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Learning a language entirely on the spot

 Language Learning Forum : Advice Center Post Reply
11 messages over 2 pages: 1
albysky
Triglot
Senior Member
Italy
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Joined 4387 days ago

287 posts - 393 votes 
Speaks: Italian*, English, German

 
 Message 9 of 11
04 October 2014 at 9:35am | IP Logged 
eyðimörk wrote:
"all the social interactions you can benefit from living in the country" is an extremely
varying factor. I live in France but I could easily go weeks without
any social interaction in French with a native speaker. I'm not saying that I do, but I want to drive
home the point that living in a country does next to nothing for creating social learning situations. It's
everything else that you do that matters (which includes successfully searching for social
situations, deciding to do things "the hard way" by finding things like housing, loans and work the native
way, etc.).


let 's put it this way :if you live in the country you are more likely to be able to create for yourself authentic
situations to use the language than if you did not live there . Having said that , I am well aware that it is no
silverbullet .
1 person has voted this message useful



tristano
Tetraglot
Senior Member
Netherlands
Joined 4046 days ago

905 posts - 1262 votes 
Speaks: Italian*, Spanish, French, English
Studies: Dutch

 
 Message 10 of 11
04 October 2014 at 12:46pm | IP Logged 
albysky wrote:

Agree , even though at the very beginning a newsspaper seems to me a bit intimidating , it would be more
about deciphering than reading . As for the tram , you must have bought your ticket somewhere , it can
already be a start :-)


hehe, in The Netherlands we have the OV-Chipkaart, a card that you buy from a machine and you recharge through
a machine :) Wrong example :D But I understood what you mean.
1 person has voted this message useful



shk00design
Triglot
Senior Member
Canada
Joined 4443 days ago

747 posts - 1123 votes 
Speaks: Cantonese*, English, Mandarin
Studies: French

 
 Message 11 of 11
04 October 2014 at 7:54pm | IP Logged 
The first and the last thing to point out is to make every effort to immerse yourself in another culture. I will
use the Chinese proverb 入鄉隨俗 (rùxiāngsuísú) lit. when you enter a village, follow local customs (when
you’re in Rome, do what the Romans do).

Once I was travelling in Taiwan on a summer exchange program. My roommates had relatives on the island so
on weekend mornings I would wander off to a local eatery nearby and order whatever was on the menu. After
that I would go shopping in small shops away from tourist attractions and do what Chinese shoppers love to
do: bargain. Next I would head to the video parlour and play like the locals.   

Recently I spent a few weeks in Hong Kong visiting. The big news of the day was something call: 地溝油 or
"gutter oil". The story was printed in the English edition of the "S. China Morning Post". After going through
the headlines, I would pick up the same story from 1 of the local dailies including 蘋果日報 (Apple), 太陽報
(The Sun), 明報 (Mingpao) or 星島 (Singdao). I'd lookup unknown words / phrases. Some Chinese from
overseas would pick up the news from a TV station because they have trouble with the characters. Now there
is the Internet for accessing editions of the news in other languages.

Finally, your attitude to learning. I find E. Asians in general (including Chinese, Japanese & Koreans) tend to
revere teachers. Much of the learning is done through people they considered to be "masters". In other words,
you can't progress on your own unless there is someone to guide you along the way. I listen to Chinese
programs on the radio. I know a lady who studied Spanish for at least 5 years but makes no effort to read
Spanish newspaper or watch Spanish broadcasts. A language is for daily communications and not confined to
the classroom.

Learning a language sufficiently can be done without leaving your own location like the polyglot Moses
McCormick. There must be effort to interact or make friends with other native speakers, listen to the radio,
watch TV programs, etc. to increase your exposure.

Edited by shk00design on 04 October 2014 at 8:01pm



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