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Arjuna

- 3 years ago

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How to learn another language?

I've always wanted to learn another language. I studied some Spanish for a couple of years in high school but wasn't very good at it. I'm thinking about soon tackling a language again and this time becoming fluent. Does anyone have any advice about learning another language in their twenties? Any suggestions about what language I should study (I'm thinking between French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Norweigen, Chinese, Persian, Arabic, and Sign Language).

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Besides my native language, i speak English and Spanish. English i have been learning since i was a kid, however Spanish i started to learn it after i graduated my University and i got better at it when i was living in Madrid. right now i'm planning to learn French, and i looked on it a bit, and it's not as easy to learn it as i thought. I have spoke with a friend of mine that studied Linguistics in university. She speaks English, French, Spanish, Romanian and now she's leanr Dutch and struggles a bit with it. And she explained to me that it's way easier to learn a language that has the same syntax as your own native language, otherwise your brain will have issues in making the conenctions, just because the you are used to think the words in a different order. She also told me that the morphology you'll get with practice. If you're lucky enough to find one a language that is close to your native one both in syntax and morphology, like it happened to me with Spanish, then it's just a matter of time until you'll be fluent. S @arjuna my advice would be to pick out of your list a language that is closer to your native language and then practice, practice, practice.

learn a language with people you care about, so you can help each other along the road. plus, it's something that you can bond on/bring out and have as a moment for you both (or more!)

Aside from getting the basics down, it is helpful to have CDs that you can listen to in your car while your driving or if you don't have a car have lessons on an mp3 player and listen during your daily routine. Also, if you can find soaps or movies in that language that will help train your ear. Listening to the news is good but soaps and movies are more conversational. If you can find music you like listen to it also. Where are you? I am in the US and Spanish is the language that made sense for me to learn because it is a plus to know here. Signing would be useful anywhere but my above advice would not apply.

i learned that the easiest way to learn another language is to learn the basics in a course and then find people you can speak that language to. it's the best way to practice. and about what language you should study.... nobody can tell you. i myself am thinkin about japanese.... would be cool. btw, i think signing is a great idea for all of us to learn. really like that. greetings, phil

I studied Spanish in high school and college, but it wasn't until I was living in a Spanish-speaking country that I really learned how to speak it fluently. I think immersion is the most effective way to learn, but I also think it helps to know at least a few of the basics of grammar first. I wouls suggest studying a language you have some hope of actually being able to speak (or use, in the case of sign language), and I think its more interesting if you also have some interest in the history/culture of the country whose language you want to learn.

Arjuna- this is such a strange question to ask of others, because it is like you expect us to know you. Nobody can know you better than you, yourself. I was wondering if your parents are domineering and they call all the shots in your life? Do they tell you that they know "What is good for you" better than you do? Because parents who do this take our individuality away. They crush our own creativity. They also make us feel like numbskulls who can`t even figure out what it is we like or dont like. Just wondering, because if this is the case- then you just might move to another country and look for somebody there to tell you what to do and you wont be any better off than at home. I think this might be what is paralyzing you.

That is a personal decision. I had a german friend who was terrible at french in spite of being totally infatuated with France. Turned out she had a knack for english, though. They teach languages in college. There are also language schools. Lastly, there are private tutors. And best of all when one has a basis to build on is living in the country. A boyfriend helps a lot too. LOL.

I'd recommend Spanish or Portuguese (but i'm biased). the best way is to find opportunities to practice what you learn, and to find some time for formal instruction. The balance is the best way. eg. i had 5 years of spanish in jr/high school, but never practiced it. It wasnt until i was 20 and really practiced it that i mastered it. one last thing: there is a difference between being able to communicate and in truly mastering the language (grammar, etc). decide what your goal is and go for it. good luck

@Arjuna

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