Baburra

I'm okay with both methods, but I think learning in school is a bit easier because not only do you have people pushing you to learn so you're always motivated, but also you'd have guidance and people to practice your new language on.

I never knew there was a famous Simpsons segment of this, and I've watched most of the classic episodes. Is this from the newer episodes? I'm going to have to look it up and see it for myself, but if anyone can chime in on which specific episode it is in, that would be great!

I think of "like" as a sort of mannerism so I can maybe let that go, but if it sounds like it's being used on purpose in thinking that it's grammatically correct, it's probably noticeable. I also have heard of "take for example" and admittedly, I've never really given it much thought because it still somehow sounds correct if that makes any sense. Good catch!

I think if a person focuses completely on learning a certain language, then he or she can be able to learn it in a very short period, but I'd say that generally, it will probably take about 2 years for most regular folks who just casually learn a language in their spare time. It will also probably take a few more years to get completely fluent at it, though I imagine that living in the country that speaks the language can help speed up the process significantly.

I don't think this phrase is appropriate to use to describe someone who is arrogant. As far as I know, it's meant to refer to someone who feels as though he or she is always getting treated unfairly and thus is bitter about most things in life. As for the origins, I've looked it up but don't really understand it that much either. Here is the article and hopefully someone can explain it to us in simpler terms. http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/chip-on-your-shoulder.html

I looked up the origins of this word thinking that I'll probably find Catsup to be a German word or some similar story, and I was surprised when I found out that catsup vs ketchup was far from what I was expecting and that seems to be not even a common consensus on the origin of this word, nor the official one to use. Catsup vs. ketchup Anyone here with knowledge on some facts about these spellings? I'd love to hear if one is more favored in some countries over others, and other bits of similar information and trivia any of you might have would be great too. :wacky:

Me too, although, I try to just get amused by them as much as possible because getting annoyed won't do much good anyway. Very good point on the part about absolutes, though, since it's a very subtle mistake, but I have come across these types of comments before as well albeit less frequently.

I've always been curious about this as well but I always forget to ask it. I always just chalked it up to accent, I think. I also don't find the pronunciation very pleasant, though, and I personally just pronounce the L anyway.

I have a nephew who speaks and understands English way better than our native language, but none of our relatives mind. The most important thing is that the child is able to communicate, and any language he or she will use is okay by us as long as we can all understand each other. Also, I hope you won't mind me saying this, but I think it should be you and your husband's decision alone that should matter as long as the decisions are what you are completely sure that it will be the most beneficial to your child's life.

I just remembered one of my most favorite movie quotes in history which is Robocop's "I'd buy that for a dollar". I remember being confused by this line a bit when I was younger, because I didn't know if the thing he was pertaining to was supposed to be a good thing or a bad thing because a dollar is hardly substantial enough for it to be a compliment. It sounds great as a line, though, and it certainly made an impression on me, as well as many others.

I know of Guapo which is handsome. I think it's a popular Spanish word since I've heard a lot of American celebrities use it, and also I know of this because Spanish is a very similar language to ours.

I used to read a lot of comics when I was a kid, and it contributed a lot to my vocabulary which gave me a good boost on my English. I didn't really do so for the sake of learning English, though, rather I just read them for amusement because there was no internet back then. I also read a few Chinese comic books, but unfortunately, it didn't have the same effect on me, but I'm sure it also helped somewhat.

I still use a very old Japanese translation book I have, as it provides me with nostalgia and amusement and thus it keeps me interested enough to keep me learning. However, I do supplement it with online videos because the only problem with using just the books is that you never really get the pronunciation right, so hearing it as well provides for a fuller idea on the phrases.

I think the best method is just what works best for you. For some, immersion might be necessary, and I myself think this to be true as well, but for others, I'm sure that just learning from a book or some online resources is sufficient as a basic start wherein you could branch out and expand on the existing knowledge down the line.

I don't think I have enough patience to sit through school anymore, so I mostly just practice on my own. I like it and I think it's working just fine, but I have to admit that having teachers and classmates did make it a bit easier for me and gave me a proper push.

I've completely forgotten that teachers often had preferences on which style of writing to use in grade school, and I was forced to write in cursive as well back then, but by the time I reached high school, the teachers there were a lot less strict too.

I agree that it's very helpful to have some accompanying pictures and that's why there should be no shame in starting out with kids' books because if you are just starting to learn a new language then you are essentially a kid in that particular vocation. It also helps way more if there's someone there to guide you along or to answer your questions as well.

Patis is fish sauce in English, if I'm not mistaken. I think it's also available in a few other Asian countries and not just exclusive to the Philippines so there was more need for an international term for it.

I don't really have a regimen, as I mostly just study in the way I feel in any particular point in time, but I do allot a few hours each day as much as possible to read or watch videos and practice my pronunciations, but unfortunately, I don't always have spare free time.

I agree because Filipino words are usually just spelled exactly how they sound phonetically. It's why I often wish other languages also were the same way, but I guess spelling things a bit differently kind of adds to the mystique.

I just remembered another one that isn't really said very much anymore these days, or at least not that I'm aware of. "Money doesn't grow on trees" is something I read and heard a lot in old comic books and various other media, but nowadays I rarely hear it anymore.

Yes, this has happened with me and my friends many times already, but I honestly can't remember the exact circumstances anymore but I know it's due to mispronounced words because my friends are all of different nationalities and speak different languages so it's easy to mistake a few of them between us here and there.

I read the first Narnia book at a time when I didn't really understand what the fuss was about with reading. I never was given that many fictional books to read when I was younger and instead only got textbooks, so as I grew older and got forced to reading a book for a book report, I randomly just picked the Narnia book out of the lot and now looking back, I'm really glad that it was the book I got because I thoroughly enjoyed it and only got what was so fun about reading due to that book. It was really very imaginative and well written.

Most have already been mentioned in this thread, but my favorite has always been one that the mafia uses which is "sleeping with the fishes" to connote that someone has already been murdered and sunk underwater among the fishes.

I love audio books because not only does it save my eyes from getting strained from reading, but also, I get to "read" even as I'm doing other things, and I especially like listening to audio books while I drive because I don't really need to concentrate that much when I'm driving and it's a lot more productive to listen to than just music.