learning a second language

NicDots · Post by **NicDots** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 4:06 am

Both my parents learned English pretty fast when they came to this country. They actually commented to me a while ago that it bothers them that new immigrants aren't really as willing. While my Dad speaks Spanish fluently, he doesn't like it when he goes somewhere and the person working wherever automatically goes off in Spanish and not English. I think it bothers him cause he made the effort to learn the language while the other person didn't.

Sarab · Post by **Sarab** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 6:15 am

Frank, do you speak spanish now, fluently? Just curious.

Post by **Trigger** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 9:09 am

rice_pudding wrote: so how good is your arabic? i mean could you have much of a converstation etc.

Rusty! but I still unsderstand some of it and if I am around Arabs and they are not speaking too fast I can understand what they are talking about. I am going to try to put a few hours aside each week during the Summer to try to brush up.

I was always shit at the writing part although I do understand the numbering.

NicDots · Post by **NicDots** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:19 am

Yallah habibi!!

rice_pudding · Post by **rice_pudding** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 12:01 pm

NicDots wrote:Both my parents learned English pretty fast when they came to this country. They actually commented to me a while ago that it bothers them that new immigrants aren't really as willing. While my Dad speaks Spanish fluently, he doesn't like it when he goes somewhere and the person working wherever automatically goes off in Spanish and not English. I think it bothers him cause he made the effort to learn the language while the other person didn't.

i think its important to learn a new language if you're going to migrate, i mean its just common sense isnt it. Different cultures already segregate themselves enough, we dont need language causing more problems.

At my university you often see groups of foreign students hanging out together, the turkish stick to themselves, as do the romanians and any other group where there are several dozen students from one country. Even the americans

, they only seem to appear when stand-up commedians are in town

Its a shame because i've met lots of interesting people from across the globe, i would like to meet more...

Having said all that i dont think english speaking people make enough effort to learn other languages. Since America is the centre of the western world, it makes sense that everyone gravitates towards it and has to adapt to its culture. Maybe that explains it!?

I once met a man who spoke 7 languages fluently, he told me english is the easiest to learn. So maybe that explains it. Other languages are too complex for our fragile intellect

rice_pudding · Post by **rice_pudding** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 12:04 pm

Trigger wrote:
Rusty! but I still unsderstand some of it and if I am around Arabs and they are not speaking too fast I can understand what they are talking about. I am going to try to put a few hours aside each week during the Summer to try to brush up.

it seems a shame to waste all the effort, i hope you get time to brush up

frank · Post by **frank** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 5:05 pm

gina, comprendo, pero no puedo hablar.

NicDots · Post by **NicDots** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 5:27 pm

rice_pudding wrote: I once met a man who spoke 7 languages fluently, he told me english is the easiest to learn. So maybe that explains it. Other languages are too complex for our fragile intellect

My Dad said that English was pretty easy for him cause for whatever reason, it is similar to German. He said that Russian was a bitch though.

Cpt Matt Sparrow · Post by **Cpt Matt Sparrow** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 5:57 pm

I am ashamed to say that I only know basic French.

I would love to learn Spanish and/or Italian as I would like to move to either of them in the next decade.

I love both cultures very much.

Matt

rice_pudding · Post by **rice_pudding** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 7:07 pm

NicDots wrote: My Dad said that English was pretty easy for him cause for whatever reason, it is similar to German. He said that Russian was a bitch though.

i find german easier to pick up than french thats for sure

i picked up a couple of books on german today, should help me refresh my skills, not sure what i'll do if i want to take my skills to an advanced level though

i've done about 45mins on it today, it seems to be coming back quickly im happy to say...

Sarab · Post by **Sarab** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:52 pm

frank wrote:
gina, comprendo, pero no puedo hablar.

ok. I got compendo and hablar.
So what's the rest?

Post by **Stiltzkin** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:09 pm

NicDots wrote:Yallah habibi!!

even I know what that means

Post by **Trigger** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:11 pm

Stiltzkin wrote:
NicDots wrote:Yallah habibi!!
even I know what that means

somethings are best just left!

rice_pudding · Post by **rice_pudding** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:55 pm

Trigger wrote:
Stiltzkin wrote:
NicDots wrote:Yallah habibi!!
even I know what that means
somethings are best just left!

i was going to ask but in that case i'll just let sleeping dogs lie

Sarab · Post by **Sarab** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:29 am

rice_pudding wrote:
Trigger wrote:
Stiltzkin wrote: even I know what that means
somethings are best just left!
i was going to ask but in that case i'll just let sleeping dogs lie

ummm, I'm with you!