Rosa

It is not difficult to stay focused if you have the need to learn a language or you have strong motivators in your life. Otherwise, it can be a challenge. One suggestion would be to set a schedule and stick to it comes what may and even if you miss a day just get right back to it.

I am also a self learner. I use whatever sources are available plus my daughter is always there to point out my errors and encourage me. It does take more time because I don't have a regimen but I know i'll get there somehow.

I have never done this but I know it is quite possible. I always regretted not keeping friendly relationship with people who speak other languages that I am interested in because I think it would be a great help.

Learning more than one language does depend on the need for the languages and the individuals ability to cope. Also, students may have to take more than one language which they have no control over but if there is no urgency to master the language then I would recommend doing it one at a time.

There are those of us who prefer to be tutored than study on their own or even be in a big classroom setting. Some are willing to pay whatever the cost may be, while others will seek to find the most affordable and fare rate. I'd be willing to pay $10-20 at the initial stage of learning but not more than $10 after I have passed the primary stage.

The best motivator for me learning a language would not only be because I like hearing the language in communication but also because I'd also be able to communicate in that language. Also, the fact that I am able to read something or watch a movie and hear a few words being used and can understand it is a big motivator.

The top five languages that i'd like to learn are the ones I think would be more familiar in my present environment. Spanish French German Chinese Russian

Get the green light- to receive permission. Black out- someone becomes unconscious or having complete darkness around. Green with envy- being very jealous.

Idioms can certainly be confusing and more so for children. I believe it is so because when you are younger you tend to look at everything literally and idioms aren't meant to be viewed that way.

These were idioms I heard used around my home as a child: Never judge a book by its cover-things are not always what they seem. Birds of a feather flock together-people with the same agenda normally hang around each other. Grab the bull by the horn- not being afraid to tackle the most difficult matters.

Come rain or shine- whatever the case may be. Take a rain check- postpone something. weather the storm- to survive a difficult situation. Under the weather- not feeling very well.

A penny saved is a penny earned- saving money is as important as spending it. Money does not grow on trees- money is not just available for the taking, you have to work hard to earn it. Penny wise and pound foolish- to be careful with small amount of money but careless with larger sums.

I do have a Websters visual dictionary which is the size of an encyclopedia volume. I guess that's the only way pictures could be included. I don't mind using it but it only gets used when the other dictionaries aren't helpful enough.

I've never had a problem with those two words. They both have different pronunciation so that prevents the difficulty for me. I believe that if someone is having difficulty with these words they could think of message as the word with the word mess as part of it. That should make it easier in determining the difference.

Guyanese Creole was derived in similar way to my native language, Jamaican Creole. My language doesn't appear as intriguing to most Jamaicans either but the fact that others have found it to be, does make me proud to be associated with the language. They sometimes ask me to repeat a statement or teach them how to say certain words, something i'm always happy to do.

I think it would be ok if colleges operate like high schools. If they demand that students study at least one foreign language, it could actually turn out good for most students. A lot of times we just need to be forced into something good and it so happens that in the end we are happy we did.

Quite an interesting spelling quiz. Both answers in number 9 could have been correct. Grammatical spelling can truly be a problem for some people and can only be solved by reading a lot and getting familiar with each word.

I too had some problems with rolling the Rs.What I did was to make my list of words and practiced at the mirror by placing my tongue at the roof of my mouth. I had my daughter listen and tell how good or bad I was and continued that way and now I no longer have that problem.

Hi Sevvy, welcome to linguaholic. I am also learning Spanish and French. Hope you find this forum one of great interest. See you around.

The languages I've been learning so far are all hobbies and therefore two plus my original two languages would be enough for me. However, there are those who have need of knowing several languages and so it would be well worth knowing multiple languages.

It's always a little awkward to correct people I'm not use to but with my friends it is usually much easier. I'd slow him down and tell him the problem I find with his pronunciation. I would also offer to help him out with those issues. Hopefully he takes it nicely and accepts your offer.

Of the two languages I speak, queen's English and Jamaican Creole, I think people would have more problem guessing where I'm from if I speak Jamaican Creole. Jamaicans normally sound all their letters perfectly, which is something people are familiar with us doing when we speak English.

Interesting post. This information will certainly benefit those who which to visit Russia but are not so familiar with the language. I've never visited Russia and so far I've only had chocolate from there.

Fortunate for me, I have never experienced being laughed at because of my accent. However, at my age,if I was ever in such situation I doubt that I would be easily embarrassed. I would also not let the negative experienced deter me from learning the language.