They speak *faster* on the tape than Koreans do conversationally? That's incredible! I always get really frustrated when I study a language for a while, feel reasonably confident about expressing myself and then visit the country to be met with a wall of lightning-speed-syllable-swallowing talk. That being said, I'm the worst offender. Actually, studying other languages and all the related feelings of stupidity and embarrassment has made me a waaaay better teacher.
So you speak Korean, German and English? That's a pretty cool combination! I've considered learning German but I think next up is Arabic, which I am absolutely determined to learn, and maybe an ancient language, if i can find a cheap course. My brother reads philosophy in German... I hate him.
Its a shame that the courses aren't "living". Really, thats what I enjoy most about {the majority of} languages I study. Its especially frustrating when you can understand a native speaker but you can't reciprocate with the same naturalness..
Its fairly moot really because I hate reading things on-screen, but I figure it'll be handy to narrow down what I want to study next and while I'm searching out courses IRL. Its time to move on from romance languages!
[this comment turned in to an essay. You can tell this is what excites me!]
They speak *faster* on the tape than Koreans do conversationally? That's incredible! I always get really frustrated when I study a language for a while, feel reasonably confident about expressing myself and then visit the country to be met with a wall of lightning-speed-syllable-swallowing talk. yeah, that's my experience, too. german tapes tend to be this ponderously slow over enunciated production. germans speak 10000000x times fasters. and most of them don't speak "hoch deutsch" (the stuff they teach in foreign language courses).My brother reads philosophy in German... I hate him. this cracks me up!but I figure it'll be handy to narrow down what I want to study next good luck! (my list of languages to learn: italian, hindi, chinese, hawaiian, and spanish)
Yeah, in French if you wanna communicate with people under 50, or people other than diplomats, you have to unlearn lots and learn a huge new vocabulary. I was quite disappointed to realise the stock phrases I learned in school mean very little in conversation.
Italian is amazing! Learn it learn it learn it! Its really beautiful, its interesting, its a good base for other romance languages, and it isn't too difficult. Its one of those languages thats almost instantly usable for reading if nothing else. If I could [i can't] I'd do a degree in it! Let me know if/when you pick it up, I have a bunch of cool sites and other resources! Actually, if you can wait another 4 or 5 months, I'll be finished the course I'm doing now and I could send you the materials - basically 99% of an introductory uni course. I'm neurotic about books, so it would be like new! :)
Wow. Lots of exclamation points. I never expected to love it so much. I'm studying Spanish at the moment too, but to be honest, I'm not enjoying it. I don't know why [perhaps because my course materials aren't so good] but as useful as it is, and as many doors as it opens, I just can't get in to it. Its a real shame because I love the idea of being able to talk to a huge percent of the population with like 5 languages [Mandarin Chinese and Hindi are also on my list, although I have the sinking feeling I'll die before I learn them all, or never see daylight again].
So you speak Korean, German and English? That's a pretty cool combination! I've considered learning German but I think next up is Arabic, which I am absolutely determined to learn, and maybe an ancient language, if i can find a cheap course. My brother reads philosophy in German... I hate him.
Its a shame that the courses aren't "living". Really, thats what I enjoy most about {the majority of} languages I study. Its especially frustrating when you can understand a native speaker but you can't reciprocate with the same naturalness..
Its fairly moot really because I hate reading things on-screen, but I figure it'll be handy to narrow down what I want to study next and while I'm searching out courses IRL. Its time to move on from romance languages!
[this comment turned in to an essay. You can tell this is what excites me!]
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yeah, that's my experience, too. german tapes tend to be this ponderously slow over enunciated production. germans speak 10000000x times fasters. and most of them don't speak "hoch deutsch" (the stuff they teach in foreign language courses).My brother reads philosophy in German... I hate him.
this cracks me up!but I figure it'll be handy to narrow down what I want to study next
good luck! (my list of languages to learn: italian, hindi, chinese, hawaiian, and spanish)
Reply
Italian is amazing! Learn it learn it learn it! Its really beautiful, its interesting, its a good base for other romance languages, and it isn't too difficult. Its one of those languages thats almost instantly usable for reading if nothing else. If I could [i can't] I'd do a degree in it!
Let me know if/when you pick it up, I have a bunch of cool sites and other resources! Actually, if you can wait another 4 or 5 months, I'll be finished the course I'm doing now and I could send you the materials - basically 99% of an introductory uni course. I'm neurotic about books, so it would be like new! :)
Wow. Lots of exclamation points. I never expected to love it so much. I'm studying Spanish at the moment too, but to be honest, I'm not enjoying it. I don't know why [perhaps because my course materials aren't so good] but as useful as it is, and as many doors as it opens, I just can't get in to it. Its a real shame because I love the idea of being able to talk to a huge percent of the population with like 5 languages [Mandarin Chinese and Hindi are also on my list, although I have the sinking feeling I'll die before I learn them all, or never see daylight again].
ádh mór! [good luck!]
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spanish (learning)
khmer (phrase book stuff)
thai ((phrase book stuff))
vietnamese (phrase book stuff)
So. Um. You can tell where I'll be traveling to. :D
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