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Thread: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

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    Featured Member Glamgirl's Avatar
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    Default Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    I've just bought an Italian and French language course thing. I am starting on Italian as im obsessed with Italy and would love to be able to speak the language comfortable. I got French as we studied it for 4 yrs at school and would like to complete it.

    Has anyone else taught themselves another language, how did you keep at it?

    I figured i would do like 2 hours of it a day so i keep constan at it
    Last edited by Glamgirl; 08-14-2009 at 01:22 PM.
    A Good Girl With Bad Intentions

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    Default Re: Dis anyone teach themselves another language?

    Is it Rosetta Stone? Their software is really good. It develops your listening comprehension, pronunciation & reading skills. It's really easy to use, and an excellent investment if you can afford it.

    Other than immersion programs (you'd be surprised how fast you'd pick up any language if you needed to survive in ANY foreign country), I'd suggest making some friends who fluently speak the language you want to learn.

    My friends have helped me so much - from cooking classes (food brings people together!), to soccer games & salsa dancing (Spanish), and Tai Chi (Mandarin Chinese), etc. My friend even took a job as a nanny & the kids are teaching HER to speak German!

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    Featured Member Glamgirl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    Its not a Rosetta Stone bt it has like 5 cds and 2 cds of conversation. And a big text book thing so i can work along with it. I feel i need a book to actually learn stuff and it helps with reading and writing the language too.
    I have got 2 of my friends onto it too and they are going to pick it up so we can all learn. we plan to have "Italian Nights" every other week were we eat italian food, drink italian wine and basically try to develop our skills more. I guess having other people learn it with me keeps me at it as id feel silly if i gave up. I am pretty determined though. A Kiwi friend of mine speaks basic italian and he has given me some great tips
    A Good Girl With Bad Intentions

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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    Try these two sites they are actually the same courses but the sites are run by different people, and the down loads are free. there is a lot in the French section but not much in the Italian section.

    http://fsi-language-courses.org/Content.php

    http://fsi-language-courses.com/default.aspx

    I am currently doing the Portuguese lessons from those sites.

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    God/dess chanzep's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    Gonna look at this cos I wanna learn Portuguese .
    xoxo

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    God/dess Gia2608's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    My spanish is pretty darn good, but I did:
    a. take honors level courses from grade 8 to sophmore year in college
    b. move to Miami 6 yrs. ago
    c. Live with a Puerto Rican then a Colombian for the past 4 and a half years.

    I would say I learned more from actually using it in conversation than from the class room setting. If this helps at all.
    XoXo Gia
    Danielle Fishell (the Dish): "If the Super-Star thing doesn't work out, Gia makes a great stripper name"

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    Senior Member AngelWithHorns's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    I didn't realize that Rosetta Stone was so comprehensive; between that and the links posted, I should start studying back up on Spanish, especially if I want to further my degree someday (and I do). I learned 80% of my Spanish in the first two years if high school and despite getting an associate degree in foreign language a few years ago, I pretty much stopped learning and using it. (Whereas my little sister took the same degree, continued, and is going to be a bona fide Spanish teacher in two weeks)

    Good luck GlamGirl! Keep updating, I'll cheer you on.


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    Featured Member Glamgirl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    Grazie!
    A Good Girl With Bad Intentions

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    Veteran Member spyder's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    i took several foreign languages in college and i always thought italian was the easiest. You'll have it down in no time!

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    Member PatheticLoserCuckold's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    Im just about through level 3 on Rosetta Stone for Italian and it has helped me a lot since I have to take Italian 2,3, and 4 next year at college. Plus I'm planning an Italy trip right after I graduate.

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    Veteran Member Blue_Dust_Bunny's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    I learned Japanese in college. Going to structured, teacher-led classes really helps keep you on top of things. Other things I do to help:

    - watch A LOT of movies and television in you language. Find your favorite movie in Italian and practically memorize it. Watch things with and without subtitles. Watch something everyday. You can of course find Italian versions on DVD or on the internet with a little extra searching

    - a lot of the times, the reading materials provided in a course are really boring and phrased in a way that teaches you the grammar and lessons you are currently working on, but isn't "real" Italian. Search for some children's novels and other beginner's reading that you actually WANT TO READ. This makes a big difference in staying engaged and wanting to continue the language.

    - the Italian Night thing is a great idea. I also suggesting seeing if there is an Italian Society or some other larger organization that you can join in on. A lot of colleges have foreign language tables where groups of people studying the same language get together and speak nothing but that foreign language. And you might be able to get away with not being a real student, since its an extracurricular meet up. Immersion is the best thing for someone learning a language. Do it, you will be happy with your mad skills later on.

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    Senior Member AngelWithHorns's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    Hey-I don't know yet how well this works, but it looks cool and sounds sensible.

    http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog...-plus-a-favor/


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    Veteran Member MissAlethea's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    For free foreign language kid's books:

    http://en.childrenslibrary.org/index.shtml

    Aaand online newspapers (a good fluency level to work towards, at least in the beginning)

    http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/

    Penpals from around the world!

    http://www.interpals.net/

    If you're doing two hours a day, every day, a) you should have no trouble getting it to stick, and b) I bitterly envy your willpower. Keep us posted on your progress! And let us know when you have your first dream in Italian- that's how I know I'm starting to grok it....

    In bocca al lupo!
    Haikus are easy,
    But sometimes they don't make sense:
    Refrigerator.


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    Veteran Member Citychick's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    I was brought up bi-lingual but really learnt English through reading books.

    I love Pimsleur courses, I'm about to buy their Dutch and Greek programmes

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    Featured Member Glamgirl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    Well i havent learnt for over a week as ive had too much on so i am going to set aside some time tomorrow to get back on track!
    A Good Girl With Bad Intentions

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    Veteran Member cadencetyme's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    spanish. took it in school and then refreshers in college. Bought books to brush up. Use subtitles on movies tv. Moved to Puerto Rico...where i had to relarn the language in a different way basically.

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    God/dess firemaiden04's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    One of the things on my shopping list is the Rosetta Stone French program. I've never actually met someone who's used one of the programs, though the reviews online always seem outstanding. I'm really excited about eventually purchasing it, but can someone tell me if it can actually make you fluent on its own, or if it's just supplemental material, like to help you with a language class?

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    Veteran Member Citychick's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    Quote Originally Posted by Glamgirl View Post
    Well i havent learnt for over a week as ive had too much on so i am going to set aside some time tomorrow to get back on track!
    Just a quick thing, I just looked for a comparison between Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur method.
    I'm going to get the Rosetta one too as it helps you learn how to write stuff too.

    But for days when you're feeling lazy you could just take the CDs in the car or wherever.

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    Senior Member lovelife's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    I have a few languages that i want to learn too.. and here are some of my findings tho most I haven't used yet.. I'm such a horrible procrastinator

    Here is a site that my friend showed me who does know a second language.. I believe it's free and he said it was good for being free..
    http://www.babbel.com/

    I can't find the site i"m looking for right now.. but I found a site where you pay native speakers to teach u their language.. and u do it all online like thru skype or something.. and it's cool becuz U pay like per class.. and it's not expensive they all have their own prices so you can hop around till u find the teacher u like.. they will even give u homework sometimes.. but it's cool cuz u can hear them say everything correctly and they can comment on your accent and u can rate them for future learners...

    If I find it I will post it... good luck i love languages

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    Featured Member Glamgirl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    Quote Originally Posted by Citychick View Post
    Just a quick thing, I just looked for a comparison between Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur method.
    I'm going to get the Rosetta one too as it helps you learn how to write stuff too.

    But for days when you're feeling lazy you could just take the CDs in the car or wherever.
    Thats a good idea...i do keep going over what i have learnt already though...just havent gotten to the next unit yet!
    A Good Girl With Bad Intentions

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    God/dess dlabtot's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    Check out your local Alliance française!

    I live near a small city in Montana, USA, but because of the Alliance, I know all the expatriate French people in my area... there is no substitute for speaking with native speakers... there is even one guy who is a manager at McDonalds, so when I go there for lunch, I'm ordering in French, lol... I don't know what the other customers think....

    I just do everything I can to immerse myself in the language... see if you can get TV5Monde... I cancelled most of my English-language channels so I watch a lot of French TV... it really helps with comprehension.

    And language is not just learning words... it is culture... you must know the culture to understand... so check out music, film, etc...

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    Featured Member lopaw's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    I taught myself spanish after working with many latinos over the years.
    I also taught myself cantonese after living with my chinese GF for 16 years.

    Unfortunately, now my english is all screwed up!

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    Moderator Miss_McKenna's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    I'm planning to teach myself Spanish this semester, so this thread is uber-helpful!


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    God/dess dlabtot's Avatar
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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    Also, I trained my dog in French - I only speak to him in French. If I accidentally say something to him in English, I immediately say it again in French... just extra practice, plus random people are unable to order my dog around parceque il ne comprends rien.

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    Default Re: Did anyone teach themselves another language?

    Quote Originally Posted by dlabtot View Post
    Also, I trained my dog in French - I only speak to him in French. If I accidentally say something to him in English, I immediately say it again in French... just extra practice, plus random people are unable to order my dog around parceque il ne comprends rien.
    When I was a kid, my dog only understood German for that same reason.

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