Questions for linguaphiles

[cattiechaos]

This is a departure from the norm, but I didn't think anyone would mind if I asked a few questions to satisfy my own curiosity. Why are you a linguaphile? How many languages do you speak fluently, which are you learning, and why did you choose to learn them? On a related note, I feel that a major problem in many American high schools is that they

Comments

[jodete]

I only speak English. I love learning about languages though, and love linguistics which is why I'm in this community. I wish there was more encouragement to learn other languages here in Canada. We have to take French in school but it was not well-taught and I barely remember any of it.

I'm sort of trying to learn German, I'm not very good at sticking to my lessons though, I wish I had more motivation. I just think it's a lovely language, it would be incredibly useful, and I hope to travel in some German-speaking areas.

[cattiechaos]

Ah, it's too bad to hear that your French classes were not well taught :-( Having a good teacher really makes a difference, doesn't it? (And conversely, having a bad teacher too >>) At least Canada has two official languages, so its reputation looks better in my opinion. Then again, I think Canadians have one of the best reputations around :Db

I'm learning German too, and I agree that it's a lovely language! It sounds very intense.

[imps85]

I had a good teacher but my desire for french just wasnt that great(nevertheless I got average marks because I am more linguistically talented than any otherareas (like maths ) at school.
However as a consequence my speaking is very abysmal , and so is the ability to write a text in french , but I can read a french newspaper without much trouble. (reading vernacular however especially on facebook is not that easy) So I have got all the passive knowledge in my head , but not that much active one (and I still struggle to not confuse the conditionel with the and futur. or was it imparfait?(there you see I am crap xD) )

[beemo]

that's one of my problems with learning french in school. verb tenses/moods are so similar, you really need to learn them together to be able to differentiate.

[imps85]

that was the cours intensif too, so we have all tenses in a matter of 2 years. It doesnt help that they sound the same anyway xD

[tekalynn]

See if you can set yourself a small, but concrete, goal.

Is there a song in German you like? See if you can learn it well enough to understand the lyrics and sing along.

Watch German-dubbed cartoons on Youtube.

Is there a German-language writer you really like? Can you read a chapter in German? Bonus points if you want to argue with the English-language translation afterward. ; )

How would you order your favorite meal in German? Try writing a shopping list in German.

Get a book of German verbs, choose a verb at random, and copy out the conjugations. Pick out a noun in the dictionary and copy out the declensions. (Mark Twain: "I met a man who said he would rather decline two German beers than one German noun.)

Read German-language news online.

[di_glossia]

I completely agree with this and just to add:

Youtube has a massive amount of German music available, as do Amazon and iTunes. I find it best to find music in the same genres you enjoy in your native language and listen to it until you can sing along to the words. A good part of languages is being able to recognize words when you read or hear them. It's a lot easier to look up the definition to a word you already "know" than try to learn word and definition at the same time.

Project Gutenburg has a good selection of German ebooks. Many free German ebooks are available through Amazon Kindle or Barnes and Nobles.

Cartoons and TV shows are great. Netflix offers a small selection of German-language films with subtitles, as does Amazon. Youtube has some full films and plenty of clips, though those aren't exactly legal.

501 German Verbs is excellent for this (and German verbs aren't that bad: French is just as hard).

[jodete]

Perfect, thank you!

[muckefuck]

Here's a fun song I stumbled upon on YouTube just the other night:

[jodete]

Thank you, these are all great ideas, I'm seriously going to try the music one, and maybe read a book in German!

[iddewes]

Children's programmes can be good too - youtube has a bunch of Die Sendung mit der Maus - only you have to watch the Sachgeschichten because the bits with just the Maus in them don't have any talking, but the Sachgeschichten are quite cool, they are telling children about how things work, the language is quite simple and they are quite interesting too. ;)

[cattiechaos]

!!!!!!!
German children's programs!!!!

Now I have to tell you a horror story of mine XD
When I was in Austria, the television in my hotel would only play one thing: Bernd the Bread.
But as an American, I had absolutely no idea who Bernd the Bread is. First I thought he was a tofu, and then my roommate said maybe he is a brick.
We are a little bit traumatized by this experience ^^' He is a very grumpy bread, no?

/useless anecdote that I couldn't help but share u__u

[iddewes]

Nothing wrong with Die Sendung Mit Der Maus! ;) The Maus cartoons don't help with learning language but the Sachgeschichten are pretty good.

[jodete]

Thank you! I'll definitely check that out, I never would have thought to look for something like that.