Has anybody learned a foreign language outside the classroom?

[manchoman]

As in using software or books to teach yourself? I know the best way is to surround yourself with the language, but that's hard to do when you're broke like me. I really want to learn Portuguese, does anybody have any advice for resources? thanks.

[buyerofmtg]

Im learning Spanish and German right now bro. I'm taking college classes for German and Spanish on my own. How much portuguese do you know so far? Pimsleur is a good intro to a language (I like Michel Thomas a lot better but I don't think he made a portuguese version), and then FSI (insert language here) is usually the next best step. Of course I'm not fluent in either yet, but someday... Also I'd start saving some cash so you can do a couple months of immersion when you've studied enough. I think it's kind of like lifting... you gotta set aside at least a certain amount of time each day to work on it, otherwise you're just spinning your wheels. Try to spend 1 hour a day. If anyone else has better advice, please let me know as I can always use some too!

Also, this is another forum I read a lot. They have GREAT info on there, and will answer any question you have. The website itself has lots of language information too.

http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/default.asp

Buena Suerte.

[BAMF_T]

i went for not knowing any spanish to being almos fluent with it. i work with about 15 mexicans. So i hade to kinda of pick it up from them to communicate...Mexicans are some of the coolest people i have ever meet!!! They are fun to be around!(atleast the ones i work with)

[buyerofmtg]

Wow strong mexicans!

Wish they'd teach me.

[Donster]

Well i can read and write both Punjabi and Hindi, but i was brought up speaking it. To learn to read and write i had training at schools when i was young..

The best way to learn any language is to travel to that country and live there. I was nearly speaking fluent Thai after living in Thailand for a year..

[Ruthless4Life]

I learned English...

[Zoupa]

Actually made a thread about this yesterday. I want to teach myself spanish before I finish my degree (2.5 years).

[stella summers]

I learned Spanish by taking it through all 4 years of high school. I already know Filipino (Tagalog) and German because of my heritage, Portuguese because I sing lyrics while playing bossanova on guitar, Cantonese and Mandarin because of my Chinese grandparents, and French through software, books, and repeatedly watching French movies with the English subtitles.

It's both for fun and travel purposes.

[Zoupa]

Originally Posted by stella summers

I learned Spanish by taking it through all 4 years of high school. I already know Filipino (Tagalog) and German because of my heritage, Portuguese because I sing lyrics while playing bossanova on guitar, Cantonese and Mandarin because of my Chinese grandparents, and French through software, books, and repeatedly watching French movies with the English subtitles.

It's both for fun and travel purposes.

You bragged about this in my thread too... is it really necessary to brag about how many languages you know?

[buyerofmtg]

Stella are you completely fluent in German? Did you learn it as a child or did you learn it through study?

[stella summers]

Originally Posted by Zoupa

You bragged about this in my thread too... is it really necessary to brag about how many languages you know?

Why yes it is, because that makes me more awesome than you.

Originally Posted by buyerofmtg

Stella are you completely fluent in German? Did you learn it as a child or did you learn it through study?

I picked it up through my dad and his side of the family from when I was still a young G.

[Zoupa]

Originally Posted by stella summers

Why yes it is, because that makes me more awesome than you.

Ummmm.... burn?

The fact that you're a kinesiology major makes me more awesome than you.

[manchoman]

Originally Posted by Zoupa

Ummmm.... burn?

The fact that you're a kinesiology major makes me more awesome than you.

hahaha, oh ****.

i'm not gonna lie. why is he a kines major with all those languages at his disposal? he could be a G at the CIA.

[Donster]

wtf is kinseology....?

[stella summers]

Originally Posted by manchoman

i'm not gonna lie. why is he a kines major with all those languages at his disposal? he could be a G at the CIA.

Like I previously stated, I learned it either from my family/culture, fun, and for later travel use.

Originally Posted by Zoupa

Ummmm.... burn?

The fact that you're a kinesiology major makes me more awesome than you.

Silly Canadian. I was joking with you son.

And why does everyone act like kinesiology is the easiest thing to major in? There's actually a lot to it than many think.

[jmonty]

i got decent enough at german to find my way around alone in germany using cd's. the company that made them is called 'penton overseas inc.' they were of good quality.

i wonder if anyone shares language files for free like music and porn?

[Donster]

Originally Posted by stella summers

Like I previously stated, I learned it either from my family/culture, fun, and for later travel use.



Silly Canadian. I was joking with you son.

And why does everyone act like kinesiology is the easiest thing to major in? There's actually a lot to it than many think.

What is kinseoligy?

I did accounting, is kinseology catered towards vocations or is it a generic degree..

[stella summers]

Originally Posted by PHATBOY DONZA

What is kinseoligy?

I did accounting, is kinseology catered towards vocations or is it a generic degree..

The scientific study of human movement. It encompasses the human body (anatomy and physiology), biomechanics, etc. Very broad subject.

[buyerofmtg]

Originally Posted by jmonty

i got decent enough at german to find my way around alone in germany using cd's. the company that made them is called 'penton overseas inc.' they were of good quality.

i wonder if anyone shares language files for free like music and porn?

im guessing we arent allowed to talking about downloading files on the forum... but the answer to your question is yes

[OmniPotentTitan]

Originally Posted by manchoman

As in using software or books to teach yourself? I know the best way is to surround yourself with the language, but that's hard to do when you're broke like me. I really want to learn Portuguese, does anybody have any advice for resources? thanks.

its not called the best way for nothing.

[Zoupa]

Originally Posted by stella summers

Silly Canadian. I was joking with you son.

And why does everyone act like kinesiology is the easiest thing to major in? There's actually a lot to it than many think.

It's the internet. Everything is jokes.

And I don't know about why it is teated as such, it just has that reputation (at least where I'm from).

[stronglime]

lol Stella, that's awesome. "because i'm more awesome than you " haha

but anyways man, when i was trying to learn french, i just started reading news articles outloud from yahoo.fr or where ever else i could find them. it helped a lot

[Zoupa]

Originally Posted by buyerofmtg

im guessing we arent allowed to talking about downloading files on the forum... but the answer to your question is yes

Yeah that's what I was planning on doing.

Anyways, guys, my plan is to do those CD dealies (the one's to teach yourself with like the guy in the beginning of this thread described) 1 hour per day, and try to read Spanish books and listen to Spanish music. No one in Canada speaks Spanish (except the occasional Cuban immigrant) so I can't learn from anyone, and I definitely can't immerse myself in it.

[EssenceOfApathy]

Hmm, I've learned another language (Swedish) just for fun; I'm not fluent in speaking it yet, but at the rate I'm going, it certainly will not be long.

The absolute best resource I have is a friend who lives there; we talk on MSN in it, which really is immense help. There are some sites around with this purpose in mind; they're essentially databases of names, desired languages to learn, and native languages. What you would want to do is find a Portuguese person who wants to get good at English, and teach each other.

Or, if you're lucky like me, just make a friend there.

Most websites won't be able to teach you more than the basics of grammar (which is good and necessary to know still), but the majority of the language can only be learned through experience... You're not going to remember words by reading them in a list.

Online dictionary + Forums, or preferably MSN; I would say the best way to increase your vocabulary.

[manchoman]

Originally Posted by stella summers

The scientific study of human movement. It encompasses the human body (anatomy and physiology), biomechanics, etc. Very broad subject.

it's like physical education without the education part.

i'm sure it's a good major, it just has a bad rep because all the jocks major in it.

[Zoupa]

forums... never thought of that. That'd work good too.

[stella summers]

Check out podcasts as well. The huge advantage over internet radio is that they're downloadable....so you can listen to the same show repeatedly until you feel you understand it. If you're into technology, listening to tech-podcasts is a good place to start as many technology-related words and names are adapted from English.

Textbooks also help.

[jmonty]

swedish seemed very hard for me. they make all kinds of sounds that are unnatural to english speakers.

but: "jag alskar svenska feeta!!"

[Xyus_Quebec]

Jag ocksa älskar denna sprak! Det finns inte sa lätt att lära dig, men den finns bra till.

It's been so long that i have pratice my swedish, i am really loosing it. I learned all by myself, but i hope i will continue progressing. I hope to the myself faroese and afrikaans.