Language training - Page 2

ld08 · 09-18-2009, 07:21

I just read an article in the university newspaper about a new method for learning languages, with a website called livemocha.com . They have online classes, from a brief glance, which resemble the rosetta stone software pretty closely. Its free which is the best part, and there is a social networking aspect that allows you to use people who speak the language fluently as sort of a mentor. Here is the attached article, see what you think..

http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/...ners-1.1881237

systaltic · 09-21-2009, 13:42

If that doesn't help... do your homework and go to every tutoring session. If I got through Korean, anyone can pass language training.

greenberetTFS · 09-21-2009, 22:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by systaltic

If that doesn't help... do your homework and go to every tutoring session. If I got through KOREAN, anyone can pass language training.

systaltic,

Never reveal the language you've learn.......... See the reason below........

Detweiler is learning a language which, for security reasons, cannot be revealed.

“If people knew what language Derek is learning, they might have some idea of where he will be sent,” Mrs. Detweiler explained.

Big Teddy

rwt_bkk · 03-22-2010, 02:16

BUMP

Here is a resource to take in your ruck - it is a way of learning a language (and a bit of culture). Called the LAMP method it was developed to teach people how to learn a language on their own without a teacher while in a foreign country. Great book used by a lot of missionaries to learn unwritten languages.

L.A.M.P. Language Acquisition Made Pratical ISBN 0-916636-00-3 by Brewster.

SidewalkOfDoom · 06-08-2010, 09:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Defend

I'm curious if any of the BTDTs can speak regarding to the efficiency of Amia vs. Fusha in an operational environment.

From my personal interactions in the Middle East, speaking Fusha is a) automatically perceived to be political (/formal) b) not conducive to relaxed conversation.

When I use Amia on the streets, even when not dialect specific (for example in the conjugations using أتكلم, لا أعرف vs ما بعرف ,بتكلم) barriers come down and the questions shift from leading questions (sometimes outright accusations) and negative political statements, moving to questions about my family and generally friendly relations.

Unfortunately the obvious downside is when you get into the dialect specific words and phrases and it turns out you're talking to somebody from another region. Why can't all ME countries just have one language again?

You should try speaking to North Africans, even native Arabic speakers (from Egypt to the Gulf) can't understand their dialects.

What I did was first learn Modern Standard Arabic with this beast of a grammar book: http://www.amazon.com/Reference-Gram...6010315&sr=8-1 and a Teach Yourself Arabic book and CDs. I wanted to speak MSA extremely well so I even learned how to use the grammatical cases and all 12 pronouns that most Arabs don't even know how to use. The grammatical cases are the -u(n), -i(n), or a(n) at the end of words.

After I became comfortable with MSA I started to learn Gulf Arabic, which I've heard is the dialect most similar to MSA. You should still be learning MSA while also learning Gulf.

Hopefully after I get comfortable with Gulf Arabic I'll start learning Egyptian Arabic which is without a doubt the most widely understood dialect.

I also have heard from people who studied abroad that speaking MSA will get you funny looks, but I've never heard of them being rude or overly suspicious of them. They also went to Amman and Cairo if that makes any difference.

Irish_Army01 · 06-09-2010, 04:32

Anyone using commercial based programs like Rosetta Stone?

I'm considering getting this program.

**The Reaper** · 06-09-2010, 04:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irish_Army01

Anyone using commercial based programs like Rosetta Stone?

I'm considering getting this program.

How many hits do you think you get if you search for Rosetta Stone here?

TR

Irish_Army01 · 06-09-2010, 05:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Reaper

How many hits do you think you get if you search for Rosetta Stone here?

TR

My Bad.

SidewalkOfDoom · 06-09-2010, 12:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irish_Army01

Anyone using commercial based programs like Rosetta Stone?

I'm considering getting this program.

I would only get it as a supplement to a textbook. Rosetta doesn't teach you grammar, which is a major aspect of any language.

Irish_Army01 · 06-09-2010, 16:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by SidewalkOfDoom

I would only get it as a supplement to a textbook. Rosetta doesn't teach you grammar, which is a major aspect of any language.

Roger that.. Thank you.

Green Light · 06-10-2010, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by SidewalkOfDoom

I would only get it as a supplement to a textbook. Rosetta doesn't teach you grammar, which is a major aspect of any language.

There's a difference between language and language arts. Grammar is language arts. Being able to point to a direct object or knowing the difference between the subjunctive, accusative, genitive, and dative cases have little to do with communication, IMO.

dividebyzero · 06-12-2010, 11:10

For Arabic language learners, I'd recommend these two resources:

http://arabic.desert-sky.net
Lots of grammar, vocabulary, idioms, and other helpful resources for learers of Fusha and ECA (Egyptian Colloquial Arabic.) I've been using this site to make up flashcards, and it's been extremely helpful.

http://al3arabiya.blogspot.com/
This site also contains a lot of resources, including pdf copies of many of the textbooks listed earlier in this thread. This also contains a variety of dialects, including Fusha, ECA, Levantine, and Maghrebi Arabic.

I hope others find this useful. It's certainly been helpful for me.

brokenvan · 06-12-2010, 20:32

One of the best ways I have found to learn new vocabulary and terminology is to read the news. I use the BBC site. They have the news in 32 different languages, and at the same time gives news from that region or country. Definitely one of the better ways I've found to see how the language is actually used.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/languages/index.shtml

Nightfall · 06-24-2010, 19:07

If I may be so bold as to offer yet another resource...

In my experiences in Central America, I tried books, crappy tapes and so on. I finally found this set of tapes which helped me recall better than any of the others I had come across:

http://www.pimsleurdirect.com/

It essentailly trains you on typical conversations that may be had so that in the end you think in the language instead of trying to recall specific words. It helped me build a vocabulary quickly and more of an understanding than my basic textbooks or other programs. It will not prepare you for the various dialects or accents you will encounter, but it will definately help you build a foundation by listening to native speakers and being able to break down what they are saying. Kind of pricey, but well worth it and they have a myriad of languages to choose from. It was really quite helpful to me, so I thought I would share.

kawika · 07-07-2010, 14:24

If your already around at least a 1+ reading level installing the google toolbar helps. Any webpage you go to in a foreign language it can instantly translate back and forth. Even more helpful is that a simple mouseover over and non english word and you get a tooltip that gives you all the dictonary definitions for the world you are looking for. Just using this and BBC will get you over the 2 hump and for easier languages such as Spanish much farther.