 05:38:17 AM new
I took two years of Spanish in High School and two years of French in college. As Profe and Fenix pointed out, you really need immersion. The labs that were available were helpful but not sufficient to learn to speak a language fluently. My daughter, who spent some time in France can speak their language very well.
posted on January 3, 2006 06:35:18 AM new
Another "tool" that didn't exist a few years back is the DVD. Once you get beyond a certain stage, it can be very helpful to watch your favorite movie dubbed in a different language or with foreign subtitles.
It helps if you use a movie that you know so well you can quote all the lines
The Pimsleur method I mentioned earlier is immersion also. The half-hour lessons start with a conversation between two people using a few words you know (at least AFTER the first lesson) and many that you don't. Over the next half-hour, the conversation is explained in great detail, the meanings and pronounciation are explained and reviewed. The next lesson will reiterate most of the words, and before long you just KNOW the words. There is lots of drilling and repetition.
But the Pimsleur tapes/CDs aren't all that much cheaper on eBay. BitTorrent, however is a different story
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Quidquid Latine dictum sit altum sonatur.
posted on January 3, 2006 07:06:35 AM new
Exactly right, Replay. I remember a failed search for anything in the school library recorded in French.
Movies on DVD will be very helpful! I also found that reading newspapers and magazines in a foreign language is an interesting learning experience...along with novels, short stories and poetry.
posted on January 3, 2006 07:42:31 AM new
I speak English,Chinese,Canadian,Scottish,Irish,Australian,New Zealandish.
I took Spanish in college ,in my dreams,I dream I converse in Spanish.
/ lets all stop whining !! /
posted on January 3, 2006 07:52:27 AM new
Watch the Spanish soaps, called "novelas" on either Univision or Galavision. You'll get hooked in a hurry if you're a soap fan.
Better [s]looking women[/s] actors too.
what gives? don't strikethru tags work here
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Habla siempre que debas y calla siempre que puedas....
[ edited by profe51 on Jan 3, 2006 07:57 AM ]
posted on January 3, 2006 07:58:36 AM new
I took French in High school. I can under stand some Italian, some Spanish.
I'm studing ebonics now because I'm working down at the port of Albany. When driving to work I want to know just what drugs the street venders are selling.
Amen,
Reverend Colin http://www.reverendcolin.com
posted on January 3, 2006 08:28:35 AM newI speak English and a little French
I knew you had a natural talent for French.
I learned enough border Spanish in Laredo & Harlengen in my oilfield trucking days to get a few laughs and get in and out of trouble.
"“More Iraqis think things are going well in Iraq than Americans do. I guess they don’t get the New York Times over there.”—Jay Leno".
[ edited by Bear1949 on Jan 3, 2006 08:30 AM ]
posted on January 3, 2006 09:42:55 AM new
I did too Tom!...know this old song by heart
I told the witch doctor I was in love with you
I told the witch doctor you didn't love me too
And then the witch doctor, he told me what to do
He said that ....
posted on January 3, 2006 09:50:50 AM new"I told the witch doctor I was in love with you"
CLASSIC: have you discussed with your wife this ROMANTIC fixation about me that yer suffering under? Perhaps GROUP THERAPY or ELECTROSHOCKS could prove beneficial?
As David Steinberg used to say to his dog: "Booga, booga, booga..."
