Self-teaching a language

Homework giving you a headache? Math gives you a migraine? Can't quite figure out how to do something in photoshop? Never fear, the other members of CAA share their expertise in this forum.

Self-teaching a language

Postby RubyJewelStone » Mon May 22, 2006 6:58 pm

I have a nice big gappy summer ahead of me and instead of letting my brain rot, it would be good to attempt to learn a language. I'm looking at either Spanish or Japanese, but I'll probably go with Japanese since I'm going to have two consecutive years of high-school Spanish anyways.

Either way I can't got classes for them. No teen apparently wants to enrich their mind with a new tongue since the community college didn't even offer one single language class for teens this year.

So I'm stuck with self-teaching really. Since consistency is NOT my strong point, that could prove hard. I have a weak will...*glances at stubby nails with chipped polish*

Any tips for a self-teacher?
User avatar
RubyJewelStone
 
Posts: 228
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2006 8:11 am
Location: Glued to a computer chair *spins*

Postby Phantom_Sorano » Mon May 22, 2006 7:46 pm

I don't know...check out some sites where you can here them speak it...I am doing the same thing...but I chosen German....@.@ Maybe we can start a thread for others who want to learn a different language. PM me please.
- Soran
Jeremiah 29:11-"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
"All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players; they have their entrances and their exits and one man in his time plays many parts."-Will Shakespeare
@)}~ carry this rose in your sig, as thanks, to all the CAA Moderators
User avatar
Phantom_Sorano
 
Posts: 909
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2006 5:19 pm
Location: Between the past and the future.

Postby Kaligraphic » Tue May 23, 2006 11:17 am

I did Latin that way for a bit. Find some good texts and set a goal of being able to read or understand something.

And, since you are looking at a language that somebody actually speaks (I did classical Latin), find somebody who speaks the language to practice with.
The cake used to be a lie like you, but then it took a portal to the deception core.
User avatar
Kaligraphic
 
Posts: 2002
Joined: Wed Jul 21, 2004 12:00 pm
Location: The catbox of DOOM!

Postby Linksquest » Tue May 23, 2006 1:20 pm

Umn. I have taken Spanish classes in public school (just finished level 3 recently! ^_^) Japanese seems like it will definately be the harder language to teach yourself because you are dealing with a completely different alphabet and symbol system than English. Spanish uses basically the same alphabet system as English.

As for suggestions on how to study, each person is different and also learns differently. If you are just starting out teaching yourself, try some different methods: getting audio tapes from your local library, getting books from the library pertaining to whichever language you decide to study first, and there also maybe some sort of tutorial program in your area in which a person could help you learn a language. Sometimes public libraries have such programs.

I wish you well on your journey to better your mind, and to increase your language abilities! :thumb:
DO YOU FLY FOR FUN?!

I give props to these ANIMEs/MANGAs: GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES, AZUMANGA DAIOH, MONSTER, SAILOR MOON SERIES, AKAGE NO ANNE, BOTTLE FAIRY, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, PARANOIA AGENT, YAKITATE!! JAPAN, UTAWARERUMONO, KANON, FULL MOON WO SAGASHITE, & YOTSUBA&!

LINKSQUEST's PASSIONS are: READING (especially books by authors: Lois Lowry, L.M. Montgomery, Ray Bradbury, C.S. Lewis) WRITING, SINGING, ACTING, COMPOSING, PIANO, PHOTOGRAPHY, ART, COOKING, MYST series, ZELDA series,OLD TIME RADIO , New Time Radio, SPANISH, LANGUAGES, and the list goes on.
Unlucky Secret Bump Thread Member #13

"WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT ENERGY BILLS!"
User avatar
Linksquest
 
Posts: 1859
Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2004 12:14 am
Location: MerryLand

Postby Slater » Tue May 23, 2006 1:54 pm

try C++
Image
User avatar
Slater
 
Posts: 2671
Joined: Sat May 22, 2004 10:00 am
Location: Pacifica, Caliphornia

Postby RubyJewelStone » Wed May 24, 2006 12:39 am

Yeah I know Japanese will be a hard one. I tried to do some hirangana last year and got throught the first line and stopped...-_-'
But the 3 writing styles will probably make it murder. I'll definately lay off of kanji for now.
I hope my library has some books.
User avatar
RubyJewelStone
 
Posts: 228
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2006 8:11 am
Location: Glued to a computer chair *spins*

Postby TrigunX89 » Wed May 24, 2006 2:55 am

JapaneseOnline is a good place to start if you want to teach yourself Japanese. They have sound files for all of the lessons, and it's all completely free. If you want to pay for lessons, I hear YesJapan is excellent. They have a couple of free sample videos.

I wish you the best of luck! It's so hard to stay motivated and teach yourself. I've tried and given up many times. Whatever you choose, have fun with it! It's always easier to learn something if you enjoy it.

Oh yeah, one more thing: When I first came to the point of learning hiragana, I was just completely overwhelmed and gave up. A year after that, I decided to take it on. I learned both Hiragana and Katakana in just over a month. (I could have learned in a month, but I kinda took a week off at Christmas) The best thing about it was I had fun! Who knew? The best thing I found to do is just practice one line of kana each day (or as you have time for) writing each character a good 30 to 50 times, and testing yourself in the end. Repetition is key for memorization. I still know absolutely no Kanji, but at least I can brag to my friends that I can read/write simple Japanese. :D
User avatar
TrigunX89
 
Posts: 1136
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2004 12:51 am

Postby oro! » Wed May 24, 2006 5:35 pm

Make it fun for yourself. I've used two different games, and they've greatly improved my reading ability in Japanese(though I'm a pretty sloppy writer still).

Look up on Google: Slime Forest and Knuckles in China Land. They require you to call up the meanings and soundings of different characters, starting with hiragana. You "fight" enemies by recalling it. It's like flashcards, but much more entertaining.

If you can get yourself hooked on it, it'll help ya!
"I've learned when you throw mud at others, not only do you get your hands dirty, but you also lose a lot of ground." Ravi Zacharias
"Pride grows in the human heart like lard on a pig." Aleksander Solzhenitzen (so call me on it)
"Zeal without knowledge can lead to chaos." - Bob Rohm
"Why don't we love his truth as much as we seem to love his love?"- Cross Movement, in their song "Check us Out"
User avatar
oro!
 
Posts: 991
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2004 10:00 am
Location: in my dorm

Postby RubyJewelStone » Sat May 27, 2006 4:53 pm

Nifty stuff.

I had a Japan-Online.com account, methinks. Should be around somewhere...

I especially like the games, but the slime one started on katakana not hiragana. Different versions maybe? ...unless I selected some option without realizing it.
User avatar
RubyJewelStone
 
Posts: 228
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2006 8:11 am
Location: Glued to a computer chair *spins*

Postby Phantom_Sorano » Sat May 27, 2006 5:07 pm

If anyone knows somebody on here who will teach a language, please have her/him PM me and Ruby....thankies!...oh, hi Ru.
Jeremiah 29:11-"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
"All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players; they have their entrances and their exits and one man in his time plays many parts."-Will Shakespeare
@)}~ carry this rose in your sig, as thanks, to all the CAA Moderators
User avatar
Phantom_Sorano
 
Posts: 909
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2006 5:19 pm
Location: Between the past and the future.

Postby Azier the Swordsman » Sat May 27, 2006 10:40 pm

Definately give YesJapan a serious look. Best pay site you will ever invest in.
User avatar
Azier the Swordsman
 
Posts: 3109
Joined: Sat Oct 11, 2003 10:00 am
Location: Earth

Postby Phantom_Sorano » Sun May 28, 2006 11:06 am

...I will keep that open, Thank you!
Jeremiah 29:11-"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
"All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players; they have their entrances and their exits and one man in his time plays many parts."-Will Shakespeare
@)}~ carry this rose in your sig, as thanks, to all the CAA Moderators
User avatar
Phantom_Sorano
 
Posts: 909
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2006 5:19 pm
Location: Between the past and the future.

Postby Phantom_Sorano » Tue May 30, 2006 1:57 pm

Attention: If anyone hear is interested in learning while teaching, or teaching Japanese, please pm Phantom_Sorano and RubyRed with your information. Thank you for your time and cooperation.
Jeremiah 29:11-"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
"All the world's a stage and all the men and women merely players; they have their entrances and their exits and one man in his time plays many parts."-Will Shakespeare
@)}~ carry this rose in your sig, as thanks, to all the CAA Moderators
User avatar
Phantom_Sorano
 
Posts: 909
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2006 5:19 pm
Location: Between the past and the future.


Return to Tutorials

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 81 guests