What language and how are you learning?

Hey guys, just curious — are you learning a language? If so, which? Using what methods? Got any tips for noobies?

I'm currently learning Japanese through TextFugu and Japanese Through Anime with a splash of Kodansha Kanji Learner's Dictionary.

I tried Rosetta stone but it was tiring. I also don't have a functioning Mic so I couldn't do half of it.

I think my next step will be to start translating manga.

If I had to give a tip for Japanese, it'd be to learn some vocabulary before learning Kanji. It's way more satisfying to know a word and then see the Kanji for it as opposed to learning a Kanji and it's meaning at once. I feel like you absorb the Kanji easier too.

edited 9th Aug '11 7:27:54 AM by Jewbacabra

Two Wong's don't make a white.

English is my second language.

Hmm, I'm learning Japanese in school and I can make basic conversations but that's about it.

I'm a (socialist) professional writer serializing a WWII alternate history webnovel.

What's your first?

I would've believed you if you said English was your first.

Two Wong's don't make a white.

Speaking from experience, you might want to hold off a little while until you're more comfortable with the language. Try talking to some Japanese people on the internet first, it helps.

I'm learning French through school. Was learning Japanese through school but it was too time-consuming and was hurting my GPA. Learned German and Chinese for a semester, also through school. Italian next semester. Arabic the one after that. *hand behind head* If you're just learning a new language for the first time, throw out everything you know about your mother tongue. Trying to think in terms of your native language while learning a new one is more likely than not just going to trip you up.

Even so, by the time I started picking up three or four, I started to go, "Ohhhh, so German is kinda like Japanese in that [etc]" or "Ah, Chinese isn't all that different from French when you get down to it because [etc]". I'm suspecting I'll go "Italian isn't that different from French either because fucking Romance language."

月を見るたび思い出せ

Okay, I'll consider your advice I was planning on using Lang-8/Live mocha for actual verbal conversation. I may also just have to meet a Japanese girl (shouldn't be too hard).

How on earth do you learn all that? I want to pick your brain apart. Eventually, I aim to learn like 5 language but I've only just started on my second . Got any tips for a multi-language learner (besides "don't think in your mother tongue").

Speaking of mother tongue (pun intended), I agree. It's interesting how language shapes our perceptions and I think it's important to immerse yourself into another language. It's difficult not to relate back to your native language though. Definitely a challenge.

Two Wong's don't make a white.

I think, really, it's just a natural inclination towards learning foreign languages for me. I don't understand math, but I get how languages work on an intuitive sort of level.

Mnemonics help. Don't think in terms of your mother tongue, but don't be afraid to relate things back to what you already know— I mostly maintain my French vocabulary by thinking of the words as being synonyms for English ones*

, but this does have the side-effect of me occasionally thinking in French.

Practice constantly. Reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It's all necessary and all equally-important.

Grammar rules aren't that complicated. Learn how they work on a fundamental level; when you're ready to move on and you think you've got that internalized, just make sentences and see if they sound right in the target language. If you say something one way and it just sounds wrong or unnatural, double-check to make sure it fits in with the grammar rules, and if it doesn't, fix it. Do this enough and you'll get a feel for how things are constructed.

月を見るたび思い出せ

I'm learning Japanese, but I'm not really expecting to know the language too well. It's mostly just fun to swear in.

I use a few sites, and watch subbed anime (and since I have nothing better to do, I end up watching the same episodes over and over). I just kinda end up picking up a few things.

No, this isn't very helpful. But oh well. Not like I'm going to use it much anyway.

If you are not very careful, your possessions will posses you

Do not take learning a language like Japanese lightly. Practically nobody speaks Japanese except in Japan itself, so unless you have friends or relatives that speak it you're not going to have a chance to use it that often. If you're trying to learn it so you can watch anime, that's what fansubbers are for.

Check out my crappy internet band.

"Because I like it" isn't a good enough reason to learn a language now?

月を見るたび思い出せ

If you like it then by all means. I'm just saying that if you want to broaden your horizons, learn a language that is more widespread like Spanish.

Check out my crappy internet band.

Heh, thanks. It's Korean.

I'm a (socialist) professional writer serializing a WWII alternate history webnovel.

I've heard that argument.

I told a good friend I'm learning Japanese and he laughed at me. "Japanese isn't useful anymore, China is the next big player."

I mean, yea, but I'm not a business student. I'm learning Japanese because I want to.

Two Wong's don't make a white.

I'm learning German on the web. The German course at my high school was nuked because of the high failure rate.

Warm hugs and morally questionable advice given here. Prosey Bitchfest

Nobody ever stops learning a language, even their native one. I still consider myself an English learner.

edited 9th Aug '11 5:31:00 PM by Sporkaganza

Always, somewhere, someone is fighting for you. As long as you remember them, you are not alone.

TBH if you're not going to China Chinese isn't that useful either.

Check out my crappy internet band.

No language is useful if you're not going to be in any sort of contact with people who speak it.

edited 9th Aug '11 5:59:15 PM by Blackmoon

月を見るたび思い出せ

There's the show-off factor. People respect an Omniglot. Just like they respect me on Forum Games. Δεν ξέρουν ότι είμαι χρησιμοποιώντας ένα συγκεκριμένο μεταφραστή στο διαδίκτυο, όμως.

The sin of silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.

Not true. You could learn Japanese so that you can indulge in media/books/etc. Don't necessarily have to speak people to utilize a language.

Two Wong's don't make a white.

^^^^ China is becoming a major economic power, so yes, it is important if you want to go into business. That actually makes Japan pretty important too.

Also, learning Asian languages is a good way to impress your Asian girlfriend's parents.

Warm hugs and morally questionable advice given here. Prosey Bitchfest

I'd make English an exception.

*Grumblegrumbleculturalimperialismgrumblegrumble*

And that's how I ended up in the wardrobe. It Just Bugs Me!

Still learning spanish from some of my extended family and schooling because loltexas.

I also learned Hymmnos from Conlang but I'm not sure that quite counts, being a constructed language.

Haha, true. Even if I were never to go back to America again, because of English I can access to Wikipedia. Sure, we have Korean version wiki, but seriously, that thing is fucking worthless due to lack of editors and all.

Then again, because I know English I am here...maybe it wasn't such a good choice after all. ㅠ_ㅠ

I'm a (socialist) professional writer serializing a WWII alternate history webnovel.

Not a bad thing.

Two Wong's don't make a white.

여기 있는다고 할 일을 다미루는 나 자신을 보면 그게 의심스럽게 느껴지네요.

Seeing myself, procrastinating staying in this site, makes me doubt that.

edited 9th Aug '11 9:29:23 PM by dRoy

I'm a (socialist) professional writer serializing a WWII alternate history webnovel.

I never understood why procrastination is bad.

As long as the work is done by due time, who cares when you did it?

Sleep on that.

(P.S. what did you write in Korean?)

Two Wong's don't make a white.