Best way to learn a new language?

DeanoVilla

DeanoVilla

One Bloody Number
Really want to learn Italian.

Whats the best way to go about it? Rosetta Stoned? Are they expensive? Do you have to buy them or in this day and age is it all streamed?

 
In all seriousness, Duolingo is highly recommended, free and has both PC and app versjons.

 
DeanoVilla - 3/1/2018 11:06

Really want to learn Italian.

Whats the best way to go about it? Rosetta Stoned? Are they expensive? Do you have to buy them or in this day and age is it all streamed?
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Erm, has she been on the wacky-baccy again?

 
Duolingo?..... Can't say I've heard of that one - think I'll take a look at that.

Thanks for mentioning that VOTN.

:35:

 
You are sort of wasting your time trying to take an online course in Italian unless you just want to learn a few words.

The best way to learn Italian is to go to Italy, live with some Italians and take intensive Italian classes.

Short of that, sign up for proper classes in your area and get some Italian mates.
 
JuanPabloAngel - 3/1/2018 11:17

Villan Of The North - 3/1/2018 10:09

In all seriousness, Duolingo is highly recommended, free and has both PC and app versjons.
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Bit of Norwegian creeping in there, VOTN?
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It's a fair cop. I don't think in either English or Norwegian now, it's a mixture as I use both languages at work. This invariably leads me to interchange spelling on words that are more or less the same in both languages, especially if the pronumciation is the same. My most common error of this type is to write "are" as "er", it's pronounced the same and both are a form of the verb "to be".

 
Quick google search seems to suggest the 3 best are Babbel, Duolingo and Rosetta Stoned.

Seems Babbel comes out on top as it "teaches you how to use language words or phrases in conversations. It shows actual conversation of people and helps to fill words or phrases in that conversation. In case of Duolingo it doesn't gives such facility to user. ... Duolingo is useful to practice grammar, learn new words as a whole."

Suppose it couldn't hurt to try both.

Might start with Duolingo and move to Babbel later.
 
BodyButter - 3/1/2018 10:18

You are sort of wasting your time trying to take an online course in Italian unless you just want to learn a few words.

The best way to learn Italian is to go to Italy, live with some Italians .
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Ok it's settled. I'll uninstall those apps and move to Italy for 6 months in preparation for my holiday to Italy.

:3:
 
DeanoVilla - 3/1/2018 19:26

BodyButter - 3/1/2018 10:18

You are sort of wasting your time trying to take an online course in Italian unless you just want to learn a few words.

The best way to learn Italian is to go to Italy, live with some Italians .
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Ok it's settled. I'll uninstall those apps and move to Italy for 6 months in preparation for my holiday to Italy.

:3:
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Nothing wrong with a bit of dedication. :19:
 
DeanoVilla - 3/1/2018 11:24

Quick google search seems to suggest the 3 best are Babbel, Duolingo and Rosetta Stoned.

Seems Babbel comes out on top as it "teaches you how to use language words or phrases in conversations. It shows actual conversation of people and helps to fill words or phrases in that conversation. In case of Duolingo it doesn't gives such facility to user. ... Duolingo is useful to practice grammar, learn new words as a whole."

Suppose it couldn't hurt to try both.

Might start with Duolingo and move to Babbel later.
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Being a Villa fan you are, invariably, always depressed and as such, incapable of earning more than a paltry amount that barely covers the basic essentials. As susch I recommend Duolingo as it's free. :17:

 
Downloaded Duolingo. Did the first section.

Apparently I am now 5% fluent in Italian. :19: :19: :19:

I can say. "I am a boy".

Should be enough to get me through 2 weeks in Sicily.
 
DeanoVilla - 3/1/2018 11:49

Downloaded Duolingo. Did the first section.

Apparently I am now 5% fluent in Italian. :19: :19: :19:

I can say. "I am a boy".

Should be enough to get me through 2 weeks in Sicily.
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You do know that Sicily is in Italy and not Thailand, right? :11:

 
My main problem with other languages relates to the listening. I can (fairly) confidently go into a restaurant in France, kind of understand the menu, and order what I want. However, once the waiter starts to talk to me, I'm really struggling!
 
BBJ - 3/1/2018 11:59

My main problem with other languages relates to the listening. I can (fairly) confidently go into a restaurant in France, kind of understand the menu, and order what I want. However, once the waiter starts to talk to me, I'm really struggling!
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initially that's the hardest thing with a new language, you have to learn to be able to hear the breaks between the words and sentances. Once you have mastered this it reverses as one tries to express more complicated matters than "I'll have the soup".

 
I work for an Italian company and the only way is as BodyButter says, immersion is the only way.
I can understand stuff because I know the subject but they want me to improve their English.

If it’s a two week holiday just get yes, no , thank you and f—-k off
 
I don't totally agree Trekker, my uncle was a master autodidact with languages, I have no idea how many languages he could speak at the time of his passing but there were several. A couple af weaks after he passed a Japanese course that he'd ordered turned up.


 
Talking foreign? After the Brexit? Nigel Farage didn't give his life for you to say 'grazie' as you hand over your blue passport Deano!

If you must though, four simple steps...

1. Get yourself a massive amount of uncut heroin. We're talking kilos of the stuff.
2. Attempt to smuggle it into whichever country speaks the language you are trying to learn.
3. Make sure the heroin is easily discoverable i.e. hidden under a massive top-hat / wrapped in bacon in your hand luggage - the aim is to attract the attention of security / sniffer dogs.
4. You'll soon find yourself immersed in a situation where you'll need to learn the language pretty damn quickly surrounded by folk who will offer plenty of 'incentive / encouragement' to learn...

Bonus 5th point - you'll meet plenty of 'colourful' local characters...



...Though Duolingo is also good - got to stick at it daily though!
 
Instead of faffing about with apps and learning, you could always just add an o to the end of every word and move your hands around a lot.

 
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