Self teaching languages

Former Member

When I was at school, I quite enjoyed Spanish. The only way to have carried on learning through GCSE was to take French as well. I didn't want to take French too; so couldn't take Spanish.

I've looked online to see if there are any classes in my area - the only ones are "tasters" - I don't just want a taster - I want to actually be able to learn the language so that hopefully, I can go travelling when older. I do know a few words; but not enough to have a conversation with someone.

Has anyone managed to successfully self teach themselves a language? I think I may be able to get a bit of help from friends with this, too.

Former Member

I've somewhat self taught basic Russian and (even more basic) German, I've only tried German for a little while. But I want to take classes too but they only really do French and Spanish locally. Russian especially is difficult to self teach. It confuses me way too much when you get more advanced. If you find the right software I don't see why you couldn't teach yourself.

Former Member

the michel thomas language courses are quite good for starting you off. Some people download them, although its illegal and i wouldnt recommend it. You can buy them online too. Theres also various books. I have the french version of this book http://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-Spanish-Practice-Book-Hands-/dp/1593374348/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1305478615&sr=8-2 and found it quite good.
I also have the french version of this book http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spanish-Complete-Revision-Practice-Audio/dp/1841463884/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1305478669&sr=1-2 which i found even better, but its worth going to the library and getting a few out, before buying, because you might like the styles in other ones better.

Former Member

If you can afford it, Rosetta Stone is meant to be brilliant.

Michel Thomas is also good I used it to learn Italian. Depends on what you intend to use it for.

Former Member

im surprised you cant find spanish courses locally. Do you live in the sticks?

Former Member

Pretty much yes.

Well, they do the basics - but it's not what you can really use for having conversations when out and about.

Thanks guys. I did look at Rosetta Stone; but it is expensive.

Former Member

Yeah, although someone pointed out to me that £329 for up to level 5 (which looks to me like A Level stuff, a sales person let me play in an airport once) is only about 11 lessons in real life.

You can get samplers of the Michel Thomas course for free on Audible but I'm not sure what their sign up deal is these days, it might be a paid-for service. I don't have a subscription any more.

Former Member

there are a lot of sources online for free you can look at too

Former Member

Even if you start learning by yourself, I think you'll need classes eventually. There is a difference between translating something in your head, and *thinking* in the language. I'm not really familiar with these resources and so I'm not sure how good they are, but I would have thought conversation is one of the only ways to achieve this....

Former Member

yellowseahorse wrote: »

Even if you start learning by yourself, I think you'll need classes eventually. There is a difference between translating something in your head, and *thinking* in the language. I'm not really familiar with these resources and so I'm not sure how good they are, but I would have thought conversation is one of the only ways to achieve this....

:yes:

Former Member

I've used the Michel Thomas for German and it's good. The CD states you shouldn't write stuff down, you learn the grammar through the CD and then learn how to add vocab to the basic grammar. I have enjoyed it when I've used it, although my main issue is that I'm not organised or dedicated enough to do it properly. It has given me enough grounding to be understood in supermarkets and restaurants, but that's about it. Michel Thomas isn't that expensive either.

Former Member

I'm doing Rosetta Stone right now. (just started lesson 3 of unit one on level one so I can't really give much of a review yet ) Up in the air about it though. They never tell you what the translated word is, they just throw new words at you and I guess you are just supposed to get it. Plus the damn thing never understands me and I usually end the pronounciation sessions with me yelling at the computer and throwing the microphone down.

Also supplementing it with television stations in the language. I can't understand anything they are saying but I suppose it is like a faux immersion

Former Member

what language are you doing Manda?

Former Member

without envirnment u cant learn the language even if u learn from famous institute u gonna forget soon because u will not have the environment u will not get the person to talk.........

Former Member

I think the best thing you can do is to find someone learning the same language and do it together. The most fluent non-native English speakers I know are two sisters who learned by simply agreeing to always speak to each other in English while they were learning. Obviously, it helps to have teachers to help point out your mistakes, but simply having someone to practice with is going to make a massive difference. I think you should do this whether you take classes or not. But there's this kind of myth that you need to be speaking to a Spanish person to practice your Spanish, or a French person to practice your French. But you'll get a lot from speaking to fellow learners too.

Former Member

With the Michael Thomas one, do you have to buy each level separately?

I have got a cheap one. It has 31 languages and you can do it through voice - this means not having to find someone to help me.

Former Member

http://www.thelanguagezone.co.uk/pdf/Sp-Prog.pdf

Former Member

sod it, just speak english slowly and amplified.

Former Member

lol

Former Member

What you need first of all is a very comprehensive grammar book and some conjugations of common verbs and spend some (a lot of) time in their company. Then you can build on the foundations, by learning mountains of vocab and trying to pick out idiomatic expressions from books (start off with things like Harry Potter, or ones you've already read, so you can follow things a bit). My teachers always say little and often, but I don't like having only half an hour to do stuff in- either I take a full hour and do a lot, or I mess around for twenty minutes and rush the last ten. Well, but maybe you're more disciplined than me.
What I don't advise you to do is try the A level syllabus. Ruinous thing!

LauraO

Hey lena_mal_gardée,
Thanks for posting your advice about this, however the thread is quite old now and Melian will probably have got the information she needed by now You can tell how old a thread is by looking at the date of the last post - this one was back in May. If you'd like to chat more about languages and teaching yourself, then please do start a new thread. I'm going to close this one for now.
Thanks,
Laura