Learning a New Language

[patrick0685]

Im sure that some of you have some experience in learning a new language, so whats the best way? (besides living there and being forced to)

[lebru]

rosetta stone.

[Graves]

rosetta stone.

Worth every penny.

[patrick0685]

have you guys had success with them?

[Irving]

Another vote for Rosetta Stone. The hardest part for me was just keeping it up. It is just like working out. You have to keep it up or else it is just a waste of time. Not completely. I've done Unit 1 about 3 times now, and when I'm doing it, I can pick up a lot of stuff on the Spanish station. However, once you stop, your new language fades pretty quickly.

[lebru]

have you guys had success with them?

yep. my company uses it to train people, my sister learned arabic from it when she joined the army. my uncle learned dutch from the state department.

they work but you also have to have motivation to learn and you have to practice it. i cant even remember any spanish i learned in college.

[patrick0685]

how long does it take?

[lebru]

how long does it take?

depends on how quickly you catch on to grammar rules and such. what are you learning? also note that, rosetta stone teaches proper language. No slang, no dialect, none of the local sayings.


example: Schmeckt(german) means taste or smack (like a hit). But it is used mainly as a cheers, or directed at someone when you want to ask them if it tastes good. but you wouldn't learn that from rosetta stone

[patrick0685]

thinking about learning Portuguese, ya but can you really learn slang and regional dialect from anyone but actually being there

[lebru]

thinking about learning Portuguese, ya but can you really learn slang and regional dialect from anyone but actually being there

from a teacher or tutor....yes. my german teacher did bavarian german, taught us local sayings and stuff...and how to pronounce stuff like bavarians would.

[patrick0685]

from a teacher or tutor....yes. my german teacher did bavarian german, taught us local sayings and stuff...and how to pronounce stuff like bavarians would.

was this college or HS or private?

[lebru]

was this college or HS or private?

college mostly. I had a private language tutor when I was a kid though. The most practical way is Rosetta Stone. The best way is to get a teacher, their knowledge is way more than rosetta stone can teach you.

[patrick0685]

so...rosette stone is the best answer

[lebru]

so...rosette stone is the best answer

for you, yes. private tutors are expensive, and college is expensive. rosetta stone can be had for cheap compared to all those, and you still learn the language.

[patrick0685]

for you, yes. private tutors are expensive, and college is expensive. rosetta stone can be had for cheap compared to all those, and you still learn the language.

ya...seeing as i already graduated from college and dont really wanna go back to learn a language, although it was a good time

[lebru]

ya...seeing as i already graduated from college and dont really wanna go back to learn a language, although it was a good time

not to mention you can learn at your own pace, and not have something shuved down your throat. check and see if you can get a discount through work. Sometimes they will give out discounts for certain business (Idk where you work)

[patrick0685]

not to mention you can learn at your own pace, and not have something shuved down your throat. check and see if you can get a discount through work. Sometimes they will give out discounts for certain business (Idk where you work)

nice...ill have to check it out, hopefully i can get a discount

[Irving]

It will REALLY help if you can hook up with people that speak Portuguese and or start exposing yourself to the language. I suggest movies, UFC, and go pick up a used Level 1 Intro to Portuguese book to work out of while you do Rosetta Stone at the same time. It is a great supplement, and will explain how and why you use certain things. Rosetta Stone is just immersive and doesn't explain anything.

Lastly, if you have questions, try and ask people who've also learned the language second. Often times people who speak whatever language you're learning from birth will know the proper way to say something, but won't know why. For them it is from years of memorization. A person who learned a language later will better understand the rules of the language.

[Byte Stryke]

+1 for the 'stone

[bellavite1]

[MOD EDIT]
If you want to [MOD EDIT] by a chick that does not speak your language you WILL learn hers FAST![Tooth]
Ask me how I know...

[Keep in mind that this is supposed to be a family friendly site.]

[patrick0685]

NEW PUSSY!
If you want to get laid by a chick that does not speak your language you WILL learn hers FAST![Tooth]
Ask me how I know...

i can not use this excuse, being married i think the wife would be a little upset if i brought home some strange[LOL]

[Lex_Luthor]

You can also check your home movie collection for a language change feature. If you can watch movies you're familiar with in the language you're trying to learn, it helps a lot, because you know what they're saying, and how it applies in a sentence. Some people like to watch the movie in Portuguese for example, and read the subtitles in English. I disagree. If you watch the movie in Portuguese, read the subtitles in Portuguese too. It helps engrain it into the mind better. You can see how the words they are saying are spelled, how they form a sentence together, and if you don't pick up on EVERY SINGLE word, no sweat. You still know basically what they're saying. Context is HUGE when learning another language. Next, USE it! Speak it every chance you get, read it, write it. Converse with people as much as possible. Get your wife to learn it with you and make an activity out of it. Then she won't be too upset when you start talking with some hot brazilian girls!

[Irving]

i can not use this excuse, being married i think the wife would be a little upset if i brought home some strange[LOL]

If you bring home a girl that speaks Portuguese, you could pass her off as a maid.

[patrick0685]

If you bring home a girl that speaks Portuguese, you could pass her off as a maid.

three birds one stone...i like[Beer]