Languages

[Prophallus]

Has anyone here successfully taught themselves a new language?
If so, what method did you use in order to learn the language?
I recently started trying to learn French on my own, figuring that I already have a bit of a base to start off from since I took it until grade 9...

[Vascilli]

Go to France. Or Quebec. Or the Ivory Coast. Or any French speaking country.

[shannn]

Rosetta Stone

[AcidBomber]

quickest way to learn a new language is to force yourself by going to live in a foreign country/city.

[Aristophanes]

As mentioned, immerse yourself in a country that speaks the language.

I learned German by myself. I followed Berlitz method that listening/speaking will come first then followed by reading/writing. Rosetta is useless because it's forced learning. It's great to build vocabulary, but not very good to really "learn".

The steps followed:
- audio CD/MP3s, which you can find all over the web. I borrowed Pimsleur's German from the library. I think it's an excellent series. Each chapter is ~30 minutes long. Listened to it everyday until my brain was accustomed to the spoken language (phonetics, accents, etc...).
- once I was comfortable with listening, I learned some grammar using online resources. In my case I used Deutsche Welle Learn German series. It's free. And it comes with downloadable MP3s and accompanying texts in PDF format.
- Once listening and reading was sufficient, I started reading local newspapers that are written in the simplest language. Not the German equivalent of the Globe and Mail but those free "20 minute" newspapers you find at the bus stop/train station. These are usually online anyway. Have a dictionary handy.
- Got myself a tandem partner to practice at lunch time. A nice German lady wanted to practice Mandarin. So, she spoke Mandarin, while I spoke German. People looked at us funny.
- Then lastly, living in Germany accelerated the overall learning process

Best of luck. It's enriching to learn a new language. Just don't give up!!

[Vascilli]

As mentioned, immerse yourself in a country that speaks the language.

I learned German by myself. I followed Berlitz method that listening/speaking will come first then followed by reading/writing. Rosetta is useless because it's forced learning. It's great to build vocabulary, but not very good to really "learn".

The steps followed:
- audio CD/MP3s, which you can find all over the web. I borrowed Pimsleur's German from the library. I think it's an excellent series. Each chapter is ~30 minutes long. Listened to it everyday until my brain was accustomed to the spoken language (phonetics, accents, etc...).
- once I was comfortable with listening, I learned some grammar using online resources. In my case I used Deutsche Welle Learn German series. It's free. And it comes with downloadable MP3s and accompanying texts in PDF format.
- Once listening and reading was sufficient, I started reading local newspapers that are written in the simplest language. Not the German equivalent of the Globe and Mail but those free "20 minute" newspapers you find at the bus stop/train station. These are usually online anyway. Have a dictionary handy.
- Got myself a tandem partner to practice at lunch time. A nice German lady wanted to practice Mandarin. So, she spoke Mandarin, while I spoke German. People looked at us funny.
- Then lastly, living in Germany accelerated the overall learning process

Best of luck. It's enriching to learn a new language. Just don't give up!!

Wait wait, you live/lived in Fribourg? :-0 I might be going there next month (Dad's friend lives there) and I'd like to go to a Swiss shooting range. (Because they look so much nicer than ours) If you can give me any info, that would be nice.

Back on topic, joining an English/French forum might do the OP some good.

[Kid A]

for the 99.9% of people reading this who can't force their way and survive in a foreign country long enough to learn; just immerse yourself in it here

if your friends speak french then tell them to only speak french around you, leave the tv on a french network and read stuff in french that interests you

I hated 'studying' french, I only get better when everyone just spoke it around me

[applecheeks]

I learned pig latin on my own :)

[slowtyper]

I think its a lot better to get some formal training (studying/classes/whatever) to get the basics down BEFORE immersing yourself in another country to learn that language. It helps a lot more otherwise you find a way to survive in the country without the language.

[Topher]

Another vote for Pimsleur. It only focuses on speaking and comprehension, but you can supplement it with other materials to learn reading/writing, particularly if it's a language that uses a different alphabet (cyrillic, kanji, etc.)

[Dash]

Get a french girlfriend that's only semi-fluent in english. it's not as good as being immersed in a french speaking country, but it's more fun. or better yet, go to france, and get a french girlfriend.

[Aristophanes]

Wait wait, you live/lived in Fribourg? :-0 I might be going there next month (Dad's friend lives there) and I'd like to go to a Swiss shooting range. (Because they look so much nicer than ours) If you can give me any info, that would be nice.

Back on topic, joining an English/French forum might do the OP some good.

I live here now. No idea on shooting ranges, unfortunately.

The people speak French and German (80/20) here so I'm also relearning some of my elementary school French back in the days in Canada. So, I can attest that your surroundings can influence the speed at which one develops a language. Unfortunately, everyone in the office speaks English. haha...the receptionists can all speak English, French, German, Swiss German, and some Romansch. Nuts...


Get a french girlfriend that's only semi-fluent in english. it's not as good as being immersed in a french speaking country, but it's more fun. or better yet, go to france, and get a french girlfriend.

A significant other is definitely a high motivator. I can also attest to that as well. I have myself an Austrian girl that speaks dialect German...not quite high German, but that will do.

[ladybug193]

You can try LiveMocha to help out. It's a free interactive online language program. I've done fairly well with learning Spanish so far :D

http://www.livemocha.com

[Gnome187]

You can try LiveMocha to help out. It's a free interactive online language program. I've done fairly well with learning Spanish so far :D

http://www.livemocha.com

i just checked out this link. it seems pretty interesting.

i signed up right away to learn and improve french and mandarin.