christendenkt

Have you considered buying not just an audiobook for a novel, but the accompanying hardcover of the novel? That way, when the audiobook is reading the story, you can go along with the text. It's not a learning book, but immersion into a language is still very helpful. Also, you could do the same with movies (just turn on the subtitles to the language you want to learn).

Thanks for that article!

Though I like the idea of learning subliminally, I don't know that it is possible. However, what has been studied and proven helpful is to nap AFTER learning something. So if you study some words for an hour and nap immediately after, the study proved that the information is better retained. Flash cards with pictures are always very helpful for learning words, and repeating a phrase over and over throughout the day. Just saying the word doesn't always help. The brain works with all yours senses, so if you can say the word out loud, read the word at the same time, and accompany with an image of the word, then your brain has a more complete understanding of what you're trying to learn.

I love speaking German, and would love to learn Dutch. When I was in the Netherlands, Dutch sounded like a fast melding of German and English. I swear I understood what was being said, but it's as if my brain couldn't figure out WHY. After taking several other languages, I'd have to say my least favorite is (so sorry for this) French and Italian. They both were too "sing-songy" for me. It was very hard to get over the confidence necessary to speak something that "melodious." I don't know how else to explain it. Has anybody ever felt similar when comparing languages you've learned?

I do like watching German films and attempt to watch them without subtitles. My favorite German film to watch is Lola Rennt. The scenes are repeated often enough that a student can really get an understanding of the language. That being said, I wish there were more access to foreign language television. Does anybody have a source they turn to for news broadcasts, or television shows that are streamed in other languages? If I find one, I'll let you know, but perhaps somebody on the forums has a trick? Share your secrets!

Yes! I have used PG in the past, but it did not occur to me to check their foreign language titles. Thank you!

Forgive my English, but what is Tagalog? Where is it spoken? What makes it sound cheesy? I'm very curious!

Wow, Lingua! It looks like you have quite a few varied languages under your belt! That is fabulous. One of the greatest benefits of speaking German (though I am not fluent; only wish to be) is the spread of the language across Europe. When I traveled through Poland and the Czech Republic, when English did not, German was helpful. When that failed, my then-boyfriend's Russian came in handy. I am hoping to return to Europe many times! Thank you for introducing yourself to me! --c.

For me, it was an aunt who was studying Spanish. At the time, she told me she was hoping to be a translator. When I went to look up what that was (I around eight years old at the time), I found International Interpreter, and ran with it. It turns out that she did not want to be an international interpreter and work for the UN, but the job had so much glitz and glamour attached to it, that I decided I wanted to do that. I am not an international interpreter; however, it opened the doors for me. It was fascinating to learn that other languages come with nuances that depend on culture and a direct translation is not always the best interpretation. It still fascinates me, and if I could do it all over again, I'd pay more attention to making interpreter a reality.

This is a great question for people who were raised bilingual. I know that Franz Kafka was Czechoslovakian, but he wrote in German. It was thought that he wrote in German because many people believed that German was the "higher" language, and therefore more respected. I've written poems in French, but since it is not a first language - nor was I fluent - I can't claim to have found more meaning in French than in English. I can understand that would be the case for some people. One language can have words that are indefinable or don't exist in another language. If only I could get to an understanding of German that such distinctions would be clear and meaningful.

My son is a private school, Kindergarten, and they have Spanish one day a week. I'm glad he gets that, but would prefer he had it every day. I'm thinking about getting some children's books in Spanish to advance him. However, I speak German, and would love for him to learn that language as well. The brain benefits are huge and I'd hate to squander the opportunity. Does anybody have a good source for children's books in other languages, such as Spanish or German? I would want them for myself, as well as my son. I think they are great learning tools.

At first, I thought a group setting would be most beneficial, but the differing levels does throw a wrench in things. I think it would depend on if a native speaker were present. That would be most beneficial because I wouldn't want to adopt something as correct when it is not - but was used often enough in the group to be accepted as correct. In the end, I'd prefer one on one. Has anybody ever hired a native speaker for practice? I met a woman once who did that as a job; she hired herself out for an hour of German conversation with somebody who was learning the language. The idea is tempting, but I imagine it would be awkward. I'd love to hear about some other experiences.

I have one. I had studied 6 years of French in high school and college, but then I left college for a few years and started new languages. When I went back to school, I was getting a degree in German. My French and Italian had basically disappeared despite having spent so many years learning and speaking them. My university was partnered with a local and successful music school so many classmates were music students, including opera singers. While in class one day, we had to read a passage that was written in French. When the professor asked if there was anybody who could speak French and wanted to read the passage aloud, I raised my hand. That was a mistake. I hadn't spoken French in several years, but I had always been a confident language student. Little did I know how true it was to "use it, or lose it." I started reading the paragraph and there were several sniggers. Finally, a music student who spoke French and Italian and German, offered to read it when I was barely through the second sentence. It was a mortifying moment for me, especially because I had always, up to that point, excelled in foreign languages. I still remember it, and it's been 14 years. :cry:

"Use it, or lose it." I think this is spot on. I've recently felt more determined. I've studied a few languages: French (high school level for 5 years; college level for 1); Spanish (1 year at high school level); Italian (2 years at college level); Attic Greek (2 years at college level). I finally ended up with a degree in German. German was my favorite language, and I dove into it with a passion. I spent a month in Berlin, and have since visited twice. But since then, I've married, had a child, and realize that when I hear German news reports, my language skills have been severely impacted. I'm finding hope using Duolingo. I am revisiting my German-language novels, especially collections of short stories. Reading material that I became comfortable with while studying in college (specifically, Kafka) has been especially helpful because I am so familiar with it. Short of going back to Germany, what other things have you tried?

After perusing this forum, I stumbled upon a suggestion regarding books written in other languages and uploaded to the forums. I love this idea, but not as a forum, per se. Rather, I think it would make a great resource page broken down into languages and level or age group with accompanying links for the works in question. For instance, I'd love to find copies of Judy Blume books in German. Perhaps a forum like this could have subforums for each language and posters supply links (texts within reason, as well?), and a general language-level (beginner, intermediate, etc.) Such a list and exchange of information would be great. As an afterthought, a foreign language book exchange would be fantastic! Anybody know of one of these? Tschuss!