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Thread: Learning a New Language

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    Featured Member MadisonM's Avatar
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    Default Learning a New Language

    Ok so I'm going to school for Psych, Human Development and Bus Adm with a double emphasis in marketing and management. I would really like to learn either Japanese or Chinese, because I really think it would help with my business degree. I can't take it in school, however, because I'm already maxed out on credits until I graduate, thanks to my triple major. Does anyone know of any language courses that you can purchase that are actually helpful? I always see infomercials for different courses, but I'm very hesitant to try one. I think I would really like to get into marketing, and I think knowing another language, especially one that is in high demand- like Mandarin Chinese- would really help me out and put me ahead of the pack in companies that do international marketing. Thanks!
    Take the road less traveled- just make sure you have a map.

  2. #2
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    Be warned... I've studied a lot of languages, and Mandarin is fucking HARD. It's the most difficult subject I've ever taken in my life, and the only one I had to abandon. I'm going to have to wait until I can go to China and devote myself to nothing but learning Mandarin, because it's intensive that way. I still want to learn it though.

    I do think that Mandarin would help enormously with your business degree. Like you said, the demand for Mandarin speakers in that field is extremely high, and not enough Americans speak it to meet that demand. Can you do a semester abroad?

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    Featured Member MadisonM's Avatar
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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    ^^^ I would looooove to be able to do a semester abroad, and I've looked into it, and my school doesn't offer this program to travel to China or Japan- mostly only European countries and South American countries. grrrr.... so I'm stuck learning it on my own. I know that Mandarin is hard, but I would at least like to try it and if it's too hard then give it up, rather than not try it at all.
    Take the road less traveled- just make sure you have a map.

  4. #4
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    That's the spirit. If you hear of a good language program, maybe I'll try it too.

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    Featured Member MadisonM's Avatar
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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    http://www.rosettastone.com/en/offer/overture/chi

    this is one of the products from an infomercial I always see. It's really expensive though, so I'm kinda hesitant to try it.
    Take the road less traveled- just make sure you have a map.

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    Featured Member lunchbox's Avatar
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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    Quote Originally Posted by MadisonM View Post
    http://www.rosettastone.com/en/offer/overture/chi

    this is one of the products from an infomercial I always see. It's really expensive though, so I'm kinda hesitant to try it.
    Try the free samples for something simple like Spanish, they're shitty IMHO.

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    God/dess
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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    Rosetta Stone does not work for me. But that just might be my learning style. I don't get anything from looking at little pictures and hearing "airplane."

    I'd take a class at the community college if I were you.

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    Veteran Member $$$magnet's Avatar
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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    Quote Originally Posted by MadisonM View Post
    ^^^ I would looooove to be able to do a semester abroad, and I've looked into it, and my school doesn't offer this program to travel to China or Japan- mostly only European countries and South American countries. grrrr....
    Can't you piggy-back onto a program offered at another university ? I know a lot of schools (including mine) offer this. Maybe you could ask them.....

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    Featured Member MadisonM's Avatar
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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    ^^^ Good thought! I should look into that.
    Take the road less traveled- just make sure you have a map.

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    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    Quote Originally Posted by Yekhefah View Post
    Be warned... I've studied a lot of languages, and Mandarin is fucking HARD. It's the most difficult subject I've ever taken in my life, and the only one I had to abandon. I'm going to have to wait until I can go to China and devote myself to nothing but learning Mandarin, because it's intensive that way. I still want to learn it though.

    I do think that Mandarin would help enormously with your business degree. Like you said, the demand for Mandarin speakers in that field is extremely high, and not enough Americans speak it to meet that demand. Can you do a semester abroad?
    I really really really want to learn Mandarin myself. I've picked up how to say "Can you please help me find my report card?" but that's it! hahaha. I know Japanese already... but damn I'd like to learn Mandarin.

    PooPoo.


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    Featured Member LilSweetVixen's Avatar
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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    Just go to the library. They have tons of language tapes, cds, and books. That's how I'm learning Spanish until I go back to North Carolina for school.

    "You have demonic genius" -Naomi Wolf
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  12. #12
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    I can say a lot of colorful things in Mandarin, like "Fuck your mother!" and "Do you want to have sex?" ...but nothing that would be very useful in the business world.

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    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    Quote Originally Posted by Yekhefah View Post
    I can say a lot of colorful things in Mandarin, like "Fuck your mother!" and "Do you want to have sex?" ...but nothing that would be very useful in the business world.
    Well, you never know...I've worked in the corporate arena for many years...and you'd be surprised at how far you could get using those phrases. LOL

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    Featured Member MadisonM's Avatar
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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    ^^^^ hahahahahaha the things they don't teach you in school.... lol....
    Take the road less traveled- just make sure you have a map.

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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    With a triple major, you will have zero time for Mandarin Chinese. It's like studying integral calculus explained to you in Klingon. It takes about five years to really master, and that's with daily rigorous study. The tonals alone will take you years to work out.

    I was a triple major in international diplomacy, Russian and physics. If I had taken Mandarin Chinese on top of it, I would have never stopped drinking. Actually, come to think of it, I never did stop drinking. But that's an occupational requirement if you work in Russian.

    Honestly the best advice for you is to travel to the PRC and do a year immersion course after you've completed all the coursework you are doing now. The language is not a part-time adventure. It's a full-time linguistic boot camp that will require every ounce of your intellectual energy.

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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    Quote Originally Posted by The Other Owner View Post
    With a triple major, you will have zero time for Mandarin Chinese. It's like studying integral calculus explained to you in Klingon. It takes about five years to really master, and that's with daily rigorous study. The tonals alone will take you years to work out.

    I was a triple major in international diplomacy, Russian and physics. If I had taken Mandarin Chinese on top of it, I would have never stopped drinking. Actually, come to think of it, I never did stop drinking. But that's an occupational requirement if you work in Russian.

    Honestly the best advice for you is to travel to the PRC and do a year immersion course after you've completed all the coursework you are doing now. The language is not a part-time adventure. It's a full-time linguistic boot camp that will require every ounce of your intellectual energy.
    Sometimes I really wonder if you ARE James Bond, but you think we won't think you are if you use the icon.... >_>


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    Featured Member lunchbox's Avatar
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    His classification is not 007, it's 00069

  18. #18
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    Quote Originally Posted by The Other Owner
    Honestly the best advice for you is to travel to the PRC and do a year immersion course after you've completed all the coursework you are doing now. The language is not a part-time adventure. It's a full-time linguistic boot camp that will require every ounce of your intellectual energy.
    Toldja!

    I still want to do that one day, myself. There is a PhD program at Yale that combines Film Studies with Asian Literature, and as Chinese cinema is a particular interest of mine, I'd really like to pursue that. But I'd have to have some measure of fluency in Mandarin first, and like you said, I really doubt that can be done without living in an exclusively Chinese environment.

    The language involves sounds that we as non-native speakers often can't even hear! I still can't really hear the difference between "mother" and "horse." They both sound like ma to me.

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    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    Quote Originally Posted by Yekhefah View Post
    Toldja!

    I still want to do that one day, myself. There is a PhD program at Yale that combines Film Studies with Asian Literature, and as Chinese cinema is a particular interest of mine, I'd really like to pursue that. But I'd have to have some measure of fluency in Mandarin first, and like you said, I really doubt that can be done without living in an exclusively Chinese environment.

    The language involves sounds that we as non-native speakers often can't even hear! I still can't really hear the difference between "mother" and "horse." They both sound like ma to me.
    THAT'S how you knew about The Eye and Eye 2. Holy molies, batman, good movies... I love Chinese movies.. Korean Soap Operas... etc.


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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    Oh gosh, I so want to learn Mandarin too. Just spoken, there's no way I'd ever be able to get written down as well.

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  21. #21
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    It's much easier to read and write than it is to speak and hear.

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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    Really? I just assumed the opposite.

    But speaking it would be necessary for any sales or business use...writing less so.

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    Featured Member Hello_Kitty27's Avatar
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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    try this coupon for rosretta stone:

    www.rosettastone.com/exs026

    Also, about study abroad programs....if you find another local school that does this, you can usually go with them for the same low price. Just a thought.

    Edit: seems that coupon is only working for spanish. Here's where you can find a new coupon code (direct website link): go to a local magazine stand or bookstore. Flip though a National Geographic or The Economist. There's always an ad in one of those for Rosetta Stone and it's 10-20% off.
    Last edited by Hello_Kitty27; 12-13-2006 at 06:41 PM.






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    Featured Member Hello_Kitty27's Avatar
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    Default Re: Learning a New Language

    Quote Originally Posted by Yekhefah View Post
    It's much easier to read and write than it is to speak and hear.
    yeah, that's how it is with japanese too.






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    Member forcefit's Avatar
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    Post Re: Learning a New Language

    Here's a good site with big, DLable audio lessons:
    ChinesePod

    Online dictionaries:
    http://www.zhongwen.com/
    http://hmarty.free.fr/hanzi/
    http://www.chinalanguage.com/dictionaries/ccdict/
    Picture Dictionary
    Flash Cards

    Of course, nothing can beat an immersion study in China itself where you will be forced to sink or swim. There are universities in Nanjing, Shanghai, Beijing and other cities.

    The main unis in Beijing for teaching foreigners Chinese are:
    BLCU (Beijing Language and Culture University)
    BNU (Beijing Normal University)

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