What's th emost efficient/quickest way to learn a language?

B

baboon2004

Darned cockwombles.
I want to learn South American Spanish in a rush, for a trip to the continent... I have basic Spanish vocab already, but want to improve quickly.

I guess the best idea is to find a native speaker to chat with, which I'm working on, but what's the best way to improve inbetween this. I don't have a natural facility for learning foreign languages (my French is kinda intermediate), so would appreciate any insights/anecdotes.

Someon suggested language labs..what does this even mean?
 
D

Dial

Well-known member
Check Praxis Language for Spanishpod. I learn Chinese via the same outfit. Podcasts are free to listen to/download. And further resources are available for a price. Its not too bad.
 
IdleRich

IdleRich

IdleRich
"get a latin american girlfriend"
Click to expand...
I had a Japanese girlfriend once but the only Japanese I learned was really only useful in one very specific situation. A wasted opportunity I guess.
 
mixed_biscuits

mixed_biscuits

_________________________
I had a go at cramming Spanish over the holidays, working 4-8 hours a day (I'm not very good at relaxing).

My approach was this:

- use older teach-yourself book, as they tend to be more grammar-focused - this particular one has the subjunctive done and dusted by the end of the 7th lesson.

- use grammar drills on the 'net to help the grammar stick: http://www.webworkbooks.com/spanish/quizzes/

- make sure I bash each lesson as hard as I can (ie. don't skip ahead, as I am always tempted to do)

- revise the vocab/ read EVERYWHERE - read while I'm walking around town, eating lunch, on the train etc etc Revise all past lessons every day; taking on a new lesson each day.

- cultivate a frame of mind that rejects everything except for the supreme goal of learning Spanish, to create intolerable boredom and frustration in non-learning situations (talking to people, watching telly etc). Teh Spanish must become your drug.

Annoyingly, I'm back at work now and so cannae keep up the pace. :(

In your position, I would bash the grammar hard and use what you have learnt (grammatical constructions building blocks) in reasonably frequent oral lessons.

This forum is interesting: http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/default.asp The sub-section about Polyglots especially so - some learners have taken things a leeetle too far...

Thread by the uberest-polyglot http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8345&PN=1
 
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B

baboon2004

Darned cockwombles.
IdleRich said:
I had a Japanese girlfriend once but the only Japanese I learned was really only useful in one very specific situation. A wasted opportunity I guess.
Click to expand...

I always think that if you're a beginner at any language, you will inevitably gravitate towards speaking in the language you both know best... ie in most cases, said girlfriend will be superior in English to your SPanish/Japnese etc, so you just speak in English all the time. Been there, done that one!
 
B

baboon2004

Darned cockwombles.
Dial said:
Check Praxis Language for Spanishpod. I learn Chinese via the same outfit. Podcasts are free to listen to/download. And further resources are available for a price. Its not too bad.
Click to expand...

Looks great, esp for going over some basic vocab/phrases. Thanks
 
B

baboon2004

Darned cockwombles.
Wow - great resources. Thanks! Will have a look through these when I have a minute. At first glance, that forum you mention looks like just what I've been searchign for :)

mixed_biscuits said:
I had a go at cramming Spanish over the holidays, working 4-8 hours a day (I'm not very good at relaxing).

My approach was this:

- use older teach-yourself book, as they tend to be more grammar-focused - this particular one has the subjunctive done and dusted by the end of the 7th lesson.

- use grammar drills on the 'net to help the grammar stick: http://www.webworkbooks.com/spanish/quizzes/

- make sure I bash each lesson as hard as I can (ie. don't skip ahead, as I am always tempted to do)

- revise the vocab/ read EVERYWHERE - read while I'm walking around town, eating lunch, on the train etc etc Revise all past lessons every day; taking on a new lesson each day.

- cultivate a frame of mind that rejects everything except for the supreme goal of learning Spanish, to create intolerable boredom and frustration in non-learning situations (talking to people, watching telly etc). Teh Spanish must become your drug.

Annoyingly, I'm back at work now and so cannae keep up the pace. :(

In your position, I would bash the grammar hard and use what you have learnt (grammatical constructions building blocks) in reasonably frequent oral lessons.

This forum is interesting: http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/default.asp The sub-section about Polyglots especially so - some learners have taken things a leeetle too far...

Thread by the uberest-polyglot http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8345&PN=1
Click to expand...
 
IdleRich

IdleRich

IdleRich
"I always think that if you're a beginner at any language, you will inevitably gravitate towards speaking in the language you both know best... ie in most cases, said girlfriend will be superior in English to your SPanish/Japnese etc, so you just speak in English all the time. Been there, done that one!"
Click to expand...
Well, her English wasn't that great either (obviously better than my Japanese though). She did have this amazing translating machine which worked both ways and went from the English alphabet to the Japanese symbols (Kanji or whatever you call it).
 
B

baboon2004

Darned cockwombles.
spanish5000.com - recommended. Very good learning tool, even if the programmers' grasp of English nuance is somewhat shaky...
 
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