I’d really like to learn Spanish and French and am wondering if any of you have any experience with learning a new language…?
Have you used any programs (Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur, etc..?)
One of the most annoying bits of advice I keep getting is total immersion by moving to another country. I understand that this is likely the most effective way to learn a new language, but being that this option is an impossibility for me right now, I was hoping for more practical advice.
Soooo, lay it on me! If you’ve done it, what worked for you?
Just make sure you are revising/studying EVERY day. At least half an hour, but a full hour or two even would be best. Don’t take a day off. Ever. That’s the best way to forget what you already know, not to mention impeding future learning.
Outside of immersion, there isn’t one best way. I watch french films and read from my college french text book; others use rosetta stone exclusively, and the same can be said for Pimsleur, audiotapes and any number of other published methods.
1 ) Pimsleur is EXCELLENT for learning to speak a language as a native. It is very easy to use and learn in a short amount of time. Most of us want results fairly quickly and have the confidence that you’re speaking your target language correctly. If you’re starting out to learn a language, Pimsleur is a great starting point which gives you an fast ROI of time. This is primarily audio, that is to learn how to speak FLUENTLY, though, the larger 30 lesson levels have written resources as well.
2 ) I think of Rosetta Stone as a good resource for building your VOCABULARY. It’s a bit tough to use, IMO, if you’re starting out. I’ve got the Rosetta Stone as well as Pimsleur. They are two different ways to go about learning a language, IMO. Rosetta is more about rote learning, that is by repetition and association. I’ve Learned MUCH more APPLICABLE to daily life speaking communications with Pimsleur within 2 weeks than trying to piece together how to say things, basic stuff with Rosetta Stone only in months. Pimsleur’s approach is based on graduated learning.
3 ) If you’re like many people who spend much time web surfing, this is another cool way to continually learn your target language(s).
Also, here is that resource that I use:
Chrome has this extension HERE:
4 ) Additionally, do a look up for Benny the Irish polyglot. You’ll love his approach to learning languages!
5 ) And lastly, although Google has a translator, it does a fair job, though, sometimes its crappy. I much prefer this online translator which also provides a frontwards and back translation for you to compare it to the original translation request.
And, yes, I thought I forgot one. I’m not much into ‘buying’ resources that may be freely available on the web. In the case of Rocket Languages I make the exception. I haven’t found anything as polished or well organized to learn at your pace than this website. It’s another excellent resource to learn your target language(s). I love that it is UNLIMITED access to your target language website without a monthly subscription.
I mention language(s) because as I’ve seen and been shown by my instructors in languages, I do think that if you can try (2) languages to learn, your mind will have a challenge that it will gladly accept. You need to push yourself to learn it and accept that the mind is a POWERFUL machine that will take MUCH more info than what you can throw at it.
When I say a (2) languages, that is, 2 languages with a differ in its base. Like, as an example, French and Italian have the same Latin base. That would just make you go CRAZY… If you’re learning French, then, try an Asian language, like, Japanese or Indonesian. You may think it’s too much for you.
I say, the limitations are of your own making! You can make it happen, you need to amp up your conviction to make it happen.
DON’T BE afraid to make MISTAKES!!! You will ALWAYS make mistakes. This is the only way you will learn. Make your mistakes and smile! Only way to learn a language fluently is to look the fool! The faster you embrace this fact, the faster you’ll become fluent!!!
Whoa, Alpha! Thanks so much! I got lost in Benny’s blog and LOVE the Chrome language immersion app. This is amazing. I am using it right now and it is probably the coolest thing, ever.
Would you do Rocket Languages over Pimsleur if you were going to purchase? For me reading a new language comes easier than speaking it, so I really want to practice listening to something that’s spoken at a natural pace to get a handle on cutting down translation time.
I personally prefer Pimsleur especially getting the MP3 downloads as it’s a) Cheaper and 2) I do like the graduated learning to pickup a language quick. For the graduated learning, when the program asks me to repeat, I do so 2 to 4 times as fast as I can and as LOUD as I can to get things STUCK in my mind.
The Rocket Language, for me was useful once I got going and started with my Japanese and wanted to expand on my Pimsleur Level I and II base. With the Rocket, it gave more facets of understanding to the WHY things are said in a certain way or why certain words and phrases are used. The conversations with the hosts about the phrases is good stuff, giving more of an AHA moment for me.
Oh, and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this TESOL course NOT only to teach English to people from other lands, BUT to use the Methods presented as a valuable resource to learning a NEW language for YOURSELF.
WELL, worth the time and investment to take this course!!!
How’s it going, ASIG?! Did you pickup un poco de espa?ol? En ce qui concerne le fran?ais ?
I was curious if what you started to use to learn your language(s)? French and Spanish together would be a bear, IMO. Did you try the speak from day 1 from the Irish polyglot?
Hey, Alpha! Je sais un peu francais de l’?cole. S? un poco espa?ol. Tengo muchas preguntas! Luckily one of my customers hooked me up with a woman who teaches Spanish and I’ll be meeting with her next week for the first time!
I also still want to get Pimsleur but am saving up for the bundles.
I am getting to where I can read simple sentences, but you were right when you said the similarities might pose a problem. Sometimes I substitute a french word for the spanish one that I don’t know. One of the first spanish phrases I learned was to say I needed aspirin for my headache, lol. But it is fun, and I’m learning a little everyday.
I haven’t tried the speak from day one exercise, but will definitely give it a go this weekend.
Great to have a teacher, though, I would suggest that you make it as Interactive as possible. Well, if she’s willing!
When I wanted to learn some Japanese to talk to some big time clients that we support now, I did Japanese and Portuguese. The Portuguese was more difficult for me as, like you say, I would substitute my Spanish vocabulary and confuse them a bit.
I also took French in school, but as you may know, the US public school system and teaching curriculum is woefully inadequate. I was bashed over my head continuously with dry sentence structure and for the life of me, don’t remember much of anything. I’m trying my hand at French again, but, a bit slowly as I don’t have as much time to dedicate to it. I was thinking of trying Benny’s method with French.
Manten tu voluntad y tu podras comunicarte en espanol!
A friend just told me about Babbel. You get unlimited access for an extremely low monthly fee, and from what I’ve played around with on the demo, it beats Rosetta Stone by a mile!
I met with the Spanish instructor and she was really cool, but I don’t think I could continue taking lessons for very long at her price.
One thing that really helps along with which ever program for learning you use is to watch Latin television. I know sounds crazy but my son took Spanish in high school and was having some troubles so I had him watch Latin TV and it really made a difference on how quickly he learned. His teacher was very impressed with his comprehension and pronunciation.
Being exposed to the language as its spoken naturally really makes a huge difference. I used to sit with him and watch and it was funny because at first he would complain he had no ideal what was going on then suddenly one day he turned to me shocked and I said whats wrong and he said…“I just understood everything they said” then it just sort of fell into place for him.
I have textbooks, but really want to become conversational quickly. Giving Rosetta Stone serious consideration.
