KimmyMarkks

I know Chinese (Mandarin) has become increasingly common in the business world. That being said a lot of colleges and universities are begging to teach it. I always thought it was one of the harder languages to learn especially since my primarily language is English.

Learning a foreign language takes not only time but extreme dedication. I've take a few different languages in school but it was hard to continue once the class is over. The language wasn't commonly spoken around me so it was hard to keep up with it. I ended up giving up, I can still understand a few works and sentences but am unable to speak it.

One of the hardest parts of learning another language is understanding the different tenses. Past, present and future. Different languages have different rules. The Italian language is easy in that you just change the end of the word. However, I know for many other languages it is just more complicated. Does any one have any ticks for understanding different tenses in certain languages?

I always thought Europeans as a whole eat later. I had a friend who went to France and said she was the only one in the restaurant before 10pm. I feel like in the US people tend to eat earlier like 6-7pm. Those seem to be the most crowded restaurant times. What do you think? I prefer to eat earlier as I don't like going to bed on a full stomach.

I give credit to those who can teach them-self another language. It takes a lot of time and dedication to study something that intense by motivating yourself. I personally have to learn in a classroom where I can ask someone questions and have a person there to help correct and guide me when necessary. I need to have an incentive to sit there and study or do homework, such as submitting it to the professor. However overalls my biggest thing is having someone there that can help correct my pronunciation of words.

I would think that mandarin is the most common language spoken through out the world but I could be wrong. English is probably the most common language taught and learned globally. English is also the most common language used for business.

For me the only way to sustain a language is to constantly speak it in my everyday environment. I can't just study something then remember it without using it even if I study everyday. I think the best way to become better and more fluent is to practice speaking and listening to a foreign language daily. Reading books or articles in the foreign language also helps.

This is a good question! I wonder too. I know that its important to constantly speak and interact in a language you are trying to learn. I feel like playing games in it would really help to understand it better. What are some of the most effective game apps?

I think its important to learn languages at a younger age. I learned in my teens and had a difficult time with it. Its also important for people to speak it often so they don't forget. Learning a language that isn't spoken commonly may be harder for someone to keep up with then a language that they see and hear everyday. I still remember a little of what I learned but not nearly enough to hold a serious conversation.

Thanks this is good to know. I don't know many people who speak Dutch. I always though French was one of the more difficult languages to learn. I know that if you know Spanish, Portuguese or Italian the other ones are easier to learn.

I always mix up the numbers in Spanish and Italian. I studied both for a while and would constantly mix them up. Even today I have to think about it carefully before I say or spell a number to make sure it is in the correct language.

Since Latin is not spoken anymore what do you think are the benefits of learning the language? I've heard that a foundation in Latin helps to learn other Romance Languages? What do you think? I was also told that it can help with the English section of many standardized tests such as the SATs. Does anyone know the other benefits of learning this language?

I wouldn't recommend using google translate. Many online translations (usually free ones) aren't capable of translating full sentences. They are good if you need a specific word but they don't understand grammar which often causes the sentences they provide to not make sense at all. The best thing to do would be to get someone to translate for you, someone who is fluent in the language.

I think with many things one way to motivate is to send an end goal. So in the case learning a new language may be necessary for a trip to a country that speaks the language. Small achievements and goals along the way also helps. For example leaning 20 new words a month can be a motivating factor.

I studied a foreign language for 8 years and today cannot speak much of it. I think one of the key aspects to becoming fluent is being surrounded by people speaking the language. It's hard to become fluent when you are speaking your native tongue more then the language you are trying to learn.