Pen Pals group posting on GLOBOsapiens

different techniques in learning foreign languages

Postings 1 - 6 of 6

hitraia Joined: Nov 04 Points: 20 Posts: 5 Posted: 2004-11-10 16:46:00    Hi everyone. I am shure that many of us in this site would like to learn one or more than one foreign language. Those of you who have studied some of them probably developed some shortcuts or techniques in how to learn faster, easyer, more productively, remember better the vocab and grammar and so on. Would you like to share with the rest of us? Thank you very much. --- Ga. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact hitraia   rangutan Premium account Joined: Aug 04 Points: 34752 Posts: 1044 Posted: 2004-11-10 21:33:00    Arriving in Germany 12 years ago and suddenly being confronted with a language problem, specially at work, I have never learned German (neither English) properly. Now at 42, im too old for schooling: I recommend anyone to learn three or more languages whilst they are still young. What I most recommend are the audio tapes followed together (parallel) with a text-book. An extended method of this is also to run these tapes while in deep sleep. A successful Hungarian technique is to read a simple dictionary or list of prases while listening to classical allegro(?) music at one second or heart beat tact. Kids can apparently learn a language this way in a month! The most simple and fun way to learn a new language is to watch a lot of movies or tv-programs (also tv-news) in the foreign language which you have already seen and understand in your own language - DVDs and satellite/cable services make this easier these days. The forced way: on site learning - thats how I learned German. We also got quite good in Portuguese and Spanish on a 8 week trip to S.Ameriaca in the 80s. Then, hardly anyone spoke english in Latin America, more now since internet. [ This Message was edited by: rangutan on 2004-11-15 04:45 ] --- Rudolf "Rangutan" Graspointner Reply    Reply with quote    Contact rangutan   mortimer Premium account Joined: Jun 04 Points: 15075 Posts: 528 Posted: 2004-11-14 20:04:00    Hi Galina I did learn 3 languages in school already so by the time I was 16 I could communicate in German, French and English. The best way to learn a language is by using it! If you wan't to learn it quickly you really have to go to a place where this tongue is spoken and stay with the locals and perhaps go to a language school. What you learn there is communication. If you really want to know something about grammar, spelling and all that stuff you have to sit down and learn... I also find it very important to use languages in order to keep them. That's what I do on this site for instance! One thing that helped me improve and keep my english was books. I do like to read books, for the last ten years there always was an english book on my bedside table (well not always the same ;-) I really read them, some in no time at all). Just my thought's Martin --- Today is the first day of the rest of your life, enjoy it! Reply    Reply with quote    Contact mortimer   bootlegga Premium account Joined: Jul 04 Points: 15194 Posts: 124 Posted: 2004-11-15 04:49:00    The ways I've learned languages in the past include; a) Listening to language CDs while driving/riding the subway to work/school. b) Getting language exchange partners at the local university. Trade your native language for the one you want to learn. c) And moving to the country where you want to learn the language. Live in a country for a year and I guarantee you'll learn a language faster and easier than just about any other technique. While option C may not work for many, the other 2 can be done by just about anyone, anywhere. --- "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." – Mark Twain Reply    Reply with quote    Contact bootlegga   bear495 Joined: May 03 Points: 8634 Posts: 177 Posted: 2004-11-15 15:34:00    As frequently seems to occur, I agree again with Martin. I have found that the most effective way for me to learn a new language is to speak often with a native speaker. "Use the language!" Even after 5 years of Spanish classes in school and two trips to Spanish-speaking countries, I could speak the language on a level of 40% - 50%. Only after teaching classes to Spanish-speaking students and living with a Spanish-speaking friend did my language skills improve to 85% - 90%. The reason was that I was speaking the language every day. The same was true when I learned a small amount of the Egyptian language. Speaking every day helped me to improve. Russ [ This Message was edited by: bear495 on 2004-11-22 22:17 ] --- "Own only what you can carry with you; know language, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag." Alexander Solzhenitsyn Reply    Reply with quote    Contact bear495   zwart000 Joined: Nov 04 Points: 78 Posts: 7 Posted: 2004-11-22 20:51:00    well i learned some languages on my own in a very short time even when i couldn't get the chance to practice them... i'm very fluent in english but just because i watch tv and read some books whenever i get the chance.... now i'm learning hebrew...what else can i say? i believe that if i had more foreing friends my languages would be better than what they r right now... ( i know also french italian dutch and some german) --- zwart000@hotmail.com Reply    Reply with quote    Contact zwart000