DancingLady

I agree.  My attempts to learn a language independently have not gone well.  I feel that I do need a teacher in order to be successful.

I am not sure.  I think Spanish and Italian are more closely related than Spanish and French, which don't sound anything like each other.  I studied some French and I really have not had much luck picking up any Spanish.  I work with some people who speak it, but I don't understand what they are saying. 

Definitely.  I think with your second language, you are also learning how to learn language.  Once you have learned this skill, it is easier to learn the next one.  I noticed this when I took German.  I had 2 years of French in HS, which did not stick well, but when I started German everything was coming much easier.

I have looked at Elvish a few times.  I think it is a beautiful language but I don't have time to really study it.  I tried briefly, but it was too hard and I don't have anyone to practice speaking with, so I gave up.  It's just a for fun language anyway.

It's a type of recognition.  You may be a very visual learner, so you see words on the page and part of how you remember them is the way the word looks.  So when you are writing, you know when it looks like what you have read, or if there is something different.

Welcome to the forum! This is a really fun place to discuss language learning experiences and tips.  Hope you like it here.

I would also say that Mandarin is becoming a very valuable language to know.  Although many Chinese people are learning English, the prominence of Chinese business in international trade would make it a good language to know if you are in the trade business, as it shows respect for your business partners there if you know some of their language as well.

I think French sounds the most sophisticated. I did not have an easy time learning that language in High School. Getting the pronunciation right is so hard, it's so subtle.

It is unfortunate that it is so expensive to take language classes though. I have thought about going back to continue my German studies, but I can't afford it. I also wanted to learn Swedish, but I can't afford to take those classes, and now I don't live in a city where it is taught.

I don't know of any off hand, but my teachers never taught us very many idiomatic expressions at all, which is quite unfortunate.  I think there are some metaphors that are used through any languages, but I am not sure. Western cultures do share quite a bit though.

How would you say rosetta stone compares to being in a group setting with an instructor? I feel like real interaction might be better than a computer program, but if a group is not an option, is this really an effective way to learn?

Am I correct that Malagasy is the language of Madagascar? If not I am sorry for my ignorance, but that language does sound very beautiful and fascinating.  I hope you are able to find someone to share it with soon.

My most effective language learning experience was in college, and I'm guessing I'm not alone here.  There are a lot of benefits to being in a class when learning a new language.

Would you ever go back to school to learn a language? Perhaps not to major in it and get a degree, but just to take language courses as a non-admitted student?

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I had totally forgotten about this site.  Now if only I had time to sit down and read and really work on my vocabulary!  Someday I hope I will have the free time to pick up my German studies in earnest again.  I will definitely look into that site and book mark it for when I have the time.

When I started German in college, one of my teachers, who was a graduate assistant, said when he decided to major in German there were a few people who thought that was weird and asked him if he was a Nazi.  I find that incredibly rude, but I have wondered from time to time if other people have gotten comments like that when people find out you are studying German.  I was in music, so it made more sense for me to study German, I guess some people think it is not a useful language outside the arts or something.

My guess is that the hours that tutors are wanted are really awkward for most American's. Probably really early in the morning or really late at night if most of the people wanting to do this are Asian, which I'm guessing they are.  I may still give this a try, but as yet I'm undecided.  I have another house cleaning job coming up soon so I'm feeling less desperate.

I have always heard it referred to as American sign language, so I assumed that means there are many different versions of it.  I am sure some form of sign language exists in every culture though.  Wherever there are deaf or hard of hearing people, they will find some way to communicate.

Ooh, online flashcards.  It's been a long time since I used flashcards.  I should get on there and try it out.  I need the practice.

I had to choose a foreign language in highs school, but they only offered French or Spanish, so I chose French. Then in college I had the opportunity to study German, which is what I wanted to study in the first place, so that's how I started that.  I was only able to take two years of it though, I couldn't afford the time or money to take the third year and graduate on time.

I don't know of anyone who teaches that language, in fact I have never heard it spoken before.  Now I am curious and want to look it up on youtube and see what it sounds like.  Laos is a fascinating country, I bet you have lots of family stories to share.

I agree, immersion is the fastest way to learn, but I think it is helpful to have a good bit of classroom or other study ahead of time so you have a foundation to work with.  I really wish I had had the opportunity to do an immersion program or trip to work on my language skills, but unfortunately for most Americans, the expense is too high.

Missionary work would be the biggest motivator for me.  If I was going on the mission field in another country I would work as hard as I could to learn the language and master it so I could tell the people there about Jesus and be clearly understood.  I wouldn't want the language barrier to hinder me.

I had a Russian music teacher for several years.  I really liked his accent a lot, but it didn't take long for me to stop noticing he had one.  I tend to not notice accents very much.  Once I get to know someone that all lumps together in my brain as simply part of the timbre of their voice.

I'm afraid I have yet to master a second language enough to even begin to understand idiomatic expressions, except to probably recognize when I was reading one because it did not make any sense to me.  Idiomatic expressions can be challenging to learn even in your native language if you encounter ones you have never heard before. In a foreign language it is even harder.

Once upon a time I was a musician and wanted to travel to Germany and Austria.  I have always liked the sound of the language, it is so expressive and I enjoyed understanding a bit of the lieder I was hearing.