Learnin a new language. Options

[Valo666]

So has any one here ever learned another language by them selves??..ie, not somethin they took in school. But like learned a completely new tounge with no background of speaking or hearing the language?? I just started to learn Finnish just recently. Im just curious on how long it takes roughly to learn the basics of the language. So far ive been workin on it for about 2 weeks and im just starting to develope an ear for the way it sounds.

[azian_advanced]

i try to learn japanese when i watch anime and live action films... i can somewhat understand it...

but what i cant understand no matter how much i hear it, is chinese.

[Valo666]

how did u go about learnin japaneese?? Did u get a book or have a friend help u or what??

[SamuraiGuy]

I started japanese by myself but after awhile i really decided it was better to learn it from course. So i took it for two semesters. But I think it really depends on the person some people catch on to langauges better than others. And also how they go about learning it.

[Valo666]

yea, im learnin mine through a book and CD combo. The one good thing about me is one of my strongest aspecs is linguistics. Ive been tested since i was in grade 2 cuz i have some LD's(learnin disabilities), they tested me 2 figure out where im strong, where im not. Apprently verbaly im exceptional, but when it comes 2 things like writing and spelling i suck.

But yea, im starting to pickup on the pronunciation of alot of words. Finnish is alot like Swedish and Norwegein. Alot of rolling Rs and alot of different holding of sounds..like they are double lettered. like some words have a single o, or they are longer words used in different context with double oo's

[SamuraiGuy]

yea, im learnin mine through a book and CD combo. The one good thing about me is one of my strongest aspecs is linguistics. Ive been tested since i was in grade 2 cuz i have some LD's(learnin disabilities), they tested me 2 figure out where im strong, where im not. Apprently verbaly im exceptional, but when it comes 2 things like writing and spelling i suck.

But yea, im starting to pickup on the pronunciation of alot of words. Finnish is alot like Swedish and Norwegein. Alot of rolling Rs and alot of different holding of sounds..like they are double lettered. like some words have a single o, or they are longer words used in different context with double oo's

Having that grasp of Linguistics is always a good thing in learning new languages. It allows you to catch on a lot faster. But anyways Good Luck with learning it. ^_^

[JFrost9]

what made you decide to learn Finnish? Ive been learning spanish for years now, (living in texas, im often subjected to it). I wanted to learn arabic, but iv read a book on it, and its tough, so im waiting until college.

[nader]

im learning persian...i have alot of friends who speak it..its pretty easy to pick up when thats all they speak in lol

[lagos]

yes, i learned a second language on my own... belive it or not, english! my first language is polish.

you can try to study from books and cds, but youll probably have a hard time to master the gramar. the best way to learn a language is to find a freind who speaks it, or go to that country. also, the younger you are, the faster you will pick it up. it only took me about a year or two to learn english when i was 8 years old.

books and cds help, but they tend to teach you phrases to say, instead of telling you how people talk. they tell you stuff like "hello, my name is ______ its so nice to meet you today" and then when you say something like that, the person from that country will look at you funny, because thats not how normal people talk.

[Blakout16]

i learned the basics of sign language in 2 months or maybe less... neways im @ learning sign and this is month 11 and im still at a loss of what their saying. totally self taught but i talk to my gf who's deaf. neways

it can be done

[JFrost9]

Sign lanuage is totally different, it works a totally different part of the brain. But thats really nice of you to learn ASL for your gf. I learned ASL in kindergarten and 1st grade, and i still remember it to this day... I took it for a year in highschool to 'refresh'.

[Drocay]

My second language is English, First is Persian (farsi). I spoke fluent arabic, but after two years of not speaking it i have completely forgotten it. I think practice is key.

[Valo666]

im learnin Finnish cuz my family and i are going to Helsinki and Turku for vacation for 2 or 3 weeks in June, plus like 5 of my fav bands are from Finland and there r some songs in finish that i love the sound of, but have no clue of what they r sayin. Also after i graduate im probably gonna do a study abroad program..and my 2 choises are France and Finland, and i already speak french, so i figured i would learn finnish 2.

[CoSo]

I'm self-learning French right now.

Best tip I can give is immersion. Immerse yourself in the language and the culture. Watch movies, listen to radio, talk to people who speak that language, get a penpal or such. It will help you learn it faster than just an exercise book.

As for the technical aspect of actually learning, get a good dictionary and a couple of grammar books, audio tapes and learning CDs. There should also be a lot of stuff on the net. One thing I've noticed in French is that young people tend to speak and write in a colloquial/informal style moreso than adults which should be noted (ie, j'sais pas vs je ne sais pas) so you might want to watch out for that in Finnish and stuff.

I've spent about... 4 months learning French now, and currently my main issue is listening and comprehending what is being said. This is a result of my studying method, which has focused more on writing than speaking and listening, since I rarely have people to practice French with. So make sure you don't fall behind in either area.

That's my experience of learning a new language, anyway.

[Shigexile]

language i learned bymyself was english. my parents don't speak english much all. japanese is my primary language.
i was pretty much put into an american school and just learned from the surrounding, picking words up as i went. pretty good?
i say, to learn a language, the fastest way will be to go to that country that speaks that language. i have a friend who learned japanese in a year because he went to japan for a year as a home stay and came back form there speaking fruently. awesomeness...
yup... good luck!

edit: i'm trying to learn korean now.

This post has been edited by Shigexile: Feb 24, 2006 - 4:41 PM

[Timi79]

im learnin Finnish cuz my family and i are going to Helsinki and Turku for vacation for 2 or 3 weeks in June, plus like 5 of my fav bands are from Finland and there r some songs in finish that i love the sound of, but have no clue of what they r sayin. Also after i graduate im probably gonna do a study abroad program..and my 2 choises are France and Finland, and i already speak french, so i figured i would learn finnish 2.

hi ! i live in finland so heres something for you to read: tämä suomi on varmaan yhtä vaikeaa sulle opetella kuin tuo japani... taidat ainakin HIM bändistä digata kun nimes on valo666.. minä käytän ite yleensä nimenä täällä netissä HIM666... so there you go... you must like HIM and i think you like the 69 EYES too...

[Timi79]

and i have to say that HIM is my favourite band too...has been forever...i have all the albums and singles and a book made of the band...

[Valo666]

HIM are my fav band. I have all of their cds and a few of their singles. My first Cd was Greatest Love Songs vol 666, that i waited 2 months for and paid $56 CND for. My finnish isnt coming along that well, im still learnin, but instead of goin 2 finland for my vacation, im going to france instead. I still wanna head up there though in a few years. And yes, i do like the 69 eyes, and the rasmus, and plastic tears, and nightwish, and children of bodom...lol most of the music i listen 2 is from scandanavian countries.

and im taking a shot at what you said in ur message,

Finland is certainly equally like japan art (?). Anyway HIM the band is well known like Valo..thats all i could get from readin it and tryin 2 translate usin my book. How was that??...close or no where near?

[TheStreetzKing]

i started learning japenese from initial d, i can say some sentences haha watched my dvds like 100000 times.. haha

[malpaso]

So has any one here ever learned another language by them selves??..ie, not somethin they took in school. But like learned a completely new tounge with no background of speaking or hearing the language?? I just started to learn Finnish just recently. Im just curious on how long it takes roughly to learn the basics of the language. So far ive been workin on it for about 2 weeks and im just starting to develope an ear for the way it sounds.

You bet , whole 6gc forums are my english course!!! I'm practise english by reading and writing every day here . So if anyone would like to chat (about anything), I'm here cause I learning this way

p.s.: and correct me anytime, I will not take it badly at all...