anna3101

I love old French comedies with Louis de Funès, they are cute and also funny. OSS 117 - is that also a comedy? I haven't heard about this one...

The cab driver turned to me and said

From what I've heard, language and maths are processed by the same (left) side of the brain, so theoretically speaking, those of us who are good with words should also be fine with formulas and equations. Or has the science found something new on the topic?

Hello Kitty-82, And welcome! Wish you the best of luck with both German and Spanish! Hope to see you around the forum. Ania

Hello Meow! Welcome! Nice to have you here Hope you enjoy your time on the forum. Cool avatar, by the way! Ania

Why do you think the claim is ridiculous? I think it's actually quite logical that if you enjoy whatever it is that you are learning to do, you'll proceed quicker and your motivation will be way better. Also, there's nothing wrong with choosing a language because you love it. That's the way I went with French and Polish, and it's probably no coincidence that those are also the ones I know better than others. And actually, Benny Lewis says the exact opposite - that he doesn't enjoy learning languages and to him it's just "means to an end" (http://www.fluentin3months.com/means-to-an-end/) Something that has always annoyed me about him. Can't help it - I do feel strongly about languages, so when someone says "There's no need to love them" or "Urgh, I hate them", I feel like a mother whose children just got a derisive look by a stranger. Going into "protect little ones at all costs" mode I am not saying that passionate linguistic feelings are a strict requirement if you want to master a language. But they help A LOT. The difference you see between people who like the language (doesn't matter for which reason - sound of it, culture, lots of friends etc) and dislike it is (sometimes for the very same reasons) is huge. I've seen it at school, at the uni and in various courses. Nobody can deny the fact that motivation is key, and loving the language is an excellent motivator.

Hi there, How long have you been working here = Wie lange arbeiten Sie schon hier? What will be my duties = Welche Aufgaben werde ich haben? I hope that's correct, let's wait for a native speaker to have a look BR, Ania

Hello David, One of the best sites for all German-learning issues is this: https://yourdailygerman.com/ It literally saved me when I had to start learning German cases two weeks ago. The guy explains things very thoroughly. You will find some explanations about present tense too: https://yourdailygerman.com/learn-german-online-course/ (look under "Essentials") Hope it helps. Ania

Hey, According to recent research, people who use the same words with similar frequency are much more likely to like each other and stay together. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-language-of-love/ What do you think of that? I'm a bit conflicted about this "news". While it is true that my partner and I "steal" words from each other and start using them, and probably our choice of words becomes quite uniform with time, I'm not sure if this can be any indicator of how much someone is invested in a relationship. I know couples who talk and behave in very similar way but are on the verge of divorce. Do you think that speaking "the same words" has such a great impact on relationships? I'd love to hear your opinions! Ania

Ich habe kürzlich mit Deutsch angefangen. Ich freue mich, dass ich neue Lieder entdecken kann. Es gibt so viele tolle Songs in deutscher Sprache. Besonders mag ich die alten Lieder (Marlene Dietrich, Zarah Leander, Hildegard Knef).

I've recently read an interesting article in Deutsche Welle which states that about 90% of European Internet users regularly browse the web in their native language only: http://www.dw.com/en/language-barrier-limits-european-internet-users-study-shows/a-15067034 What's your take on this? Personally, I think the Internet is where knowledge of as many languages as possible is absolutely essential. I feel that seeing only "your" linguistic corner of the web severely limits your experience. Let's share how writing/reading a foreign language/languages has helped you get a better experience of the online browsing. For me it's been hugely useful: - First and foremost, to get a better idea of what's really happening in the world. If you think there's no such think as propaganda in your country, think again Most of the news service have their own political or cultural biases. Of course, we'll never know what's really going on somewhere in point X unless we are there. However, when you can read about in various sites from various countries, you get a more accurate picture. It's incredibly just how differently various countries and sites describe certain events... and accompany them with different pictures.. and supplement videos to prove their point. - To find the file/image/piece of information you need, it has been tremendously helpful to look for the same key words in different languages. You can find things others won't, and you'll do much quicker and more easily, especially when it comes to something rare, not so popular, country-specific etc. - And you can also buy the things you need (sometimes even such things as rare medicine or a unique cd) and that are not available in your country (or available, but terribly overpriced). There are many online shops out there with only one language setup, and while google translate may help, it is of course much more convenient and efficient to be able to understand the content yourself. What are your experiences with using the Internet in multiple languages?

Are there books that you wish were translated into your native language? I have a lot of those. There are some excellent fiction and nonfiction books that I've read in English that I really enjoyed and I'm pretty sure my Polish and Russian friend would love too. Unfortunately, not all of them speak English, and the books have never been (and probably will never be) translated into Russian/Polish. Each time I keep thinking - why does it happen? Why so many really rubbish stuff gets to have a professional translation, but so many wonderful books never get the chance? Do you also have the same problem or is it easy to find the books you read in your native language's version?

I actually sort of like the European framework because, however subjective one's knowledge of a given language is, we do have to differentiate somehow, and I like knowing my approximate level. That said, I totally agree with most people here to pointed out to the difference between speaking/listening and writing/reading skills. It is a pity the framework does not distinguish between active and passive abilities. Personally, whenever I write a CV, I always specify that while I can read Italian or Spanish texts of B1 or even B2 level, my speaking ability is not far from A1, max A2. Taking "one average" would certainly save visual space in the document but doesn't really make any sense. For some jobs, an ability to read and write a language is actually enough, and I'd undermine my opportunity of getting it if I write A1, while in actual fact it's B1.

I've been in this situation a couple of times. Of course, I wouldn't dream of interrupting strangers with something like "Hey guys, please speak a bit more slowly, I'm trying to get what you're saying" However, if the people seem friendly and if it looks like they are in a situation where they may need some help (trying to find their way in my city, wanting to take a picture, having problems buying a ticket in the bus etc), then I normally say something like "Excuse me, would you like some help with....?" Most of the people are actually relieved someone speaks their language and wants to help. I've had some really nice conversations with foreigners this way. Also, I've been myself in some situations abroad where friendly help was invaluable for me. Seems like a fair exchange: you get to practise a bit of your dream language and native speakers get the help they need in a city/situation they don't know. Sometimes I've been brave enough to even venture onto "Excuse me, are from country X? I'm studying language X and it's so exciting to hear someone speak it". This lead to some really great conversations.

Hello Will, I would actually say 'étang avec des poissons', but I'm not a native speaker, so let's wait for someone to clarify this. BR, Ania

I'll share a method that worked really well for me in the past, back when there was almost no Internet and I did not have any opportunities to talk to French native speakers. I still use it occasionally with other languages. It is time-consuming but brings good results. I read a simple book in my target languages. It can be adapted (even better if it has questions after each chapter) or it can be original (but must be understandable for you). Then, after each page, or every 5 pages, or each chapter, I try to retell the content out loud. It helped me move from "I don't speak French at all" to "Yes, I can do it fairly fluently now" zone. Another thing that I've used is learning small texts / poems / songs by heart. The words and expressions get firmly stuck in your head and make it easier to start talking.

I just start my first attempts of talking with non-natives. I find it easier to talk with learners that, just like me, make mistakes. Later on, when I acquire more vocabulary and know more grammatical structures, I can venture real-life conversations with native speakers

Hello Piccadilly, Welcome to the forum! We are glad to have you back You are lucky to be a native speaker of German. I find it so incredibly complicated Ania

It may be difficult to learn English for some of us, but then again, it works vice versa too For me, German is the biggest struggle. Word order. Complex words. Conjugations. Declinations. Articles. Urgh. I'm suffering, I really am. It's complicated, there's a lot of it and it feels like you will never ever be able to say a single phrase without first thinking about all endings in your head for at least a minute!

You can't always change the order, there are certain accepted ways of where to put what, however, there a lot of cases when you can do so without even affecting the meaning. Which is probably the reason why I find languages like German to be such a huge struggle. Word order is killing me

No, haven't heard that one - will definitely check it out, thanks!

I hope your health gets better soon. When I'm having health problems (I have my own bunch, as you can guess :D), I keep telling myself there are people with the same issues as me, and if they can go on, then I can do it too. it helps a bit. A good doctor is also a must. My life totally changed for the better once I found a good specialist. Basia is not Siamese. She is a normal cat, no special breed. Maar natuurlijk ze is heel speciaal voor mij

That's so cute! Definitely will try it!

@OmniHead The subject interests me too. I didn't put the books that influenced me in here because I know that some people frown upon "spritual/occult" stuff and I didn't want to offend anyone. But I'm glad you mentioned it, it's good to know I'm not the only one out there

Hello Esteban, Welcome to the forum! Hope to see you join our discussions Ania