Engineered Organisms

[Feba]

Re: Engineered Organisms

The other thing about Rosetta Stone is that it attempts to bypass the tendency a lot of people have to try to translate everything into their native language, instead of thinking in the target language. They do this by having you associate the words with images, instead of words in your own language. Makes it harder to be like "el gato is the cat" when you're not learning words on the "gato = cat" level, but the "gato = that kind of feline fuzzy thing that shits on my carpet".

The thing is though, it isn't nearly as effective for non-European languages. You'll have a harder time picking up the grammar naturally, since it's not like what you've been exposed to. Also from what I've heard, Rosetta Stone uses the same slides for all languages, which results in you learning words/sentences which aren't really appropriate. It's been awhile since I've researched the issue, but I remember the gap in reviews between people using it for French, Spanish, and the like and those using it for Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and so on being huge.

Also, for as much as it costs, you could probably take a semester at a local community college or other community learning center/group, and get a lot more out of it. I'd imagine that you'd probably far better results just making an online buddy to exchange langauges with-- you teach them English, they teach you Japanese. Plenty of sites out there for it.

[Aksannyi]

Re: Engineered Organisms

I've never taken a single Spanish class and yet my Spanish comprehension is probably at about 60% just from going to Mexico every year (on average) and chatting on the phone with my ex-mother-in-law and the kids. In addition to watching soccer matches on TV and hearing the language spoken fairly regularly since you know, there are about six bajillion Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and Mexicans here.

I tend to learn languages very easily, though, since I still have a fairly good grasp of French (which I did take in high school) and I've found that languages come very naturally to me. Still, I've found that my Spanish through having never taken a class is a lot stronger than my French just by virtue of actually using it practically instead of just via classroom exercises.

And as for Rosetta Stone, I have heard that there are ways to acquire it. Not that I would ever do such a thing (and obviously haven't because I'm not fluent in Spanish or French quite yet), but just throwing that out there.

[Malacite]

Re: Engineered Organisms

yeah the cost is what is holding me at bay as well..... maybe that will be my next thing to do after I take my Violin classes I want to take. to me music first, then talkies

I would prioritize learning Japanese personally. Being able to speak and read/write in multiple languages is a huge asset and reflects very well on a resume.

[Kailea]

Re: Engineered Organisms

I would prioritize learning Japanese personally. Being able to speak and read/write in multiple languages is a huge asset and reflects very well on a resume.

the music is more for personal sanity, Violin calms me down and puts me in a "nice" state, if I could produce my own music, with my own hands, it would be greatly beneficial to me.

[Mezlo]

Re: Engineered Organisms

I would prioritize learning Japanese personally. Being able to speak and read/write in multiple languages is a huge asset and reflects very well on a resume.

agreed. it's amazing what a good teacher anime is!

koriwa nandeska?