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I am so glad that I found this forum. Finding people interested in learning a variety of languages with experiences from all over the world has been such a wonderful experience! Being a part of this group has really helped me stay on track with my personal language goals, knowing that I could one day help others who wanted to learn the language too. This forum is such a valuable resource, and a wealth of knowledge from all over the globe. Best of all, it's such a positive and inviting community! I can't wait to see what the new year brings for everyone. Bliadhna Ùr Mhath!

Ciao Mameha! Mille grazie per le correzioni! Vedo che tu studi il coreano e il cinese. Deve essere molto difficile. Quali metodi/libri utilizzi per farlo? Ti auguro un buon fine settimana! Ania

Actually i didn't think of it....but now that i'm thinking, it may be this! Because now Italian is her main language, i remember than when we went out together she used to speak spanish with one of her friends fluently but maybe in some ways she isn't good at it since when she don't speak Spanish continuosly, i'll ask her this too! Ty for the advice

Great thread, Anna! Thank you.

My main goal next year is to try and wrap up my German study and finally visit Germany. It's been 8 years since I started casually learning German and during that time it has really left and impact on me, so I think a trip to put my hard earned skills to good use its deserved. Plus, the food and history is... Well, a plus I also want to focus more on studying the Japanese alphabets and kanji, which has really suffered as I have been trying to focus more on vocab and sentence structure than retaining how to actually write and read things. I remember basic kanji, but I really, really need to buckle down once I feel strong enough in my German skills.

1) Spanish - I've already learned so much Spanish and get so much pleasure out of speaking it. 2) French - so beautiful 3) Mandarin - I've never attempted a language in symbols, and this one would be useful for sure. 4) Quechua - Duuuh, you have to have some uncommon indigenous lanuage, too! 5) Mohawk - only the oldest in the Mohawk community still speak Mohawk. It will die with them!

The song is a piece of poetry in this case. You will see why. In the End In the end You knew well who I was so why are you crying now my dear ? You said ivy never grows on a wheel So your silk was wrinkled in vain... It is simple... Don't make science out of sadness... Lure the light on the next hill... The imprint of me on your pillow will wither away like those angels we make in snow. I'll break my guitar, the night is inside of it... i am afraid of my own song for a long time now, it moves in me those Danube genes... So i flow even when i stand still... But again... Would you ever be mine? if I was a soldier in the army of people ? You said I don't know how to count money, and that nothing is what I have to offer... In the end, you knew well i was i street player A brooch that is hard to pin on. That the slightest wind can blow me away.. That i will stop in the middle of a word And i wouldn't look back Never... You are sorting on the shelves a beautiful world of porcelain figures But i am a figure without a stamp. Watch out... that's a fairy tale that you are thinking of... Do you miss only this gipsy ? No, dear... Only in fall the colours of crowns are visible... They are all the same, green, in summer... In the end you knew well who I was... So why the tears,you beautiful woman ? My dear, you always knew i was a jester... My hat was a moveable tent... Lips of a mocking bird... but with silence in the eyes That I'm a coat with two faces... That I'm Mr. Castaway... Just an ordinary one... In the end you always knew that i was a musician... And the sky was my personal meadow... The lightest breeze could blow me away That i will stop in the middle of a word and i wouldn't look back... Never... I will stop in the middle of the word.. I wouldn't look back...

The etymology of country names is such a fascinating topic, isn't it? In case of 美国, it is an abbreviation for 美利坚合众国， which stands for The United States of America. But then we still have to find out why it was called like this in the first place. However, 美利坚合众国 is phonetically much closer to America than 美国 and it is no secret that foreign names, places, etc often get translated in a phonetical kind of way rather than in a semantic one. I will ask my Chinese Professor about it (If I have the chance to see him again). regards

Eng (:P): I love you Japanese (depends on polite you wanna be): 愛してる (ai shiteru)(informal, something you might actually use with your lover) Chinese (somebody already posted this, so let me do it in Simplified Chinese): 我爱你 (wo ai ni) Korean: 사랑 해요 (salang haeyo) Czech: Miluji tě Great job breaking it down! I would just add that 愛してる does indeed exist, but it's slang.

I don't really like the fact that I have to include my native language in this. I'd rather it be five languages other than my native tongue. 1- English (native) 2- French (I started learning this in high school and I just fell in love with it) 3- Spanish (Practicality. There are many Spanish-speaking immigrants in this country and I like to listen to Spanish-language music from traditional to Tejano to Reggaeton) 4- Korean (It's a beautiful language) 5- Celtic/Gaelic (I have Irish and Scottish ancestry and feel very connected to it.) There are a few others. These aren't in any particular order. They are all equal in my opinion.

If communication with the whole world is your biggest reason, then why Latin and Cantonese? Latin is used by linguists only right now and Cantonese is only used in the south of China + Hong Kong and maybe Macau.

I would say: Latin, then English, French, Spanish and Cantonese. If you can master these 5 languages, then I think you would have no problem communicating in any part of the world, if you would be traveling.

I also had teachers like that in High School. They usually presented themselves as people you don`t mess with, or who could mess you up for good if you messed with them. I usually tried to prove them wrong and tried to excel in their particular class. Getting an A from such a teacher and showing them that you don`t back down, feels really good.

That is for sure, lol. But in all earnest, it is really fascinating for me to learn these kind of things from a culture I am totally unfamiliar with. And I think I am not alone here, because I think only about 10 % of European people ever get to visit a country like Botswana, much less learn about their traditions, names and culture.

Well, this has nothing to do with languages.... but I will share it anyway, because I believe it will illustrate my point well. Back when I was a third grader I had a teacher that thought the way to ''help'' his students with attention issues was to embarrass them in front the class. It was much worse when he taught math, as a result I started really loathing the math class and going to school in general. Even well into my adult years I loathed math and linked to feelings of fear and even panic, because my failures back in 3rd grade were magnified by that awful teacher. It wasn't until a few years ago when I found a good tutor to help me pass some exams (needed math tutoring) that I stopped fearing math He noticed I was terrified to make mistakes, but thanks to him I started to like math again and I no longer feel panic when I have to solve an equation or something like that. So yes, having a good teacher (and not a bully who pretends to be a teacher just like the one i had to endure) can make a huge difference.

Ciao Anna! Spero di essere stata utile nelle correzioni! Se hai dubbi chiedi pure

Oh I also like physical books, but I haven't managed to find a good one to learn dutch. Mind telling me the name of the course you are using? The ''Naar Nederland'' course I bought from the Dutch gov is useless, it helped me get to level A1, but that's it. That course is terrible, no grammar points at all and the same repetitive exercises at the end of each lesson. Do you know of any good course filled with several examples for each grammar point? I'm in dire need of one of those, so far I'm using the STAP 1 book I got for christmas.

This sums up exactly the reason teaching is often described as being a calling. A teacher who's passionate about teaching and the outcomes they can potentially bring about through their teaching, will possess some if not all of the skills you've listed above and more. It's interesting how some people actually believe anybody can teach, but I don't think it's as simplistic as that. I mean, we've all had good and bad teachers, right LOL?