← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · All Old Right
Thread ID: 14393 | Posts: 9 | Started: 2004-07-01
2004-07-01 21:54 | User Profile
I see that as a survival tool. Learning Spanish and French would be particularly handy around here. Anyone here learn a second language as an adult? How did you go about it? I was going to order a foreign service course, then find a local speaker. How much time is the average to learn to function in a different language? Any suggestions? Yep, going to try and learn Spanish first, after I clean up my English.
[url]http://www2.ignatius.edu/faculty/turner/languages.htm[/url] Interesting link on influential language.
2004-07-01 22:41 | User Profile
[QUOTE=All Old Right]I see that as a survival tool. Learning Spanish and French would be particularly handy around here. Anyone here learn a second language as an adult? How did you go about it? I was going to order a foreign service course, then find a local speaker. How much time is the average to learn to function in a different language? Any suggestions? Yep, going to try and learn Spanish first, after I clean up my English.
[url="http://www2.ignatius.edu/faculty/turner/languages.htm"]http://www2.ignatius.edu/faculty/turner/languages.htm[/url]
Interesting link on influential language.[/QUOTE] As for French, the French government has an organization called Alliance Frances which gives courses in most major cities. I know there is one in Atlanta, but not sure about other smaller southern cities. They have very good courses with native instuctors.
However, if you can travel, go to the country whose language you want to learn, and take a course there. If you want to learn Spanish, the school in Salamanca, Spain is the best there is. But don't just go to class and socialize with your classmates. All you will do is sit around and speak English all the time. Instead,on Friday, go down to the train station ALONE, and look on the map and find the name of any small village that is about 50 or so miles away and ask for a ticket to this place. When you arrive find the cheapest hotel you can find near the center of town. You won't have any problems finding a room because no tourists have ever been to this place. After you check in go to a nice restaurant that is favored by the locals, and then afterward to to a bar favored by the locals also. Get a bit tipsy, but not falling down in the dirt drunk. Believe me, you will be speaking Spanish before you even realizing it, and carrying on some rather indepth conversations also.
If you have to use the language you most definitely will. In a village like this one, very few people speak English, and those few aren't barflies. Alcohol breaks down the inhibitions, and most folks in small towns the world over are good people. This set of circumstances really helps facilitate the learning of another language. I know this from personal experience.
Also, the tuition for these overseas classes are pretty cheap. In France the government heavily subsidizes 'em, and I think it is the same for most other countries in Europe also.
2004-07-02 00:28 | User Profile
GC: That was a major score. Thanks. The Alliance Frances is all over the place. [url]http://www.afusa.org/[/url] I'd like to find a Spanish equivalent.
2004-11-03 23:34 | User Profile
GaConfed's advice is right on. But remember language skills differ from individual to individual. Few Spanish speak English, and immersion is total and tough for many. A good way to spend a few months. Spanish people are clean, formal and not as politcally correct as many of the other Euros.
2004-11-04 01:19 | User Profile
Like I said before, the very young should learn chinese for business and spanish for the hire help.
My hobby is languages and after learning 7 of them all that I can tell you is that you should do the same.
Many times when I travel to a foreign land they don't know that I understand what they are saying and it is a lot of fun.
Believe it or not my English did inproved about 60% thanks to my postings at this site.
Out here in the woods with no one around is kind of hard to use it in order to practice, so, sometimes I talk to myself hahahahaahahah.
Something good about languages is that at my age it keeps my mind alert.
2004-11-04 04:05 | User Profile
French is a dead language in America. America has aligned itself against France. French people are sophisticated, and so are the Negroes like the Haitians who speak French. America is all about Espanol. If you choose to bring your mind down to their level, then you should learn Spanish. It is a horrid language, and has no redeeming values at all. The cream rose to the top many years ago. The French language is like poetry in motion. It is very beautiful. It is musical. I have no desire to denegrate myself by " learning " Spanish. To me, it rolls against my bones. It sounds terrible. I get a headache every time I hear it automatically.
2004-11-04 06:17 | User Profile
The best way to learn a foreign language in a hurry is to attend a Berlitz school. The course is incredibly effective but quite expensive.
2004-11-04 06:32 | User Profile
Deo? the Spanish language that you hear here is terrible, even to me, the real Spanish when spoken the right way in nice to hear and pleasent.
But I'll tell you this much, when ever I go to Cuba to visit my father I have one half brother that I don't understand him at all, is like if he was talking Chinese.
I was told that I talk Spanish like and American hahahahaha funny.
2004-11-04 14:00 | User Profile
I learned French in high school and I've never stopped studying the language 20+years later. I recommend taking adult classes in community college, listening to CD's, watching foreign language movies, and speaking it out loud to yourself, and try to find someone who speaks the language to practice conversation.
It might be frowned upon here in America, but French people are some of the best people I've ever known. They're hated in America because of the Zionist media and the old hatred that Jews have for the French; yes it's that simple. The Media has convinced millions of American Whites and non-whites that France is an outright enemy. Nevermind that they are racial brethren to White people! France competes with America for cultural influence, yes, but if America responds to competition like they are now, then America is nothing but an overgrown crybaby.
I'm glad I'm fluent because it may come to pass that I'll need to leave the US. Study any "Old" European language if you can....you just might need it in the future.