People who speak more than one language: what is the best way to learn?

[FortFunFoSho]

All -

I have been wanting to learn spanish for a while now. I have tried books on tape, but find they put me to sleep and it does not give me the conversation I need to make me comfortable with the language.

My question is for all of you who can speak more than language fluently, how would you suggest learning? What worked, what didn't, and how would you do it if you had to do it again?

Unfrotunately, I am not in a position to go to another country and spend copious amounts of time learning the native tongue, so this idea is out the window.

Any ideas?

 

[dbk]

Find someone native to teach you. I had Madame Huff in HS. My french name was Philippe :laugh:

 

[CollectiveUnconscious]

Immersion is the only way to become truly fluent in a language.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: CollectiveUnconscious
Immersion is the only way to become truly fluent in a language.

Bingo,
move over there and you'll pick it up on no time

<- speaks ~5 languages

 

[Toonces]

13 years of mandatory French classes in school did less for me than 3 months living in Geneva... well, at least in the conversational/vocabulary aspects

immersion FTW

 

[ThePresence]

Unfrotunately, I am not in a position to go to another country and spend copious amounts of time learning the native tongue, so this idea is out the window.

That's the only way I have learned other languages.

 

[Colt45]

find some ESL latino girlfriend

 

[OutHouse]

what about that Rosetta Stone language thing. I have not heard any bad things about it.

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: FortFunFoSho
All -

I have been wanting to learn spanish for a while now. I have tried books on tape, but find they put me to sleep and it does not give me the conversation I need to make me comfortable with the language.

My question is for all of you who can speak more than language fluently, how would you suggest learning? What worked, what didn't, and how would you do it if you had to do it again?

Unfrotunately, I am not in a position to go to another country and spend copious amounts of time learning the native tongue, so this idea is out the window.

Any ideas?

What is your goal? Do you just want to be able to carry on a basic conversation? Do you want to write fluently as well as speak fluently?

 

[AbAbber2k]

Originally posted by: Citrix
what about that Rosetta Stone language thing. I have not heard any bad things about it.

I have. Apparently you simply infer meaning from pictures that go along with audio recordings. Pimsleur is supposedly FAR better.

 

[FortFunFoSho]

Originally posted by: mrkun

Originally posted by: FortFunFoSho
All -

I have been wanting to learn spanish for a while now. I have tried books on tape, but find they put me to sleep and it does not give me the conversation I need to make me comfortable with the language.

My question is for all of you who can speak more than language fluently, how would you suggest learning? What worked, what didn't, and how would you do it if you had to do it again?

Unfrotunately, I am not in a position to go to another country and spend copious amounts of time learning the native tongue, so this idea is out the window.

Any ideas?

What is your goal? Do you just want to be able to carry on a basic conversation? Do you want to write fluently as well as speak fluently?

Be able to speak fluently.

 

[puffff]

Originally posted by: AbAbber2k

Originally posted by: Citrix
what about that Rosetta Stone language thing. I have not heard any bad things about it.

I have. Apparently you simply infer meaning from pictures that go along with audio recordings. Pimsleur is supposedly FAR better.

i've tried rosetta stone and pimsleur.. i agree pimsleur is better. rosetta stone teaches vocabulary. it doesnt do a good job of prepping you for conversational situations. as for pimsleur, it begins building your skills for dialogue right away.

if anything, do pimsleur first, learn to hold a conversation, then do rosetta stone and fill in the vocabulary that you might need.

 

[bennylong]

Originally posted by: AbAbber2k

Originally posted by: Citrix
what about that Rosetta Stone language thing. I have not heard any bad things about it.

I have. Apparently you simply infer meaning from pictures that go along with audio recordings. Pimsleur is supposedly FAR better.

I have the Mandrin Rosetta Stone and that's exactly what is it, inferring meaing from pictures.

After a couple of hours, I realized I was saying everything backward. I think I'm going to try the Pimsleur. The Rosetta Stone seems to be just a good secondary resource, not one that you would use primary if you want to learn a new language.

 

[WildHorse]

It may be helpful to read this other AT thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=33&threadid=1975668&enterthread=y