Can we talk about success stories learning a new language PER FAVORE (stupido Americano accent)

Rosetta has a $199 lifetime deal. Seems pretty good and I've heard a lot of good things about Rosetta Stone software. But, I have no idea if it really works.

Since I can't friggin travel anywhere interesting this winter, I'm going to commit myself to learning Italian by late spring. Then, French, Spanish and Irish in subsequent winters, if I can get this rolling.

Anyone else done a course and can recommend what they found useful?

Grazzi

 

I just yell louder in English. Seems to work fine. That, and Google Translate.

 

Never used RS, but I have heard good things from other language teachers. I did it the old fashioned way: went to Spain for a semester in college and got drunk with a native.

I tried Italian in HS, did a little French along the way, too. I thought Spanish was by far the easiest, fwiw.

 

por favor

 

Seriously dude go outside and chop some wood and come back here and post something worth fucking reading.

Last time I looked this was a racer or about racing forum....although it has changed of late so go ahead with this stupidity!

 

I've looked into a preview/free limited trial of RS a long time ago and wasn't impressed. I think learning a language varies based on the individual. Not everyone learns the same way. RS works well for some people. I don't really have the necessary focus to learn a language like that. I've been learning German for the last couple of years and I started out with Duolingo cuz it's free, but that's mostly good for words and expressions, and IMO doesn't do a very good job at explaining the "WHY's" and "HOW's" of grammar, sentence structure, cases, etc. I switched to using Verbling and paying a teacher for lessons. Definitely way more expensive, but my company paid for it. Only downside is I just didn't have much time to commit to it especially due to work travel, so my progress has been very slow. 145 lessons in about 28 months is not really much cuz at that rate you forget almost as much as you learn lol But I had a couple of really good teachers and my experience was good with that. Just wish I would've had time to do it at least 3 times a week.

 

prego...

 

Condom

 

Just go to an Italian motogp news site and flip back and forth between english and italian while reading the articles. Should catch on sooner or later

Rossi è caduto di nuovo e sembra essersi perso quest'anno

 

So, just being your lushish (sp) self again. Nothing ever changes around here.

 

I took their Pig Latin course and mastered it in 5 minutes, including a bathroom break.
Onay uckingfay iddingkay.

 

I’ve been using Duolingo for Spanish. Having competitive scoring between our Baja crew helps motivation. IMO the best way is the combo of the app and then time in Mexico. One without the other is very limiting.

 

Rosetta Stone will do a good job teaching you the "book learning". After you've got some of the lessons down and you feel comfortable, find a native speaker and ask for their help. It won't be fun at first, it'll be awkward. But, it doesn't matter what you talk about - what matters is that you talk.

 

RS is good. After you can understand some. Start watching movies with no subtitles.
Its going to be easier than finding a native speaking hot chick to get drunk with.

 

That will greatly assist your stalking of Rossi.

 

Lesson one:

Grazie.

That was killing me.

 

You need to find a native speaker because book learning isn’t going to be able to correct your pronunciation. Find a college student that does tutoring or and adult and buy them beers to have conversations with once you get some basics down.

 

I think you need to define "learning" for someone to be able to answer this question. If that's defined as being able to say "where's the bathroom", "may I have another beer", and "where do I find the best blow", I like your chances.

If it's defined as being a fluent speaker, that sounds overly ambitious. In order to really "learn" a language, you're going to have to spend significant time in/around natural speakers (and constantly reinforce it - I used to be close to fluent in spanish but haven't spoken it in 15 years so have lost ~80% of what I used to know). Language is like any other muscle and atrophies over time.

 

I might jump on this. Something I always struggle with. I have so many spanish speaking customers, google translate works but I'd like to be able to fumble through a conversation at least, then hopefully being able to do that leads to some repitition and it begins to stick.

 

"Learning a language is like opening a window."

This is as fucking quaint as you can get but, it's also true.....