Learning a Foreign Language, Berlitz?

[Playmaker]

I'm a college student that has become very interested in learning a foreign language over the next 2 years. I'm interested in a wide variety of languages and not sure which I will choose.

Has anyone that has learned Spanish had any experience with Portuguese and vice versa that could tell me how similar the languages are? Does knowing one significantly help learning the other? Or are they so differentiated that knowing one would't be beneficial to learning the other? I'm interested in learning this language for business (finance major), and realize that Mandarin, Hindi, or Malay/Indonesian would probably be best in that regard with their emerging economies. However, I'm more drawn to Latin America and Europe, so I'm leaning towards Spanish and Portuguese. Additionally, those Asian countries aren't as receptive to American business as Latin America is, although Latin America is a significantly smaller market. Any input is appreciated, especially from those of you that have worked in said countries.

Also, has anyone here had any experience with Berlitz or a similar language clinic? I don't have the credits to learn the language in college, plus I would like to move faster than college classes do, so I'm very interested in a well-respected, yet cost-effective, language clinic. Any input in that regard?

 

[Ameesh]

porteguese and spanish are not alike, i can speak spanish and dont have a clue what porteguese people are saying. on the other hand i can understand bits of italian and french. I'd say learn spanish before you learn porteguese as it is spoken in far more countries.

 

[Nitemare]

They are cousins and share some common words but speaking one proficiently in the wrong country would be akin to trying to speak English in Miami

 

[Passions]

China is expected to become the world superpower in 2020. It would be good for business if you knew Mandarin. Heck, just look at all the businesses trying to break into China rite now.

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: Passions
China is expected to become the world superpower in 2020. It would be good for business if you knew Mandarin. Heck, just look at all the businesses trying to break into China rite now.

PASSIONS , you have to have the most idiotic sig on all of Anandtech and thats saying a lot.


AMEESH OUT!

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: Ameesh

Originally posted by: Passions
China is expected to become the world superpower in 2020. It would be good for business if you knew Mandarin. Heck, just look at all the businesses trying to break into China rite now.

PASSIONS , you have to have the most idiotic sig on all of Anandtech and thats saying a lot.


AMEESH OUT!

yeah, it is pretty stupid.

 

[Triumph]

Anyway, um I have a Berlitz CD for learning German... Is that what you're talking about? It's not going to make you proficient at all, but I use it to practice and to hear things pronounced correctly.

You are in college though. You should seriously, seriously consider studying abroad. Living abroad is the only way to truly learn a language, and now is the best (read easiest) time to do it. Schools have all sorts of programs set up for studying overseas. My brother spent 3 semesters in Germany, only paid the same price as his university's tuition, the credits all transferred, and he even got other benefits like a monthly stipend. Oh, and he's now completely fluent in German, almost with no accent. I know this because my father is German and he says my brother speaks better than he does! My family in Germany is always saying how well written his letters to them are.

You really should consider it. That's one of my biggest regrets from college, not taking advantage when I could to study overseas.

 

[Passions]

Originally posted by: Ameesh

Originally posted by: Passions
China is expected to become the world superpower in 2020. It would be good for business if you knew Mandarin. Heck, just look at all the businesses trying to break into China rite now.

PASSIONS , you have to have the most idiotic sig on all of Anandtech and thats saying a lot.


AMEESH OUT!

Just got owned? Tired of getting owned. Reduce your ownage now!!! Call 1-800-STOP-OWN.

 

[TechnoPro]

The easiest way to learn another language is to live in that country where it's spoken. Beyond that, lessons and conversation with a native speaker will work.

CDs and books are okay for a very basic introduction, but beyond that, they are quite limited.

First, there is no feedback mechanism. It leaves you in charge of evaluating your performance (pronunciation, timing, intonation, etc.) based on what you hear. Having a real person correct your speech and interact with you is critical in learning language.

Second, when you take language outside of the social context (i.e. person to person), and then attempt to speak in that language to a real person, all those memorization exercises will seem somewhat pointless.

By all means, drop some money on them to get your hands wet, but go for live training if you expect to gain mastery of a language.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Passions

Originally posted by: Ameesh

Originally posted by: Passions
China is expected to become the world superpower in 2020. It would be good for business if you knew Mandarin. Heck, just look at all the businesses trying to break into China rite now.

PASSIONS , you have to have the most idiotic sig on all of Anandtech and thats saying a lot.


AMEESH OUT!

Just got owned? Tired of getting owned. Reduce your ownage now!!! Call 1-800-STOP-OWN.

😕

 

[Juno]

C'mon, learn American Sign Language... It IS a foreign language.

 

[Playmaker]

Thanks all for the responses. Keep them coming.

porteguese and spanish are not alike, i can speak spanish and dont have a clue what porteguese people are saying. on the other hand i can understand bits of italian and french. I'd say learn spanish before you learn porteguese as it is spoken in far more countries.

That's what I've heard about Spanish to Italian and French. However, Portuguese is a lot more popular than many people realize. Estimates I've seen place Spanish 4th with 392m speakers and Portuguese 8th with 191m speakers in regard to popularity. Plus Brazil is a definite emerging economy.

China is expected to become the world superpower in 2020. It would be good for business if you knew Mandarin. Heck, just look at all the businesses trying to break into China rite now.

I'm just not sure if a tonal language is my thing. Significantly more work than a romantic, germanic, or even a slavic language as a native english speaker. Also, I don't believe those optimistic estimates on China's economy. An interesting fact many people don't realize is that our continents have had the same proportions in regard to population for centuries. China making steps toward capitalism is major, but don't forget that much of the Chinese population are still farmers, many even subsistence farmers. I doubt China will become a world power in my lifetime at the rate they are progressing politically. I have more faith in India, but I'm not sure if Hindi would be my thing either.

Also, I am actually taking classes abroad in Europe right now. I took a language throughout high school and quit before my senior year thinking I'd never use it and everyone I'd interact with know english, the epitome of American arrogance I'm ashamed to say. After only a short time abroad I've realized how bad I want to learn a foreign language and that's why I'm now making plans to pursue it immediately when I return home this fall.

The Berlitz I was speaking of is the tutoring service located in most large cities in the US. It's pretty expensive ($150 to $200 per hour from what I've read, but it's hard to find prices). At 20 hours/week for their standard program that's spendy. My plan was to try and get an intro to the grammar and vocabulary on my own, then start with a Berlitz (or similar company) tutor in the near future.

German and French would be vital in Europe, Spanish and Portuguese in Latin America, and Hindi, Mandarin, and Malay/Indonesian in East Asia. I'm leaning towards the two former.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: Passions
China is expected to become the world superpower in 2020. It would be good for business if you knew Mandarin. Heck, just look at all the businesses trying to break into China rite now.

lol, 2020? Try more like 2050 IF they don't have a major revolution or civil war.

 

[Playmaker]

^

 

[paulpaul]

If you're already living abroad in Europe, look for a branch of The French Institute. They offer classes that are cheaper than anywhere else. It's this smart thing the French do where their government subsidizes the school so that more people learn French.

Basically, learn any language you can, study hard, travel so you can use it (which is subsantially easier to do in Europe than the states) and get as much as you can out of your time there.

 

[Ameesh]

Originally posted by: Passions

Originally posted by: Ameesh

Originally posted by: Passions
China is expected to become the world superpower in 2020. It would be good for business if you knew Mandarin. Heck, just look at all the businesses trying to break into China rite now.

PASSIONS , you have to have the most idiotic sig on all of Anandtech and thats saying a lot.


AMEESH OUT!

Just got owned? Tired of getting owned. Reduce your ownage now!!! Call 1-800-STOP-OWN.

you are such a douche.

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: Playmaker
The Berlitz I was speaking of is the tutoring service located in most large cities in the US. It's pretty expensive ($150 to $200 per hour from what I've read, but it's hard to find prices). At 20 hours/week for their standard program that's spendy. My plan was to try and get an intro to the grammar and vocabulary on my own, then start with a Berlitz (or similar company) tutor in the near future.

German and French would be vital in Europe, Spanish and Portuguese in Latin America, and Hindi, Mandarin, and Malay/Indonesian in East Asia. I'm leaning towards the two former.

$200 PER HOUR? It would be cheaper to move to Europe and live in a 4 star hotel, and you'd get better results!

 

[Playmaker]

I believe that was actually the price quoted by the London (or another European city) Berlitz that I converted from pounds. I couldn't find any price quotes online for any American Berlitz locations. When I get back home I plan to look around to find the best quality and value, I was only using Berlitz as an example.