Trellum

Yes, I speak English really well, but if I am angry I tend to kinda forget some words, lol. I sometimes end up saying something in Spanish, but that doesn't happen so often. I am not the angry type at all. So for me getting angry ain't so easy, let alone get angry enough to forget English. Hehehe.

I have heard about this method before, but I knew such a thing could never work for me. I know myself and how I learn languages best! In my opinion this kind of method is not that good but it does for some people. Sadly I am not one of the few lucky ones who find it easier to learn languages this way.

Lately I've been doing it in the bed, but am starting to think the desk would be a better place for that. I'd never stop doing it in my room tho, it's the only place where I can do almost everything i want without being interrupted That includes studying a language and watching a movie The rest of the house is so busy and full of distractions (ie: chatty people).

Same here, Pete. I'd never dare to listen to someone conversation and then ask them what ''x' word mean, that would be scandalous and wouldn't blame them for thinking I'm super rude and nosy. No way I'd ever do that! It is so disrespectful in my opinion, because as you said, it's like you are expecting them to act like a teacher even tho they're just having a PRIVATE conversation with their loved ones, just because they're in a private setting that doesn't mean we have the right to sneak into their conversations.

Of course! I'd seem very nosy if I did that, and if someone did that to me while talking to my children in Spanish... I'd also take it as a rude intrusion. But of course, some people don't think that kind of things are a big deal, but others do and take it very seriously. It's better to leave people doing that alone. By the way, I don't completely agree with the member who said that most people talking in a foreigner language are doing it so no one around can understand them. That is not always the case, it's just some people rather communicate in their mother language, specially with their children, because most of us people living in foreigner countries think is important for our kids to grow up being bilingual. What better way to do that than always speaking in that language at home? After all they get to practice their host language a lot outside the house.

I have made close friendships with people talking other language but my own in the past, but making a friendship, a close one, that is, with someone who speaks the language I so desperately need to learn? No, not yet! I sure hope so tho! It would help a lot to have someone who can help me with their input and help me with a few grammar questions... I met someone who might have friend material, but I'm not so sure yet. This person speaks the language I'm trying to learn, but only time will tell. So far the person seems to very kind.

It's no secret I've been working very hard to learn this language the last few weeks! Yup, finally! It wasn't until recently I started to take the study of this language damn serious! I'm happy to report I've learnt quite a bit, but not enough to start a decent conversation with a dutch national and keep it going, but I know I have improved a lot because I understand most of what I read in dutch! How do I know that? Well, because I watch Dutch TV! I was amazed, but I understand most of the things they say, there are words I don't understand tho, but most of the time it's easy to deduct the meaning based on the context. Watching TV in dutch is giving me an idea of how low my levels are, that is good! Because it tells me I need to study more and harder. So far my fav channels are children ones Those are so easy to understand, specially the cartoons! My fav channel so far is ''Kinder Tijd''.

Right now it's mostly listening and reading, I have no choice, because that's how the course I was structured. So I mostly have to try memorizing some vocabulary for each lesson, then test my listening skills. Read while I listen, then repeat. After that I complete some exercises to check if my listening and understanding skills. Pretty simple, not so effective, they don't really cover grammar, but it's government course, so I wasn't expecting much.

As a former teacher I can tell you that's not always possible, sadly. I had to give classes to children that didn't seem to be on the same level... some seemed to know way less than their classmates, it was a nightmare. Sometimes a lot mistakes are made when making the evaluation to locate some students in certain levels. Then it's a mess and so hard for the teachers.

To be honest levles are not relevant for me, I don't really think much about them when learning a new language. Right now I am learning a new language, I need to reach certain level in order to pass an exam that will decide whether I get my permanent residence permit to live in that country or not. But I'm not too stressed about it, isn't like reaching that specific level is my goal, because I know I have to learn as much as I can before the exam, so I'll not be focusing solely on the course; I'll also use other materials. Hopefully my level will be way higher by the time I take the exam.

Yeah, I have, plenty of times actually English isn't my mother language, but is a language I use on a daily basis. I speak it quite often, but the first time I tried to speak it on the phone I was so damn nervous, because up until that point I only knew how to type it. So the idea of practicing made me feel so darn nervous! I made a lot pronunciation mistakes, but I learnt from my mistakes soon enough. Now I feel confident most of the time when I speak it Working on a third language right now

Hhehehe, koselig? It reminds me of the dutch Gezellig, which it translates to basically the same, but between you and me I prefer the Norwegian koselig I really miss Norway, and wish i can go back there very soon. My favorite country in Europe and I mean it! I love how nice you guys are, specially compared to dutch people and the atmosphere! Wow! I experienced the happiest moments of my life in Norway Best time ever, and no am not joking or exaggerating. I might learn some Norwegian later on, so next time I go there I can speak some Norwegian

Sometimes isn't that you don't try... most of the time is because you just CAN'T. I am a good example of that. I always try to make my english sound as neutral as possible, but my accent always is the same. I don't know how it's possible! I have heard myself in recordings and videos and wow it's been a revelation! I could swear my accent was good, not very American, but at least neutral. But once I heard it I realized it wasn't. Believe me, isn't always about not trying... it's just it's hard to imitate sounds you are not familiar with, because every language requires you to move your tongue in different ways in order to get specific sounds. The tongue is a muscle and once is trained to do a specific set of movements everyday it can be so hard to add new ones... I know by experience. There are sounds in dutch i just can't get right, specially in long words. Let alone sound dutch! I'll always have an accent... I'm pretty aware of that and honestly dread it, because I know a lot people will make a lot assumptions as soon as I utter the first few words. Not cool in that specific country (the country i am talking about ha such a bad rep in terms of tolerance).

It's better to expose them to a new language when they're still babies, that way they grow up listening to that language, that is how you and me learnt our mother languages, actually. The younger the better! I actually didn't understand how that happened, until I started learning a new language on my own after years of not trying (I learnt english when I was 16 - it was a very fluid and natural process) and I noticed how hard it is to learn now. I mean I can memorize and learn things, but when I was 16 and learning english I had no issues understanding the language structure of English at all. Even the conjugation of irregular verbs was so natural to me...

The last time I replied to this I wasn't really having any trouble because I hadn't started to studying dutch seriously, but now I am! The biggest problem for me now is the darn word order! I can't really make sense of some sentences, which is very disappointing, because when I finally think I'm getting the hang of it... I see an odd looking sentence with a very odd word order or words that seem unnecessary. Yes, at times is so frustrating and scary, but I'm trying not to freak out and do what I can to learn more new words.

Oh no! In the area where I was staying I was told most people spoke a dialect, yikes D: So, I guess I'll come across a lot people who speak a dialect, and there I'll be with my tidy dutch

Hi there! I hope someone can help me out with this... I've been studying dutch very hard last few weeks, it's of my understanding that ''omdat'' and ''want'' both mean because. What I don't know is when omdat should be used instead of want and visceversa? So far I have seen more phrases using ''want'' and not so many with ''omdat''. Also, why dutch people add ''er'' to certain sentences where that word doesn't seem to have any kind of purpose or make no sense, at least not for an english speaking person? Like for example: Er wonen in Nederland mensen uit allerlei culturen. <--- What does the ''Er'' really mean in a sentence like this? ''There''? Couldn't be better to phrase it like this: In Nederland mensen uit allerlei culturen wonen. I'm not complaninig or anything, but can someon please explain me the function of ''er'' in this sentence? I'm trying to hard to make sense of this language. Als er een stevige wind staat, ga ik naar zee. <--- Again ''er'', in my book it translates to ''there'', but google says it's ''is''. So am supposed to translate this as: if there is a strong wind, i go to the sea...''. I don't know, but the ''Er'' in this sentence seems to have no purpose (again, bear in mind my dutch is still very basic) so why add it?

Really? But then how do you know where a verb goes in a sentence with several verbs, let's say 3 verbs? Gosh, I don't know where I got that from, lol. I was told something different, I'm starting to think the person who told me about the ''working'' verbs is trying to sabotage me

Hi there! That was a really clear and good explanation! I thought those two were very similar! I still have issues with the ''ij'' tho, sometimes I could swear it sounds like an english A and sometimes like and english I! But it seems it really depends on the speed of the speaker and wish words come before it! It must be the dialect differences, I just hope I don't have issues passing my yest

Sure I can :amazed: By the way, so glad to see you back! I had started to think you weren't coming back :cry: The phrases I have problems the most are the ones that start with ''maar'', ''omdat'', ''nu'' and so on. What is the rule with those? I ask because I have noticed something odd about the verbs in the end of a phrase that starts with ''Omdat'', like for example: ''Omdat ik van jou hou''. That confuses me a lot! Why does the verb have to go to the end of the sentence?

I completed your survey, it was really fun and not so long! I found it really interesting because after years of not studying a new language, I have started learning a new one I'm no longer doing it for fun or as a hobby (I did that before) now I am doing it because I really have to. I thought it was going to be so hard, because I thought that learning a language under this kind of circumstance wasn't ideal, but guess what? I was so wrong!

I'd love to do this, but I'd offer my services as a native Spanish speaker I'd love to get paid for doing something like that! I know I'd surely pay for something like this if I had enough cash to pay or that right now I wish I could afford a private teacher right now, at least thru Skype, it's so great to have someone you can ask questions to regarding the language. I do have help tho, but the help I have isn't so reliable... :cry:

I think I need to do that as well! I need to find as many exercises as possible and do them, I have an easier time remembering things when I actually type them or write them using a pen or a pencil. It's like the knowledge stays in my mind easier. I might need more notebooks tho I also like to keep a phrase book! I can feel how some of the things I've learnt are vanishing already I need to use the language quick!

To be honest I'm not using the language I'm learning so much right now, that is a huge mistake, but I don't seem to be able to correct! I really want to use it, but I still feel like I don't know enough words! I am so worried about my performance as well, specially because I need to learn it so fast and will have to pass a test and so on. Sometimes I wonder if I'm asking too much from myself?

I acquired english when I was 16-17 I'm now studying my third language, and let me tell you that I can no longer acquire it! I'm making a tough conscious effort to learn this language now! It's so hard, with english everything seemed so natural, despite the fact english is so different form my own language, but this new language is different from english as well! I try to find the logic behind certain odd rules and things I have noticed in this language, but no luck! No luck at all! I honestly hope that in the next months I can get the hold of it!