ollie

I've been in language classes that were taught in mostly in the language it was taught in. I think it's a great idea, because that's how you improve with a language -- using it consistently.

Google translate is frustrating, it's so bad sometimes. I use it for one or two words at a time, and even then it can mess up. I would not at all recommend it for full sentences, or using it for an actual class or anything.

Duolingo is fantastic. It has an app, too, so you can learn stuff if you're just out away from home. I highly recommend it.

For example, Spanish spoken in Mexico and Spain. French in Canada and France. Or English in America and Australia and England. My favorite in English is the word "hospital." I'm always used to saying things like "I am at the hospital, I am going to the hospital." But anyone I've spoken to who is from England drops the "the." "I am going to hospital, I am at hospital."

I know English and have taken Spanish and am currently learning French. It's remarkable how related the three can be, and how similar French and Spanish are. If I hadn't taken Spanish before, I would be having a lot harder time learning French.

I used to know an exchange student from China, and every now and then we'd go drink downtown. He was so cool to hang out with because whenever we'd see someone with a Chinese character tattoo, he'd tell me either the real meaning or what other implications there were behind the word.

French, definitely. I really like saying Je vous aime! The vous part just kind of rolls off my tongue in a really pleasant way.

It is a start, but it is imperfect. There's a debate over "an hour" or "a hour", but from what I can tell it's more of a dialect thing.

This drives me insane, too. It goes up there with the wrong uses of "there" "their" and "they're". But even worse, because you get the hint of an extra "o"!

I find myself to be a very fast reader. I blow through books really fast, especially when I find one I can't put down. I'll carry it everywhere, and do tasks with one hand, a book in the other.

Locum was a Swedish company, and one Christmas in the 90s they sent out Christmas cards with their company name, but replaced the "o" with a heart. So it read: l<3cum

I use it for single words, but for phrases and sentences, it can get really, really wonky.

I've heard Japanese is extremely hard, but I've never tried to pick it up myself. It's on my bucket list, I'd like to visit Japan one day, and it'd be nice to learn a little bit before then. But I don't see myself being fluent anytime soon.

Maybe not so much a part of the study of the language, but the study of the culture. I suppose maybe it might teach you a word or two, or about slang and terms in the language. Plus, good food is good food!

I. Refuse. To. I don't mind if people do, but for crying out loud, I'm a male in my mid-20s with a career. I'm not typing that unless it's ironic.