Yay, another language disussion

[dieastra]

My friend sagestreet recently wrote a very interesting post at Tumblr - you can read the original here: http://sagestreet.tumblr.com/post/85162789977/tiesandtea-sagestreet-kissedbyflames-iI am also copying it into here since we had the same

Comments

[cowgrrl]

This makes a lot of sense. Where I live in the US I'm really not exposed to any other languages besides English. I'm also someone who does not learn languages easily. I do enjoy learning a few phrases before traveling though (though Polish looks so challenging I may not even try with that one!)

When I discovered Wise Guys suddenly I was wanting to know German! I've tried unsuccessfully to find their song lyrics on the internet, though I haven't looked recently.

[dieastra]

Oh right! I totally forgot that somewhere I still have a message from you I always wanted to reply to and send you more Wise Guys videos. That is so cool that you know them! I have been to many concerts. Next time you come to Dresden, we'll have to match it with a concert! Wouldn't that be cool? They are always really wonderful experiences

[cowgrrl]

Ooh, thank you for the links! After watching "Denglish" I found one that should properly prepare me for train travel in Germany this summer. :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXjhszy2f9w

[dieastra]

Haha yes! That's another very good song. And so spot on. Mind you, that is not an official video! So the parts in the beginning, with the train messages, are not on the original song. When this video came out, the song hadn't even been released on CD yet. So someone who actually works for the studio must have sneaked it out. But the Wise Guys loved the video so much, they actually uploaded it on their own page. Hope you are able to understand the lyrics with the translation!

And I should not forget to order that miniature uniform in time before you travel.

[geekslave]

Interesting discussion. I've wanted to learn a lot of languages, but have never really taken the time to do it.

I didn't realize how much Germans, and probably other places, were exposed to English. I definitely makes sense that being exposed to the language that often would make it easier to learn it. I used to watch a German soap opera, still do occasionally, and after awhile there were certain phrases that I could pick out what they meant without the subtitles.

Stacey

[sharp2799]

Okay, you've made me feel better! LOL

[jackwabbit]

I never thought about this. Good point.

[x_erikah_x]

That's so true. As an English teacher myself, it's a lot easier to teach students who have a degree of interest in something, be it music, TV shows, or books, they always find a way to apply what they've learned into it and thus they end up practicing for the love of what they like and not for the sake of studying.

Being bombarded with English everyday is making it harder and harder to find absolute beginners in class. A lot of students who come into the school already have some degree of knowledge and don't need to start from the very beginning.

Also, I tried learning Italian but failed miserably, not only because I have little time but because of the little exposure I have to the language I always end up forgeting everything after a few weeks without practicing.