Sunja Diglot Senior Member Germany Joined 6113 days ago 2020 posts - 2295 votes 1 sounds Speaks: English*, German Studies: French, Mandarin
| Message 57 of 77 22 July 2008 at 5:41am | IP Logged |
Iversen wrote:
in the case I mentioned it would be the region those native speakers were representing. |
|
|
Yes, that would be ideal.
That's great that you travel. I suppose the best place for me to be with (Japanese)natives would be Düsseldorf -- large Japanese culture base there. I'd like to go when I'm ready.
I've also thought about going to an "Informationsabend" of the foreign language department of the local university about 20 minutes away. I could have a dialogue with the teacher, who's a native. My intent would be to just talk, and not take one of her classes ;)
Edited by Sunja on 22 July 2008 at 5:46am
1 person has voted this message useful
|
DaraghM Diglot Senior Member Ireland Joined 6179 days ago 1947 posts - 2923 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: French, Russian, Hungarian
| Message 58 of 77 22 July 2008 at 6:56am | IP Logged |
leosmith wrote:
Different people have different success rates with different language products, methods, techniques, etc. |
|
|
This can also apply to the same person, using different techniques with their target languages. I'm currently learning my target languages, in a few different ways, and I'll find out which works best.
Spanish - Currently learning the grammar through Spanish, and I'm really liking this method. This would be the approach taken by the Cervantes Institute, and others.
French - Using Assimil, reading aloud, and conversations with my French speaking girlfriend.
Russian - Using Michel Thomas Advanced Russian which concentrates on active production, with a very limited vocabulary. Also, it's not really that advanced at all, but generally I like this technique.
Hungarian - Almost pure listening, and comprehension, also with Assimil. Apart from shadowing, I haven't attempted to speak or construct Hungarian sentences. My aim here is to understand a lot, before any attempt at speaking.
leosmith wrote:
Much more useful is the theory that different people learn differently, because it implies that it's a good idea to try different things to determine what works best for you. |
|
|
A couple of years, and many language products later, I still haven't made up my mind on this. I fear, the newness of a method or product, can be very motivating, but very expensive in the long run.
Edited by DaraghM on 22 July 2008 at 6:57am
1 person has voted this message useful
|
Cainntear Pentaglot Senior Member Scotland linguafrankly.blogsp Joined 6039 days ago 4399 posts - 7687 votes Speaks: Lowland Scots, English*, French, Spanish, Scottish Gaelic Studies: Catalan, Italian, German, Irish, Welsh
| Message 59 of 77 22 July 2008 at 8:33am | IP Logged |
DaraghM,
You are one of those ideal cases that demonstrates one of the core problems with multiple intelligence theory and learning styles in general: effective learners can learn from any technique, so the fact that someone passes a course doesn't prove that the technique is sound -- it may just be that the student is an effective learner!
1 person has voted this message useful
|
leosmith Senior Member United States Joined 6578 days ago 2365 posts - 3804 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Tagalog
| Message 60 of 77 22 July 2008 at 4:20pm | IP Logged |
Sunja wrote:
I would prefer that to Skype, simply for the reason that I need more than just a naked voice to interact with. Face-to-face gives me a lot more information to work with -- gestures, facial expressions, etc.. |
|
|
I also prefer face-to-face. But for me it's a toss-up as to whether it's easier. The anonymity/security of being safe at home using skype makes up for the facial espressions/gestures of face-to-face to some degree.
1 person has voted this message useful
|
J-Learner Senior Member Australia Joined 6058 days ago 556 posts - 636 votes Studies: Yiddish, English* Studies: Dutch
| Message 61 of 77 24 July 2008 at 6:47pm | IP Logged |
Cainntear, I was never intending to call you a fool. Sorry if you felt that way. I don't think there needs to be this kind of thing. I am all about the learning. :)
I know there are many ways to learn things. That is what I have witnessed. We can all simply pass that off as subjective and unworthy, that does not bother me really. I learn many different things in many different ways. So for me it works. That is what matters to me. I'm certainly not here to tell others that the must work only in certain ways because it fits with what I have to say. (Not accusing you of doing that either.) No need to convince anyone of it. I guess the evidence is one's proficiency in the skill/subject area.
Route memorization I find to be the best for memorizing poetry. Many dismiss it as useless. Perhaps it is for them. I don't know, I can only study for myself and not for others. lol
But anything I say from now on is going to show my apparent ignorance and closed mindness so I guess it is time to shut up. I'm not here for a battle.
Edited by J-Learner on 24 July 2008 at 6:50pm
1 person has voted this message useful
|
pitwo Diglot Senior Member Canada Joined 6187 days ago 103 posts - 121 votes Speaks: French*, English
| Message 62 of 77 24 July 2008 at 10:30pm | IP Logged |
You know, I think people here are making things difficult for nothing.
In the end, all that matters in the acquisition of a skill (in this case, language) is the time invested toward such a goal. Language came to man before the wheel. There's something that tells me speaking a language is much simpler than understanding the principles of the wheel..
Really, it seems to me that we're trying to move an arm by analyzing molecules rather than first trying to move a finger.
So, yeah: just go read a book or do something that involves the target language. You'll be fluent before you know it.
1 person has voted this message useful
|
pitwo Diglot Senior Member Canada Joined 6187 days ago 103 posts - 121 votes Speaks: French*, English
| Message 64 of 77 25 July 2008 at 12:17am | IP Logged |
Sybaritic wrote:
pitwo wrote:
You know, I think people here are making things difficult for nothing.
In the end, all that matters in the acquisition of a skill (in this case, language) is the time invested toward such
a goal. Language came to man before the wheel. There's something that tells me speaking a language is much
simpler than understanding the principles of the wheel..
Really, it seems to me that we're trying to move an arm by analyzing molecules rather than first trying to move
a finger.
So, yeah: just go read a book or do something that involves the target language. You'll be fluent before you
know it. |
|
|
Ahh. So all of the advice of Professor Arguelles is useless then. Why even have this site?
Thanks for clearing that up.
|
|
|
Useless? Certainly not.
On the other hand, I doubt such information could have been useful to you when you were still acquiring English. I'm pretty sure you got to fluency rapidly, anyway.
1 person has voted this message useful
|