Foriegn Languages

[Twenty26Six]

You either didn't do enough immersion in Russia, or too much.

What's interesting about immersion is that I read an article in the Economist which says that immersion gets really tough as you grow older. Older people are a lot more self conscious of making mistakes, which makes it harder for them to learn. They go for grammar first, but have a much tougher time getting a real feel for the language.
I've found a different immersion problem - most everywhere I go people know English, which means that most of my attempts in Buenos Aires to speak Spanish were responded to politely with good English.
For what its worth, I've heard good things about Pimsleur as well.

In speaking I don't fret over mistakes and look to communicate more openly if possible. My eventual spanish would now be used for business purposes as I'd like I mostly to help in conversing with Latin Americans in the context of football.

I feel [considering the ever rising latin population in America] that knowing spanish can open up more job prospects down the road in coaching. Especially in cities and possibly abroad.

[zpjohnstone]

Spanish, Italian, and I'm better reading French than pronouncing it, but all the Ye-Ye music is helping.

German is next.

[afgrijselijkheid]

I've often thought of learning dutch, but I find it very hard to hear the pronunciation.


it is very difficult to catch on to the pronunciation, especially when they speak fast - amsterdam pronunciation is also much harsher than the rest of the country

a quick primer:

a = "ah" (as in the first "a" in "drama")

aa = slightly elongate the "ah"

c = always hard "k" sound unless a word is taken from another language (a common thing for the cosmopolitan dutch)

d = a single "d" at the end of a word comes out more like a "t"

e = beginning or middle, "eh" as in "get" - ALWAYS pronunce an "e" at the end of word, sounds like the "u" in "mug"

ee = as in "ear", slightly elongated sound

ei = sounds like "i" in "like"

g (and ch) - as sarabella said, this sound forces you to make a small back
of the throat loogy hocking sound while working from a soft "h" basis (certainly no "g" as in "giggle")

i = "i" as in "win"

ie = "ee" as in the first "e" in "complete"

ij = "i" as in "like", but with a faint "y" sound ending

j = "y" as in "you"

o = short "o" sound as in "taupe"

oo = "o" as in "pole"

oe = "oo" as in "zoo"

p = slightly pop any "p" that doesn't begin a word

r = hmm... kinda like a spaniard might roll his "r", but only one roll (does that make sense?

s = slightly hiss these

sj = "sh" as in "should"

sch = "shk" at the beginng of a word ("wishkit"), but remember to slightly hiss that "s" - at the end of a word, "sh" as in "dish"

tje = "tch" as in "latch"

tie = the dutch version of "-tion", it sounds (ironically) like the end of "nazi"

u = "oo" as in boot

ui = "ow" as in "cow"

v = half "v" and "half "f"

w = unless it is at the end of a word, basically like a "v" (the way to make this sound is to put your top teeth on your bottom lip) - as the end of a word, just like any english word ending in "w" ("cow, bow, slow")

z = slightly zsa zsa these

[Red Bird]

a quick primer:
Would Kromkamp mean "phoney war"?

[nicephoras]

In speaking I don't fret over mistakes and look to communicate more openly if possible. My eventual spanish would now be used for business purposes as I'd like I mostly to help in conversing with Latin Americans in the context of football.

I feel [considering the ever rising latin population in America] that knowing spanish can open up more job prospects down the road in coaching. Especially in cities and possibly abroad.

The problem for me is that while I already speak a foreign language fluently, adding Spanish won't make much of a difference. The languages are so different that using them at once is almost an impossibility.
Besides, Spanish speakers are so common these days that I feel learning Spanish for its business value isn't that important. I just want to learn it to read/speak Spanish.

[Twenty26Six]

In speaking I don't fret over mistakes and look to communicate more openly if possible. My eventual spanish would noT be used for business purposes as I'd like I mostly to help in conversing with Latin Americans in the context of football.

Fixed my post. Meant to say "not for business purposes".

I'd mainly be speaking to kids, footballers and/or fans, so I doubt proper spanish would be needed very much. I've done intro classes in spanish but am now using "Rosetta" for Latin American spanish.

As long as I can get my general point across I'll be ok.Once I get into a groove reading and listening comprehension shouldn't be that hard. I already now that the hardest thing will be to speak spanish on instinct.

[usscouse]

We went looking in a couple of bookstore yesterday for CD's "audio Italian for a pair of dummies" One country in Europe I haven't been to but have most wanted to is Italy and want to try this year. I should know more than how to ask for 'birra'. We're planning on Rome of course and wandering up into Tuscanny or "Chianti-shire" staying in farmhouse type accomodations so language would be a plus, for both sides. Just basic conversational stuff. "You mean the shitter is outside?" or "You call this crap breakfast?" or complimentary like "You daughter's hot! and only 15 Wow"
Better to get on with the peasants than piss them off.




Better put a smiley here for the humour challenged...or maybe it's me that's humour challenged...:)

[Twenty26Six]

We went looking in a couple of bookstore yesterday for CD's "audio Italian for a pair of dummies" One country in Europe I haven't been to but have most wanted to is Italy and want to try this year. I should know more than how to ask for 'birra'. We're planning on Rome of course and wandering up into Tuscanny or "Chianti-shire" staying in farmhouse type accomodations so language would be a plus, for both sides. Just basic conversational stuff. "You mean the shitter is outside?" or "You call this crap breakfast?" or complimentary like "You daughter's hot! and only 15 Wow"
Better to get on with the peasants than piss them off.




Better put a smiley here for the humour challenged...or maybe it's me that's humour challenged...:)

Quite the traveler. Disposable income? You're not too old for more children, are you? Would you like to adopt an Irish-American Refugee? :)

[usscouse]

Quite the traveler. Disposable income? You're not too old for more children, are you? Would you like to adopt an Irish-American Refugee? :)Only if you're 15, female and hot!

Although I'd settle for... (but my wife might have something to say) ...better not..:D

No disposable income I'm afraid. We're both Realtors and if we make enough (or near enough) we'll go. We don't need the isolation of first class hotels and we eat in pubs bistos and bars.

[usscouse]

I see Rosetta Stone does a monthly, by subscription thingy now. For about $50 per month you can pick a language. I might have to take a look at that.

[Twenty26Six]

I see Rosetta Stone does a monthly, by subscription thingy now. For about $50 per month you can pick a language. I might have to take a look at that.

I got Spanish [Latin American] I and II for nothing. You have dial-up [?] but I could see what I can do about finding ways for you to not pay anything and get what you are looking for.

With some help from Sarabella I stumbled my way through the process semi-easily. I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to get you some stuff, PM if interested.