Learning a new Language...

[Grine]

How difficult is it? I was told the following:

Unlike math, where you need to learn step A, then step B, then step C....with a language, you don't want to just go learning word A, then word B, then grammar rule C. This really doesn't work well. What works well is learning the same we all learned our native language; you will struggle, hear and say words you don't understand, you won't fully grasp a concept before hearing more words, etc. The big key is staying immersed in the language, listening to it and speaking it as much as possible. Your brain will hardwire itself over time and learn the words, phrases, rules you have a hard time with. Trying to memorize them like memorizing a multiplication table doesn't work This is why so many people come out of high school or college saying "huh, I really don't know much even though I've had 4 years of classes where I did countless amounts of homework".

This is a great article explaining: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/science/how-immersion-helps-to-learn-a-new-language.html

"The subjects were split into two groups. One group studied the language in a formal classroom setting, while the other was trained through immersion.
After five months, both groups retained the language even though they had not used it at all, and both displayed brain processing similar to that of a native speaker. But the immersion group displayed the full brain patterns of a native speaker, Dr. Ullman said."

The part I bolded is the key, it's the reason why immersion learning is far superior to trying to "book learn" a language.


I myself disagree. My daughter speak 3 languages and she only 13 - English, Spanish and French. They are all taught in the classroom.

 

[ahat]

Easier to learn when you are younger.

But ya definitely easier when you actually speak with someone who's a native speaker of that language compared to learning from a book/tape.

There's an older woman at my job who came from Syria. Her English isn't good at all, I tell her all the time talk to me in English. Don't worry if you make mistakes, I'll correct you but that's how youre going to learn and get better.

 

[Grine]

Easier to learn when you are younger.

But ya definitely easier when you actually speak with someone who's a native speaker of that language compared to learning from a book/tape.

There's an older woman at my job who came from Syria. Her English isn't good at all, I tell her all the time talk to me in English. Don't worry if you make mistakes, I'll correct you but that's how youre going to learn and get better.

That’s how I learned Arabic. Being in the mosque with native speaker, but I was able to understood more so because I could read it, and write it a little

 

[DCAllAfrican]

DuoLingo

Put it on your phone

Thank me later

 

[6 Rings G.O.A.T.]

 

[SupremeBeing5]

Just use google translator when you need to talk to someone

I can speak three languages.

 

[Grine]

Just use google translator when you need to talk to someone

I can speak three languages.

What languages?

The google translator isn't that good in translation.

Just curious to how people learned other languages.

 

[tr1ll]

DuoLingo

Put it on your phone

Thank me later

Its later....Thank You

 

[Beruseruku Desu]

english and korean here. with a bit japanese but my japanese fell off hard. used to be able to read and write (mostly just katana and hiragana) pretty well but I stopped using the language and everything went downhill from there.


my linguist professor back in college said that learning spanish isnt the move anymore. its Chinese.. or at least it will be soon.

 

[Grine]

english and korean here. with a bit japanese but my japanese fell off hard. used to be able to read and write (mostly just katana and hiragana) pretty well but I stopped using the language and everything went downhill from there.


my linguist professor back in college said that learning spanish isnt the move anymore. its Chinese.. or at least it will be soon.

The Chinese language is about to be 2nd come running?

 

[Bert.]

Been wanting to learn how to speak Italian and Spanish BADLY but I don’t think I’ll ever take it up knowing how difficult it will be

 

[macbk]

I've had https://www.duolingo.com/ app downloaded for a while now and have yet to start using it.

 

[Grine]

Been wanting to learn how to speak Italian and Spanish BADLY but I don’t think I’ll ever take it up knowing how difficult it will be

It’s not as difficult as you think. So far because of the app, I’ve learned 10 words in a week.

Don’t ever allow a challenge to stop you. Prove to yourself that you can do it.

Even if you do it for 15 mins a day. On the toilet. In the waiting room, eating lunch and dinner etc.

 

[plansb]

my mom and sister are both fluent german speakers, i have been wanting to learn for years but haven't. anyone ever use rosetta stone or other software? I think i could pick it up somewhat easier because i have people i could talk to everyday who speak it.

 

[wr]

Watch foreign films and dubbed versions of your fav movies .Especially ones you know line for line.

The apps and programs really don't work for me.

I do like the streetwise series books.

 

[Bert.]

It’s not as difficult as you think. So far because of the app, I’ve learned 10 words in a week.

Don’t ever allow a challenge to stop you. Prove to yourself that you can do it.

Even if you do it for 15 mins a day. On the toilet. In the waiting room, eating lunch and dinner etc.

Which app?

 

[Grine]

Which app?

DuoLingo

 

[solewoman]

My son is currently learning spanish and sign language at daycare (via immersion). So I make it appoint to get better so I can keep his skills up at home. Pretty helpful daycare send home a booklet of what words and how to say them. Going to DL duolingo.

 

[Grine]

My son is currently learning spanish and sign language at daycare (via immersion). So I make it appoint to get better so I can keep his skills up at home. Pretty helpful daycare send home a booklet of what words and how to say them. Going to DL duolingo.

Sign Language used to be 2nd nature to me since I'm hearing impaired but because I no longer have anybody practice I completely forgot 80% of it

 

[Mark Antony]

Immersion and interaction is definitely the better way to learn when you consider all the non native english speakers in America. Usually they have another language or two in between their native one and english too which is wild impressive.

 

[HankHill]

I'll have to get my future kids immersed in other languages when they are young. It's a lot easier for them to pick it up then instead of adults. My parents barely spoke to me in their native language outside basic instructions like "sit down", "grab that for me", "dinner is ready". Never full length convos.

I learned Spanish throughout high school, but I wouldn't say I'm fluent at all. I can barely put together a sentence without spending 10 seconds thinking about it, but I can recognize words to help me piece it together or read something. It'll just sound stupid like "direcciones a céntrico?"

Google translate is definitely a life saver when going abroad. I'll type the sentence and try to say it. If It comes out confusing or I'm pronouncing it wrong, I'll show my screen so they can read it.

 

[Grine]

Spanishdict > Google translator

I have to figure out how to roll that 'r'. now that's difficult

 

[Beruseruku Desu]

The Chinese language is about to be 2nd come running?

Yup according to my professor. China is only getting bigger globally

 

[3am scholar]

Fluent in English, Polish. Can hold a conversation in Russian, and German. Learning Spanish.

 

[DCAllAfrican]

Been wanting to learn how to speak Italian and Spanish BADLY but I don’t think I’ll ever take it up knowing how difficult it will be

DuoLingo
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