What's the best way to learn a language?

Don't know if anyone has mentioned Rosetta Stone but it's a good program for learning languages. I've only tried it a few times, seems to be based on visual and audio images.

It's pretty expensive to buy, but if you're an internet criminal like me just download it for free.


 
ClivetheVillan - 1/2/2015 10:19

Does make me wonder if some of us am more tuned to learning a new language than others, but it is very hard, i have confidence in all you lot that can understand a couple of words of what i say tbh you should be able to understand ET's if you understand me :64:

Well done on your degree dude :1: (smarty pants) :5: :17:
Click to expand...

Haha thanks Clive. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I was really close to quitting just before I handed in my dissertation because I was convinced I'd fail but thankfully my coursemates talked me out of it!

Thanks for the links and advice everyone, it's interesting to see how many different paths have been taken. It reassures me that it might just be about finding a way that suits me, rather than there being a 'correct' way to follow.

I thought French would be a good choice because I've already got a basic, well, really basic, knowledge of it, it's widely spoken in a lot of places and I've heard it's a good 'beginner' language to learn for someone who isn't used to learning foreign languages.
 
I started to learn French last June. Here's what I've done so far...
1. Started Duolingo French course on ipad (224 day streak). You start off with the basics then work your way up. It's free.
2. 'Internet criminality' (lol as above) I got loads of Grammar/Vocab/Course books as well as Michel Thomas, Paul Noble, Rosetta Stone (I don't use it at all), Pimsleur, etc.
3. Actually went to Waterstones and bought Access French, Talk French, The French Experience (all course books). Dictionary (Use 'Wordreference' instead, it's an online language dictionary, the nuts) and a few other books off e-bay.
4. Enrolled on a French course at Brasshouse (Broad street). I should have started on - French Entry Level 1 - but went to the wrong class and started in the year above - French Level 1 Step 1 - Found it easy enough as I was studying 3 months before it started (see steps 1 - 3).
5. Duolinguist - This guy has his own blog of how he learnt French for a whole year, he's mad (in a nice way) because the way he learns is brilliant, and he puts everything on his blog. If you want resources go there.
I'm now pretty good at reading French to English, ok with English to French, poor with Listening and okish with talking. If you need any more info then inbox me for links etc dunno if I am allowed to do it on here? Good luck.
 
I picked up enough to get by in Spanish from just going on holiday. I'm not talking deep and meaningful discussions about Franco but ordering food and very basic chi chat.
 
Mandarin Chinese is the one to learn for all you young lads or one of the Indian languages . Punjabi probably, as there will be feck all jobs here once they have mastered technology for themselves.
They are currently like the Japs used to be good copiers but couldn't design anything of their own but it's coming .

 
I think the main thing is you want to learn the language. People said to me, when I started learning Greek 'why don't you leant French or Spanish' That would be so much easier and many more courses around for them. The thing is as I told them 'If I had wanted to learn French or Spanish, I would have done so. I don't want too'

If you really want to learn a specific language then you will, find all the ways too. Depending on how far you want to go into it, I do think you need a private teacher to get into the language. That's how it's been for me.

Some of the language site I have been on aren't all that accurate, has been what I have found out. As you say it is finding what works for you. More than 1 way.
 
I learn Welsh for work at the Brasshouse. I did sign language in boldmere too. All through the Adult education centres.

They are reasonably priced and there is no substitute for learning in the classroom with a fluent speaker.

There are apps and you tube is quite good but I highly recommend using the facilities we have in Birmingham especially BAE.

the Brasshouse caters for loads of languages and there is lots of local centres over Birmingham.
 
lewis1980 - 2/2/2015 01:02

I learn Welsh for work at the Brasshouse. I did sign language in boldmere too. All through the Adult education centres.

They are reasonably priced and there is no substitute for learning in the classroom with a fluent speaker.

There are apps and you tube is quite good but I highly recommend using the facilities we have in Birmingham especially BAE.

the Brasshouse caters for loads of languages and there is lots of local centres over Birmingham.
Click to expand...


My Husband is Welsh. You probably know more than him, as it wasn't really taught then when we were at school. It's only really come back to the curriculum since we both left school. Like alot of things they dropped alot, for the new era of 60's/70's and realised there mistake.

Oh the joys of growing up in the rebellious age, of flower power, and the craziness of the 70's too, looking back, where everything was about shockable power and change
 
ClivetheVillan - 1/2/2015 10:22

Some very useful info here from our fellow Villan dudes/dudeette's, i am delving into them sites Cheshire dude has put up later on tonight, i am determined to get my brain cells the couple of them sparking like to stones rubbed together to get me learning a language, it just fascinates me, i also thought it could be a job that in the future when my eyes pack up could help me with some form of employment as language is not needing eyes, trouble is i must learn proper English first are fink ;)
Click to expand...

Clive - Michel Thomas died a few years back and a couple bought the rights to the courses, They split everything up into smaller packs and started charging a fortune for them! If you can find one of the older packs online then that's the one to go for.

Have to say that the guy was brilliant.
 
I have learned a bit of German from Die Hard, a smidgen of Spanish from Predator and a touch of Martian from Mars Attacks......
 
My Husband is Welsh. You probably know more than him, as it wasn't really taught then when we were at school. It's only really come back to the curriculum since we both left school. Like alot of things they dropped alot, for the new era of 60's/70's and realised there mistake.

Oh the joys of growing up in the rebellious age, of flower power, and the craziness of the 70's too, looking back, where everything was about shockable power and change[/QUOTE]

I've only been learning since September, it's a very difficult language but patterns are starting to emerge. Remembering the alphabet is different is the hard part.

I work in 'content', editorial stuff, I manage rather than write as you can probably tell but I organise translations and we have a legal responsibility to provide info in Welsh at work so it pays for me to recognise the language, no one else at work can and it's a massive thing for our CEO so work are paying.

I've basically been banging the Welsh language drum for 12 months and banged it so hard something's finally been done.

It's compulsory in schools in Wales now, I only wish I'd learnt the language when I lived there. I'd be raking in the cash now.

I recommend learning it. And the Brasshouse is very good.

£80 a term unless you are on some sort of benefit. Which I think is very reasonable.
 
Yes all our nieces and nephews on my hub side speak Welsh. Two of our nieces also speak Africaan aas well as English and Welsh. There Mom is South African hence.

I'll stick with my Greek thanks Lewis. LOL. I have all on with that. Yes when you see the patterns emerging and things start dropping into place you think 'doh' or at least I did.

My Greek teacher, who told me, that we don't read, in the sense we thing. We learn the patterns and that is what falls into place
 
There is no possession - no have - though that's confusing.

You can't say something belongs to you. You say it is with you.

Oes car gyda chi? Is there a car with you?/do you own a car?

Oes, Mae car gyda fi. Yes There is a car with me/ yes I own a car.

Gyda means with.
Oes means there is

If you own it, it's with you, so what if you want to say that you have it with you?

Strange.

 
Kojak - 1/2/2015 19:04

I started to learn French last June. Here's what I've done so far...
1. Started Duolingo French course on ipad (224 day streak). You start off with the basics then work your way up. It's free.
2. 'Internet criminality' (lol as above) I got loads of Grammar/Vocab/Course books as well as Michel Thomas, Paul Noble, Rosetta Stone (I don't use it at all), Pimsleur, etc.
3. Actually went to Waterstones and bought Access French, Talk French, The French Experience (all course books). Dictionary (Use 'Wordreference' instead, it's an online language dictionary, the nuts) and a few other books off e-bay.
4. Enrolled on a French course at Brasshouse (Broad street). I should have started on - French Entry Level 1 - but went to the wrong class and started in the year above - French Level 1 Step 1 - Found it easy enough as I was studying 3 months before it started (see steps 1 - 3).
5. Duolinguist - This guy has his own blog of how he learnt French for a whole year, he's mad (in a nice way) because the way he learns is brilliant, and he puts everything on his blog. If you want resources go there.
I'm now pretty good at reading French to English, ok with English to French, poor with Listening and okish with talking. If you need any more info then inbox me for links etc dunno if I am allowed to do it on here? Good luck.
Click to expand...

Thanks Kojak, I downloaded Duolingo yesterday to get myself started while I look through my options, it's really useful! The only thing I didn't like about the start was that it didn't quite explain the grammar rules. Fortunately I already understood some bits - like saying 'the black cat' in French is 'the cat black'. But for an absolute beginner that might be a little annoying as it doesn't get explained.
 
Hey Kojak,

If you`d paid more attention in Fackrell`s class,you`d be able to speak french already !

:17:
 
Clubpaver - 3/2/2015 01:52

Hey Kojak,

If you`d paid more attention in Fackrell`s class,you`d be able to speak french already !

:17:
Click to expand...
I was in Doneys class, :13: (4.7) what a prize **** he was (maybe still is?) Never paid attention in French, thought why bother? Its easier nowdays, the students have all sorts of resources to help them, we had a passed down French vocab book with Mr Bertillon in it with a c**k drawn on and boobs on Mrs Bertillon, was that you Clubpaver?? :17:
 
The front cover of my french book, you can tell how much attention I paid in class, doodled about the Villa in every class. I know we were Champions 1980-81, but I was confident of regaining the title that year hence 'champions 1981-82' never thought we'd win the European Cup that year.
<a href="http://s1327.photobucket.com/user/david_geary1/media/91054915-a24d-417c-b10d-f27f98472a2c_zps0bf01998.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u664/david_geary1/91054915-a24d-417c-b10d-f27f98472a2c_zps0bf01998.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 91054915-a24d-417c-b10d-f27f98472a2c_zps0bf01998.jpg"/></a> :94:
 
I certainly drew cocks on all the ballet dancers in their tights in those music books Noddy used to give us in his lessons.
My french was with Fackers then A level with Rolands .
It`s the only A level I bothered to take.
What a waste of 2 years in 6th form that was !

Monsieur et Madame Bertillon et Philippe et Alain.
They used to play a tape where Mr.Bertillon said,"Le ballon est sur la table" then there was a bleeeeeep. and we used to have to repeat it,so we`d all go,"Le ballon est sur la table bleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep." Christ we used to get a bollocking and a half every time we did it.
I loved school.
Well,i loved playing up in school.It was fantastic.

 
lewis1980 - 3/2/2015 00:52

There is no possession - no have - though that's confusing.

You can't say something belongs to you. You say it is with you.

Oes car gyda chi? Is there a car with you?/do you own a car?

Oes, Mae car gyda fi. Yes There is a car with me/ yes I own a car.

Gyda means with.
Oes means there is

If you own it, it's with you, so what if you want to say that you have it with you?

Strange.
Click to expand...

As I have learnt with Greek, you have to find another way to say it. In Greek expressions of time do not use at/on/in so for example you say The weekend I am going, not at the weekend I am going

We have to try and learn how they talk and what they are trying to say.

1 of the best things my teacher has taught me is to write a short simple story out in English, laptop way ofcourse, not handwritten. Then go back over it and bracket words they don't use in that language. Use different colours for the various changes of articles.

So for instance I use red for articles like in/on/at/to. I use blue for the, the words. Find your own way. It's about finding ways to highlight what you need to work on.

I do use Google translate however you have to be careful with it as it isn't always correct. Perhaps you can put in Google what you want to say that uses that word in the sentence in English and it will give you the Welsh and get how they say it and work from there.
 
Clubpaver - 3/2/2015 22:50

I certainly drew cocks on all the ballet dancers in their tights in those music books Noddy used to give us in his lessons.
My french was with Fackers then A level with Rolands .
It`s the only A level I bothered to take.
What a waste of 2 years in 6th form that was !

Monsieur et Madame Bertillon et Philippe et Alain.
They used to play a tape where Mr.Bertillon said,"Le ballon est sur la

table" then there was a bleeeeeep. and we used to have to repeat it,so we`d all go,"Le ballon est sur la table bleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep." Christ we used to get a bollocking and a half every time we did it.
I loved school.
Well,i loved playing up in school.It was fantastic.
Click to expand...


I see your still the naughty little school boy Club, lowering the tone of the thread :15:

I would send you to the headmistress office but we don't have 1 and you would probably enjoy it anyway :19:

Mr Fear naughty step might be the place for you :15:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.