Second language

[Cie]

Has anyone learned a new language as an adult? If so, did you use Rosetta Stone, or a similar program?


I am thinking of learning a second language. It will actually my third language, but I learned the first 2(Eng-Span) as a toddler, so those count as 1.

I am leaning to one of three....Portuguese, Chinese or Italian.

I feel like my learning Chinese could be very beneficial for my kids, as I can tutor them as they grow up. If I were a growing up these days, I would most certainly be looking into taking Chinese in school......particularly over Latin, which I wasted 4 years on as a youth.

Italian would appear to be my easiest choice, as it seems similar to Spanish. In fact, I seemed to catch the grasp of italian conversations on both of my visits there.

Portuguese intrigues me as well. Plus, I am going to Portugal next summer, so it gives me a goal to work towards.

TIA

 

[vinnie]

 

[hedgehog]

English only here:0008

 

[Woodson]

English and minor in German

Currently learning Spanish:0008

 

[shawn555]

Rosetta stone is cool, but does not work for everyone.

It did help me learn some basic Russian and improve my spanish.

It is definitely worth checking out.

 

[Cie]

English only here:0008

Shocked

 

[Cie]

Rosetta stone is cool, but does not work for everyone.

It did help me learn some basic Russian and improve my spanish.

It is definitely worth checking out.

I am thinking of trying it out. How long did you spend on it daily?

 

[Cie]

English and minor in German

Currently learning Spanish:0008

What are you using to learn spanish?

 

[dunclock]

Cie, DO NOT buy Rosetta Stone! You probably do not know but I sell audio books to libraries (no language books) and I would check with them first at the reference desk....I am 100% sure they will have any language you want and it will be free for you! And this link is the fastest growing company into the library markets:
http://www.mangolanguages.com/

Rosetta Stone is a ripoff, is terribly reviewed, and if you order it online, they will continue to send you other Cds that you DIDNT order and continue to charge your credit card...BUYER BEWARE!!

Library my man!

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

I did a quick demo of the Italian language a few months back, and I found the format very easy. Having said that, it was mostly just picture association, so if you're wanting to become fluent it might not be the best choice.

I have no idea if these people have an ax to grind, but they don't exactly give a ringing endorsement:

http://language101.com/reviews/rosetta-stone/

 

[BobbyBlueChip]

Has anyone learned a new language as an adult? If so, did you use Rosetta Stone, or a similar program?


I am thinking of learning a second language. It will actually my third language, but I learned the first 2(Eng-Span) as a toddler, so those count as 1.

I am leaning to one of three....Portuguese, Chinese or Italian.

I feel like my learning Chinese could be very beneficial for my kids, as I can tutor them as they grow up. If I were a growing up these days, I would most certainly be looking into taking Chinese in school......particularly over Latin, which I wasted 4 years on as a youth.

Italian would appear to be my easiest choice, as it seems similar to Spanish. In fact, I seemed to catch the grasp of italian conversations on both of my visits there.

Portuguese intrigues me as well. Plus, I am going to Portugal next summer, so it gives me a goal to work towards.

TIA

You didn't waste time on Latin and go ahead and learn Chinese.

 

[Cie]

You didn't waste time on Latin and go ahead and learn Chinese.

Leaning more heavily to Portuguese and Italian over Chinese right now. I try not to limit myself, but path of least resistance seems to be the way to go here......

 

[theGibber1]

At our wedding my wife?s father.. Who doesn?t speak a lick of English. Said to me

"Danny. Dias mesas, Tu habla espanol."

Its been two years and I still suck. I can understand a lot but I still cant speak it.

I did try Rosetta Stone.. I can see how if you really worked at it it would work. But the lesson plans are long and tedious. Each section takes at least an hour to complete. After a long day at work its the last thing I wanted to do. I had better luck just with an audio CD I listen to in my car.

 

[Cie]

At our wedding my wife?s father.. Who doesn?t speak a lick of English. Said to me

"Danny. Dias mesas, Tu habla espanol."

Its been two years and I still suck. I can understand a lot but I still cant speak it.

I did try Rosetta Stone.. I can see how if you really worked at it it would work. But the lesson plans are long and tedious. Each section takes at least an hour to complete. After a long day at work its the last thing I wanted to do. I had better luck just with an audio CD I listen to in my car.

Thanks, I don't have an hour daily for it. The car audio sounds interesting, as I spend at least 10 hours weekly driving.

 

[AR182]

Cie,

25 years ago my wife learned english (french is her primary language) by watching old reruns of "I Love Lucy". So my advice for you is to find sitcoms in the language that you choose & sit in front of the tube eating popcorn (my wife's choice of snack) as much as possible.

You're welcome....:142smilie

 

[bleedingpurple]

I had 3 years of Spanish in high school but living up North there has been no need to use it. So I don't remember a damn thing. My sister currently has her 2 boys ages 5 and 7 taking after school Spanish.. Teacher makes it fun with snacks and games as well. I hear it is much easier for tots to learn it than adults. I hope it isn't a waist of time like it was for me. Now that I am on the topic I think it is a bunch of bullshit that colleges won't except students unless they had 2 years of high school foreign language.. At least that is how many of the colleges up north are.. That was the only reason why I took Spanish in high school. What a waist it was for me.

 

[Tcas]

How they say 12 months in Estonian.

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/T41ZRw45obs&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/T41ZRw45obs&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

 

[Skulnik]

How they say 12 months in Estonian.

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/T41ZRw45obs&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/T41ZRw45obs&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

:0074

jmho

 

[DZ]

Thanks, I don't have an hour daily for it. The car audio sounds interesting, as I spend at least 10 hours weekly driving.

Cie, if you decide to go that route, I think that Pimsleur is the absolute best as far as audio goes. I've got basic Japanese and advanced Italian, both which I loved doing and continue to use. Got basic modern Greek (my second language) for the girlfriend before we went there and it worked really well for her in just the few weeks leading up to our trip. I think its a unique but effective method (I'm sure you can find audio samples online) that works for beginners as well as those who already have another language or two under the belt. Its got a specific method whereby you repeat various words that are formed into useful phrases, which are then repeated, with important tips on grammar and sentence structure mixed in. Listen and repeat... do it again -- and you really get to hear and practice the accent. Great for long trips or just daily commute. I think each lesson is 15-20 mins in length, maybe longer. It is a bit expensive as far as audio tapes go (although not nearly as much as rosetta stone) but well worth it if you are serious about learning another language. I wish you the best with whatever route you choose. Learning a new language is not a skill or ability that everyone posses and it really is one of those things that is 'easier said than done,' but it can be a very rewarding experience.

GL

-Deez

 

[Cie]

Cie, if you decide to go that route, I think that Pimsleur is the absolute best as far as audio goes. I've got basic Japanese and advanced Italian, both which I loved doing and continue to use. Got basic modern Greek (my second language) for the girlfriend before we went there and it worked really well for her in just the few weeks leading up to our trip. I think its a unique but effective method (I'm sure you can find audio samples online) that works for beginners as well as those who already have another language or two under the belt. Its got a specific method whereby you repeat various words that are formed into useful phrases, which are then repeated, with important tips on grammar and sentence structure mixed in. Listen and repeat... do it again -- and you really get to hear and practice the accent. Great for long trips or just daily commute. I think each lesson is 15-20 mins in length, maybe longer. It is a bit expensive as far as audio tapes go (although not nearly as much as rosetta stone) but well worth it if you are serious about learning another language. I wish you the best with whatever route you choose. Learning a new language is not a skill or ability that everyone posses and it really is one of those things that is 'easier said than done,' but it can be a very rewarding experience.

GL

-Deez

Gonna try it out. Thanks.....