Ailcua

Do you ever challenge yourself and learn a rare language like Basque or Icelandic? I think this would be really fun.

Basque is a language with unknown origins and is mostly used in Northern Spain and Southern France, while Icelandic has a very archaic and is basically spoken by around 330,000 people in the world.

I don't think these new technologies will and can replace learning new languages. i think it's a big help and both should come hand in hand. These new apps are really innovative but as someone who loves to learn different languages, nothing beats a one on one with a living, breathing person.

whenever I watch movies or tv series or read a book and find idioms new to me I always Google it and then I try it in real life as much as possible. It's a good way to practice when you've learned something new  

Challenge yourself and create goals with time frame. Also learn things that piques your interest not just some random or trending stuff. You have to be passionate about something to be motivated to keep on learning it. 

Chinese is very interesting to learn, I think learning how to speak it is easier compared to learning how to write it. 

What do you think of the film adaptations of your favorite books? I've watched Deep End of the Ocean, Anna Karenina and White Oleander. The first two are good but the movie version of White Oleander was really disappointing. It did not lived up to the book.

Hands-down Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstroy, you may also want to check out the movie. Although adaptations do not always live up to the book itself, Anna Karenina the movie is just as good and will surely make you cry...a lot!

I still think that reading a physical book is the best. There's something magical about the smell of books that excites me. I'm not really fond of reading ebooks. It strains my eyes.

Definitely 100 Years of Solitude. This book is a must-read for any bookworm. It was described as a must-read book after Genesis.

Mine is Toni Morrison. I just can't get enough of the Bluest Eye and Beloved. I've read these books numerous times and I always get the same feeling each time I finish reading them. She's a fantastic writer and an amazing person. A truly one of a kind talent. I also love Elie Wiesel. His book Night is my all-time favorite. I always recommend it to bookworms. It has touched me in so many ways possible. 

Yup he's right. I do this all the time when I was younger. I even record myself to hear if I'm pronouncing words correctly and also If I sound natural of trying hard or if my accent is heavy. It really helps a lot if you're learning any language for that matter.

length...that th ht! lol

It's normal here in the Philippines to speak English on daily conversations since it's our second language, although there are still some people who will look at you weirdly just because you and your friends are conversing in English. I usually just shrug my shoulders at them. Never let people like these bother you if you want to practice a certain language. Use it whenever you can, practice wherever and whenever possible. I used to record myself while reading aloud and then listen to my recording. This enables me to analyze everything, from how I pronounce words to whether I sound natural or trying hard. 

I really can't remember when. I am a Filipino and English was a part of our curriculum. English is used here even at day care. It has become our second language.

American English is easier for me to understand, I do like the sound of British English more but I think there are areas where the accent is much thicker making it even harder to understand. What I love the most  though is Australian English, it sounds sexier and softer than British English in my opinion.  

IELTS in Australia and Europe, especially if you're planning to study there or work in the medical field. Score will also depend on the profession you're applying.

Was it stop or slop? The dictionary meaning of slop as a verb is spill or flow over the edge of a container. So I guess the writer used it metaphorically and he must be referring to horizon as perception or outlook and the back of his head is an idiom which could mean something you've considered or wanted to do but not really doing it. Hope that makes some sense.

I think these are french words, correct me if I'm wrong here though...

1. the carrots are cooked

2. it's nothing to write home about

I've read in some language forums and even heard on some people I know that this is something that they're having difficulties with. Of course there are rules (depending on the language I guess) that we need to learn and apply, and there are exceptions to those rules as well. On my case I find it time consuming instead of difficult. What do you guys think?

Chinese may have the numbers, but English is universal. Do you think it's necessary for people to have at least an understanding of the English language? 

During your teaching session, you may try something like, show him an online video of how to pronounce those words he's pronouncing weirdly. You can politely correct him and make him repeat those words and during the process say encouraging words like "you're getting there" or "a few more practice and you'll sound like a native". 

Hi,

It will work if you will stay there for a while. Not only will you learn the language, but the culture as well. I think the best way to really get a grasp of a foreign language is to mingle with the locals and experience their culture. There are so many things you can learn from it that will not be thought on any foreign language course. It will be really costly though, I mean aside from plane tickets, there's hotel and meals. I agree with Anita, if you're worried about the cost, you may want to consider learning it from your Spanish-speaking friends or somewhere with a huge Latin community.

Hi Sasha!

You can learn by watching movies and TV shows in English or even documentaries and interviews on YouTube. If there's something you don't understand, you can ask about it here or do some research online. Try to read books in English as well, and read it out loud. Again, if there's a word or phrase you don't understand, don't hesitate to ask someone about it. The best way to learn to speak English is to speak and use it every day. Don't get embarrassed if you're grammar is not perfect, that's normal. Nobody's perfect. Hope these tips can help you. Good luck!

I have to agree that English and Spanish are the easiest to learn for most people. In my opinion, learning English is not mandatory but it is essential to at least have a grasp of it. 

I think that people should learn a language that they will really use in real life. A language that will provide them with opportunities, give them an edge and will help them succeed in life. But it differs with everyone. There are people who master a foreign language because they want to embrace, absorb and understand a country's culture, so that's where passion comes in. 

Filipino: Kasinungalinga at Paninirang-Puri