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.