Lin

I do especially like the British accent. It sounds more refined and dignified to me. Once to start speaking in the British accent, people start looking at you. I have when the accent is too deep though. I also find that the Australian accent is somewhat similar to the British, so I like that one as well. There is something sweet about the Jamaican accent as well (Tess Ann Chin spoke it well on the Voice).

I have written in Spanish, which is not my mother tongue. My mother tongue is creole. I love English more than Spanish however, especially the British accent. It's most likely because I can express myself more in English though.

I like that phrase: If you don't use it, you lose it. I can relate. I haven't studied Spanish in more than 5 years, and I have challenges recollecting. I have subscribed to babel and I am thinking about using other software to learn and revise. Reading maketh a man they say. Reading is one of the best ways to retain any information, including language learning info.

Yes indeed, when you can associate words with images, that is the best thing. Watching TV does that for you. Especially when you are watching something interesting, you're brain is able to associate what it hears with the action that's taking place on the TV. This is one of the best way to learn a language. Children who watch Spanish or French or English TV, which differs from what they watch in their native language, often quickly adapt their new language.

Well, language learning should be made fun. It's best learnt when done in an interactive manner. The first step is to actually get the words into your vocabulary and then use them when talking to your Spanish or French friends over messenger or on the phone, etc. I get the material into my head by reading firstly, this is especially easy if you have a photographic memory. Additionally also, you should tape yourself (even on your phone) and listen to yourself speak over and over. Your brain is more familiar with your voice and will remember the material easier.

Hey. Nice video. She's super pretty and super intelligent too it seems. Wow, a linguist as young as herself. Nice!!!

Yes, anyone can learn an accent. I guess it has to do with your intellectual readiness and ease of learning. I personally find it easy to pick up accents. Accent is very important, because you don't want to seem out of place. Practice and practice and practice.

Yea...that's a common experience among us language students. It's the fact that we stay away from everyday interaction in the foreign language. My advice is that you pick up back on your reading. Read interesting things that keep your mind going. You can also watch a lot of TV, especially comedies that keep you hooked. Just revise continuously, that's all.

But if I hear you, to me it may sound like you have an accent. It's just the strangeness of the sounds of your words, your pronunciations, that will give me (a foreigner) the impression that you have an accent.

I understand clearly what you're saying Jaxter. I get it. To our own natives and our own minds, we sound normal. But to others, we sound strange. I even think I have my own personal accent among my own people. I speak different from them. I guess it's a mind thing.

You do lose seconds in not using short-hand writing when texting. Remember, there are folks who have a dozen folks texting and replying to all at once.

I agree with you that conversational skills are more important. After all, when talking to natives, you need to be able to keep up. Grammar is what you need to pass exams or to not look bad when talking with foreign natives.

Lol. That was a funny one. I assume Victor and ex are one and the same person. I can relate to what you mean. Bad experiences produce present annoyances.

I have no pet peeves really. I just sometimes dislike the accent with which some persons pronounce certain words. But that doesn't make me hate the person; just the expression. We have different preferences, especially due to our encounters in childhood. These therefore affect our likes and dislikes.

Have you tried Amazon. I use Amazon for buying any and everything that I want online. I especially use Amazon because of the fact that I live outside the US.

You're doing well. What could really help is if you have one side of your text being in your native language and the other side of the text being in the foreign language. That is what I have. I read the bible in Spanish sometimes.

A quick run is good. What I am sure about is the fact that the brain operates by blood flow to and from it. If we exercise, we are actually increasing the flow of blood to the brain. Therefore, adequate oxygen will go to the brain, which will then aid in remembering things.

Now...that's just boring. I was hoping you would share with us any helpful strategy. If it's even a strategy that you know someone else employs. Don't be so dull my friend. Inform us.

What you say is true. In the mornings our brains are fresher and rejuvenated. I do however, prefer to study in the nights. I find that when I do this, I go to bed and actually dream about or go over whatsoever I studied before going to bed. So...all I need to do really is just to revise in the mornings. It works for everyone I'm sure.

That sounds weird. But if you say so...I should give it a try before calling it weird though. I usually just cram information. I know I have a photographic pictorial mind, so once I see it I will remember it. That's just me.

We would all be a bunch of frustrated and ultimately suicidal people. Can you imagine not being able to express what you want to say to someone? Can you imagine someone struggling to understand you? It would be a world of confusion.

Even though I was an introvert in learning, I must agree with you that learning as a group has great benefits. We learn from each other and we get to interact with each other. Interacting and doing is what is necessary for learning things like a new language.

Thanks for starting this thread. I want to tell you that I mostly learn on my own. . I had good tutors and very competitive classmates, but that couldn't match up with my passion. So, I learnt from videos, software programs and CD. I want to start refreshing my mind again, soon.

Me too...I really love Spanish. I excelled in the subject in my formative years (getting a lot of 100%s and all As). I was one of the best students in my class. Sadly, I haven't been practicing the language since high school. So, I am going to join this exchange.

Definitely, congratulations. This is a good thing you have going. I've always wanted to learn Chinese and this is a great opportunity. China seems to be a fast growing super power country of the world and I'm heading there some time in the near future. Thank you for the help you will give. Am gonna join now.