• Language Learning - Parlez-Vous français?
    760 replies, posted
If you don't have the drive to learn the language. You aren't going to learn it. For you, Mandarin is still a viable option, due to your fascination with China. If you wish to travel outside the major cities. Mandarin is pretty much mandatory. However, if you're going to go to the big tourist attractions, stay in the big cities like a travelling Plebeian go for Korean. But that's assuming you have a drive to explore the "real" China. On flip side, if Korean still fascinates you more, go for it! I tend to get swooned by languages i come across. To date, i've made plans to learn: Japanese, Swedish, Mandarin, Esperanto, German, Spanish, Russian, Khmer and Thai. The only two that has really stuck around was German and Japanese. So i'm starting that this year. (German, not Japanese) Just making sure you aren't getting glassy eyes. Step back, if your interest has been there for more then a month or two, go for it. Otherwise you'll waste precious money on programs and the like. [b][u]CRUCIAL FUCKING ADVICE TIME[/u][/b] A habit takes 30 days to form. 30 straight days. No gaps. Nope. Nada. If you can keep the pressure on and do 1 hour a day for thirty days, you'll stop forcing yourself to do it, and you'll just do it. One missed session is bad. Make sure to squirm an hour in your day were-ever. Math, i can't help you much on Korean. It's language isolate, unpopular to learn, difficult as fuck. I push this constantly but [url=http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/e/index.html]How to learn any language[/url] is the best resource on the net. They are extremely helpful to newbies too. I you're wondering about how other have fared with Korean, some users put up learning logs, with lists of materials and the like. Good luck with Korean man.
[QUOTE=The Aussie;39129872] Step back, if your interest has been there for more then a month or two, go for it. Otherwise you'll waste precious money on programs and the like. [b][u]CRUCIAL FUCKING ADVICE TIME[/u][/b][/QUOTE] Guess I'm pretty safe with Japanese then. ;) Interested for years now, and consume their media basically every day.
I've been sort of ashamed I've been living in Hong Kong so long and still can't do much in Chinese. Basically I've been stuck in the dilemma of putting my language learning efforts toward Cantonese or Mandarin, and as a result I haven't done either. I did one Mandarin course in university, so it would be natural to continue with that, but to be honest I find it a rather annoying language to listen to. Cantonese is nicer sounding and therefore I would probably enjoy speaking it more too, but I have no education in it and I've heard it's more difficult. Japanese I like speaking and also had an easier time learning.
[QUOTE=laval;39130086]I've been sort of ashamed I've been living in Hong Kong so long and still can't do much in Chinese. Basically I've been stuck in the dilemma of putting my language learning efforts toward Cantonese or Mandarin, and as a result I haven't done either. I did one Mandarin course in university, so it would be natural to continue with that, but to be honest I find it a rather annoying language to listen to. Cantonese is nicer sounding and therefore I would probably enjoy speaking it more too, but I have no education in it and I've heard it's more difficult. Japanese I like speaking and also had an easier time learning.[/QUOTE] Where did you move to Hong Kong from?
[QUOTE='Rain [Amber];39130114']Where did you move to Hong Kong from?[/QUOTE] Canada Hey, I'm going to Singapore the day after tomorrow. Anyone learning Singlish :v:
I'm going to HK in a few months, add me on steam and we'll practice canto
[QUOTE=Mr. Epicness;39128164]You should add [URL="http://lang-8.com/"]Lang-8[/URL] to the OP, it's very useful for practicing and you also help other people.[/QUOTE] IMHO the OP can use a list of Facepunchers who want to be contacted for random steam chats or what not in one of the languages they learn.
[QUOTE=laval;39130202]Canada Hey, I'm going to Singapore the day after tomorrow. Anyone learning Singlish :v:[/QUOTE] Going to Singapore to live or? :v:
[QUOTE=Druk bezig;39130461]IMHO the OP can use a list of Facepunchers who want to be contacted for random steam chats or what not in one of the languages they learn.[/QUOTE] That would make the OP too big I think, maybe a pastebin or something of the sort would be better?
[QUOTE=Disseminate;39130452]I'm going to HK in a few months, add me on steam and we'll practice canto[/QUOTE] What are you coming for? I haven't really studied Cantonese so I wouldn't have much to practice. [QUOTE='Rain [Amber];39130732']Going to Singapore to live or? :v:[/QUOTE] Nope just visiting a friend. Can't wait!
[QUOTE=Mr. Epicness;39130880]That would make the OP too big I think, maybe a pastebin or something of the sort would be better?[/QUOTE] A nicely formatted image would be the best IMO. Could make it look nice, and just thumb the image in the OP post.
[QUOTE=Daniellynet;39131104]A nicely formatted image would be the best IMO. Could make it look nice, and just thumb the image in the OP post.[/QUOTE] Good idea, but who'll make it?
[QUOTE=laval;39130881]What are you coming for? I haven't really studied Cantonese so I wouldn't have much to practice.[/QUOTE] International exchange. I don't know much either but I still haven't found anyone else that's willing to be a language buddy :[ [editline]7th January 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Mr. Epicness;39131146]Good idea, but who'll make it?[/QUOTE] I'll do it if everyone PMs me their language.
Disseminate, you might want to head into each Language thread asking for native speakers. Thanks for this by the way.
Hope I don't get banned for spamming, but done. I didn't put anything in Norwegian, Swedish or Russian as they seem to be more full of native speakers than learners.
[QUOTE=Disseminate;39132760]International exchange. I don't know much either but I still haven't found anyone else that's willing to be a language buddy :[ [/QUOTE] Which school? I'm at CUHK! I really should get the Cantonese basics down at least. I bought a pretty Hong Kong-centric book called "Cantonese for Everyone" written by someone at HKU, so I'll start that.
HKU. What university are you from in Canada? (this is too cool)
I just realised people complain about not having the "accent" of the language they're learning, and because of [i]that[/i] they don't sound like a native speaker. Imo as long as you know the language fine and can speak with no errors, why the heck should you worry about accent? I'm Australian but if I ever go to America I'm not going to try and put on an American accent for the sake of it. So people will know you're not from that country but does it matter if you can still speak it perfectly :v:?
[QUOTE=Disseminate;39142084]HKU. What university are you from in Canada? (this is too cool)[/QUOTE] I graduated from Dalhousie. You? Do you get to live in residence? I've never actually been up to HKU, never bothered to climb that far...
UWO, and yeah I'm gonna hopefully be living on campus. The brochure book thing says that slots are limited though. I'd prefer living on campus because of how dirt cheap it is compared to rooming in an apartment but I'll take what I can get :v:
On request. [b]HOW I LEARNED TO ROLL MY R'S - A LOVE STORY[/b] A year and a half ago, I was listening to Rammstein and trying to sing along. As it happens, this song had a bunch of rolling r's and it was that moment that I discovered that no matter what I did, I couldn't roll my R's. So I spent the next year watching every video on YouTube and reading every tutorial possible. The key, quite honestly, is just practice. If you just casually, while you're walking outside, or doing something monotonous, just continually keep trying to roll your R's, something will click eventually. While I can't give a step by step tutorial and a definite way to learn your trill right away, I can certainly try to help. Coming from someone who taught themselves to roll an R, it might be easier for you to take tips from me than someone who has been able to do it from a young age. [b]AUDIO VERSION - very helpful, showing you the actual sounds and the evolution of them from throat to tongue[/b] [url]https://soundcloud.com/zack-murray/rolling-r-tutorial[/url]
There's no way in hell it's this hard to roll Rs.
If there's anyone in Levels 1 or 2 or even 3 German and wants some extra help/pointers/a bit of tutoring, just let me know. German is a passion of mine.
Lmao when I was little my Dad was speaking Indonesian and was rolling his Rs, then I thought it sounded funny and copied it instantly :v: I HAD A SUPER HARD TIME LEARNING TO ROLL RS
I've always been able to roll my R's...
I just kind of stumbled into making the sound for german. You could have a native speaker work with you to help you do it too.
I can't roll my R's for [B]anything[/B]. It sucks :(
Taking French at school, using Akai, and also taking advantage of Pimsleur. (trying to learn French as fast as possible, mostly to challenge myself)
Why isn't Turkish in the OP? It's pretty common, and decently easy to learn.
My school is Turkish, but full of Mexicans, it's hilarious.
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.