Re: Learning A Second Language

Kyle T. Jones expressed precisely :
Tom Enright, my dear, dear friend, there was this time, oh, 8/15/2008 9:14 AM, or thereabouts, when you let the following craziness loose on Usenet:

I'm thinking about trying to learn a second language, and because you
guys are so freekin smart what are you opinions one what I should
learn:

1. A Chinese dialect, Korean: Good for business, but a whole new
alphabet? Might be too difficult.
2. Spanish: America's 2nd language, but so many people can speak
both no real advantage.
3. German: I already know a little German ($1 to Airplane!), but all
the German guys I know speak English.
4. Russian: I'd like to learn this, the alphabet is easier than
Chinese/Arabic
5. Arabic: Lots of Arabs around, once again, that alphabet.
6. Irish: Nobody speaks it anymore, but it would be cool.

-Tom Enright

"Hope is ambiguous, but fear is precise."
-Leo Rosten

This isn't exactly a threadjacking, but a lot of folks have chimed in that they have or are learning other languages.

I was wondering if anyone had tried the "Rosetta Stone" stuff?
If so, a short review would be wonderful!

Cheers.

I haven't tried it, but any program seems to be good for about the first 3 or 4 (of what would be) semester work. That'd be about the limit. Nothing is going to replace the acutual meat of a language program consisting of massive quantities of reading (except maybe immersion study).


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Is there an optimal sequence for language acquisition?
    ... She could only speak Italian. ... > speak to her in English, ... I learnt that this girl was going to learn German ... Most people would understand both and speak a mixed language. ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Do you have a bedtime story?
    ... (It's your 'name'; Wildepad.) ... I couldn't speak German anymore. ... if it's the only available language. ...
    (rec.arts.sf.composition)
  • Re: Thought Youd Like to Know
    ... Many Jews and others overhere do not like to speak German because of the ... perhaps we could continue this converstion on regular email. ... referring to the complete knowledge of a language. ...
    (soc.culture.jewish.moderated)
  • Re: Learning A Second Language
    ... all the German guys I know speak English. ... I'd like to learn this, the alphabet is easier than ... I speak Finnish because I lived there. ... Spanish because it's the predominant language in my town. ...
    (rec.sport.football.college)
  • Re: French native speakers and foreign languages
    ... Marc> the German border. ... don't speak Alsatian, but no one who actually speaks it. ... France such as Breton, it's a dying language... ...
    (sci.lang)
Loading