Best way to learn a completely foreign language?

[imported_Tomato]

Does this actually work?

I've been toying with the idea for awhile now... leaving the country and planting oneself down in a foreign country (most likely China or Spain) to learn a completely foreign language? I know they always say "complete immersion" is the fastest way to learn, but... how feasible is it, really? I'd probably be going alone...

Peace,
Dezign

 

[SlowSS]

It's pretty drastic move just to learn a foreign language, but i guess it will work.

I don't think I could leave USA just to learn a foreign language.

Oh btw, good luck getting into China.

 

[edjam]

Shouldn't be hard getting into China? They pretty much want to encourage tourism right now.

 

[Radiohead]

Pretty ballsy to me.
Just trying to get things together when you first arrive will prove difficult if there is a language barrier.

 

[ElFenix]

you must have a lot of time on your hands

 

[Grminalac]

It would probably be better than majoring on a language in college, and more fun. (unless you bang a lot of chick in college, but then agian locals in 3rd world nations love americans)

 

[BigJ]

Wow, doing something like that to scare me to death. Might be handy to have a friend fluent in the language with you.

 

[imported_Tomato]

I'm Chinese. Would that help me getting into China?

Graduated from college back in May. Would love to go back, but missed that opportunity while I had it.

Not much free time, just a restless spirit... moved out to LA in June by myself (knowing absolutely nobody... with no job and no place to live) with $500 and 2 suitcases.

Peace,
Dezign

 

[bmacd]

i'd be a hypocrite if i said do it...b/c nothing bothers me more than a man who can't speak english and needs my help. BUT....i worked in a bagel-cafe and we had 3 or 4 Albanians there....there were all about 45 years old and probably the coolest guys i've met. Two of them went back home with all their money (and are living like kings) and the other two are still here restaurant hopping.

-=bmacd=-

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Dezign
I'm Chinese. Would that help me getting into China?

Graduated from college back in May. Would love to go back, but missed that opportunity while I had it.

Not much free time, just a restless spirit... moved out to LA in June by myself (knowing absolutely nobody... with no job and no place to live) with $500 and 2 suitcases.

Peace,
Dezign

ok you're adventurous

 

[Yossarian]

I'm sure it works but I would take a couple semesters in a regular class first just to get the basics down.

 

[DigDug]

Middlebury College (great school and as a lib arts kid, I'm sure Dezign has heard of it) has a renowned summer program where you go in for the summer and come out very proficient (if not semi-fluent) at the end of the summer. It's famous. You should check it out.

 

[Aznbruin]

Originally posted by: Dezign
I'm Chinese. Would that help me getting into China?

Graduated from college back in May. Would love to go back, but missed that opportunity while I had it.

Not much free time, just a restless spirit... moved out to LA in June by myself (knowing absolutely nobody... with no job and no place to live) with $500 and 2 suitcases.

Peace,
Dezign

I myself have considered the same move. I know lots of individuals that have gone to China and studied chinese for a year and have stayed and found jobs on top of it. The job market in china is absolutely incredible if you are bilingual with chinese and english under your belt. I know there are several programs out in china that also focus on the business aspect of the language.

 

[manly]

I'm not nearly that adventurous. I'd need a local friend to lean on since my spoken Chinese is virtually nonexistent. A bygone year of studying Chinese in college was almost useless while vacationing there.

 

[neovan]

This is so funny. This was what I wanted to do but I wanted to move to Germany. I know no German whatsoever but thought it'd be a cool idea just doing something crazy like that. I was persuaded not to by my friends so I'm stuck here in good ole LA stuck in the monotony of my life. If you need people to hang out with, you could always hang around with my friends and my GF is always looking for more girls to hang out with since our group is based mainly with guys.

 

[lukatmyshu]

That middlebury program looks great, I am seriously considering it. Anyone have any luck with the language tapes? I'm going to be spending a LOT of time commuting in the next few months, so I figured I might try to spend it positively.

 

[MrDingleDangle]

Originally posted by: Dezign
I'm Chinese. Would that help me getting into China?

Graduated from college back in May. Would love to go back, but missed that opportunity while I had it.

Not much free time, just a restless spirit... moved out to LA in June by myself (knowing absolutely nobody... with no job and no place to live) with $500 and 2 suitcases.

Peace,
Dezign

moving to Los Angeles alone sux...I got here a year and a half and still dont know that many people...when i went to TX for a month i met more friends then my year and a half in LA...

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: MrDingleDangle

Originally posted by: Dezign
I'm Chinese. Would that help me getting into China?

Graduated from college back in May. Would love to go back, but missed that opportunity while I had it.

Not much free time, just a restless spirit... moved out to LA in June by myself (knowing absolutely nobody... with no job and no place to live) with $500 and 2 suitcases.

Peace,
Dezign

moving to Los Angeles alone sux...I got here a year and a half and still dont know that many people...when i went to TX for a month i met more friends then my year and a half in LA...

Try the online route... have you ever heard of craigslist? I met three good local friends in LA that way... Fawn, Jason, and Kari. Of course, I've also met some weirdo's, but that's the chance you take...

Peace,
Dezign

 

[Linflas]

Wouldn't Berlitz total immersion do the trick without leaving the country?

 

[xuanman]

you should definitely go to china if you're the adventurous type. and i would try to avoid the chinese language programs run by american universities b/c of their american university tuitions that they sock you with. plenty of the chinese universities in beijing have programs for people like you at chinese prices (a fraction of us tuition prices)...plus, everything else is so cheap in china, you can definitely live on $5/day for food...

 

[Darein]

My friend is planning in taking a linquistics course this summer which teaches a language in 3 months. He said with a little previous knowledge it should be worth a year or two of college language. It was pretty rough, I think 8 hours a day for 3 months or something horrible like that.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: xuanman
you should definitely go to china if you're the adventurous type. and i would try to avoid the chinese language programs run by american universities b/c of their american university tuitions that they sock you with. plenty of the chinese universities in beijing have programs for people like you at chinese prices (a fraction of us tuition prices)...plus, everything else is so cheap in china, you can definitely live on $5/day for food...

Good point... I'm definitely not in a position where I can afford American tuition (again)... could you recommend any good programs run by Chinese universities?

Thanks!

Peace,
Dezign

 

[DrVos]

I studied at the Beijing Language and Culture University through this summer long cultural immersion program. Immersion is the best way to learn a new language, and the only way to really grow initimate with a new culture. I'd recommend that you take some introductary language courses at a CC before you attempt an actual move to another country.

Have you considered something like Peace Corps? Going that route, you'd get a free ride to another country, be able to work there, get immersed in the culture, and not worry about getting a job to support yourself.

Good Luck, you've got more balls than most people

BTW: A move to China isn't as totally daunting as you might think. Many people in the big cities speak some English (esp in dept stores and large markets), many of the streets are in ping-ying (a phonetic version of the chinese name), and the Big Macs are much better! (really)