KimmyMarkks

I took Latin for 4 years. One of the best parts of the class was learning about the culture of those who spoke it. My class was fortunate enough to go to Italy and visit the ruins of Pompeii. While I can't speak Latin very well I do remember a lot of the culture I learned and the class gave me opportunities to visit places I would never have been able to.

I think the easiest way to study for a foreign language is both to speak/listen and write it. I think in order to learn sentences flow and how to use a word in the past, present and future tense it is important to speak and listen to the language. On the other hand it is also important to learn how to spell and write sentences in different tenses, and therefore writing is extremely important, especially if you are getting graded on a written test.

Hands down I think learning Japanese, Chinese and Korean are some of the hardest languages to learn for an English speaking native, because these languages are so different then English. I think it is a lot easier for an English speaking native to learn one of the romantic languages (Spanish, Italian etc.) as opposed to an Asian or even Arabic language. These have very little similarities between them.

Has anyone every tired Rosetta Stone? I heard they are one of the best programs to really learn a new language. However, it is also very pricy. I want to make sure I am getting my money’s worth before purchasing it. There are so many online free study guides now I don’t know if it is worth it to just YouTube videos or actually buy a program.

For me the hardest part of learning a new language is learning all the different verbs. I find it easy to understand past, present and future tense. However, I feel that even if I were to study a language for years there would still be so many new verbs I would have to learn. In addition, the fact that two words in one language may be the same word in a different language.

It depends on the languages. I think for two languages that are very similar (Spanish and Italian) it is not beneficial because they are so similar it is easy to confuse the two. However, I studied Latin and Italia and I saw a lot of similarities between the two. I think that studying Latin really helped me understand how the Italian language was derived. I think it would be easier for people to study two very different languages such as Chinese and Italian then two languages that are more similar.

I think Latin is definitely the hardest language to learn, especially since it is not spoken anymore. It is a not a language that you can go study in a foreign country, but instead it is the root of all romantic languages. I firmly believe for those who are able to conquer this difficult language other romantic languages (Spanish and Italian) will come easy.

I don't think necessarily if someone is good at math they are bad at English. However, I do think most people have a stronger subject. I think I am pretty good at math (it is definitely my stronger subject) however, I am very bad at science. I am a Finance and Economic major, but ask me to take a chemistry class and I will fail miserably.

I took Latin in high school for 4 years. I still am unable to speak the language. I think the most beneficial part of taking Latin classes was how it helped me understand how the Spanish and Italian derives from it. I also have to say I believe it helped me on the word comp section of the SATs.

When I travel internationally I pick up a few words here and there, but there is never enough time for me to really learn a language; instead just a few phrases. I think the only way to really learn a language is to immerse yourself in their culture by living in the country. I know that many schools offer study abroad programs for language majors in which they live in someone's home. My cousin did this and she came back speaking the language fluently. Although she will say she learned more slang then proper Spanish. Quote

Yes, I 100% think those who learn a second or third language develop a certain skill. It is very hard for many people to learn a second language, especially student who get good grades in school. Learning a second language forces your brain to think a certain way, which I believe benefits you in other aspects of life. In addition, learning a language makes you more culturally aware

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The author's biography doesn't matter to me at all. However, I find myself reading books from the same several authors. I guess that I just like their writing style. A lot of times I don't even bother to read their biography, because it doesn't influence me once way or the other. However sometimes if I do read their biographic it makes me realize why they write a certain way. For example one of my favorite authors is Australian. After reading more about her it made sense why a good amount of her books looks place in Australia.

I agree that schools should teach languages from an early age. I think that by the time schools start teaching in in middle or high school it is too late to pick up. I know I have studied Spanish for 8+ years and still have a difficult time with it. I think that this not only is a vital part of a school's curriculum but also helps children develop learning skills from a young age.