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Underground > Conversation >

Learning a new language.

20:29 / 20.04.04

I`m sure there are many multi-lingual lithers out there.
Any hints/advice on learning a new language?

I`ve got software and books on the language.
But the software is very basic.
ie, Someone says a word and I click on the multiple shoice option.

The books are in a lot more depth. BUT I have no idea if I`m saying things in the correct manner. With a bit of work I`ll be able to read and translate the language (make that a lot of work) but be unable to talk.

The BBC does news broadcasts in this language. Is it possible to learn from a book. And then with the help of the news broadcasts to discover how this should be said?

Also there are concepts I`m having difficulty with.
(for example orange is a type of grey...objects seem to have a familly relationship..)

My last attempt at learning a language was at school. Where I knew that in a years time I`d dump the course to take an extra science. Hence experience is limited.

20:48 / 20.04.04

it depends what language.
i notice you are careful not to tell us what language you are actually studying.

as far as general techniques go, nothing compares to full on immersion in a language. if you cant get amongst people for whom it is their first language, buy DVDs in the language, and watch them without the subtitles. buy albums where the vocalist sings in the language; especially hip hop. buy 'easy' books like tintin or digimon in the language. just seek out the forms of expression utilised by the native speaker, and consume consume consume.

and a class is better than a book, but reading a book will give you more questions to aid your search for answers.

21:00 / 20.04.04

Sorry. The language is Nepali.

But advice on language learning in general would probably be a better topic of discussion.

I`m currently hunting any format (CD, DVD, MP3 etc..) Where I can hear it spoken. The only course I can find is too far away to get to. There is an exchange website I`m considering taking part in... But that`s all I can find.

21:17 / 20.04.04

a relative of mine is fluent in nepali.
if he were a closer friend, i would suggest you ask him.
he has many nepalese friends, a side effect of his years of service as a ghurka brigadier.

many of them work in this country as security guards and the like, and you may be able to find some kind of nepalese community centre somewhere in your town.

there are other nepalis with other occupations, before anyone gets all shirty.

08:05 / 21.04.04

I'm trying to learn Nepali too. The SOAS course in London is great - I did 2 terms & it helped a lot (I still can't say much tho)

What book are you using? SOAS use Teach Yourself Nepali by Michael Hutt & Abhi Subedi - I'd recommend it.

Before I started the course, I was trying to learn on my own. I mainly worked from the tapes that come with the book. I'd pick one or two tracks at a time & listen to them repeatedly, for a couple of weeks or so. I found short sections better than longer ones - the repetiton made the sounds of the words stick in my mind. Then I did the translations for the chapter I was working on, learned the vocab, etc.

For things like colours, pick a couple and learn them. Then when you're walking through the streets & see something that colour, say it (in your head, if you mind people staring).

I've also been listening to the BBC world service. I can only just pick out the occasional word, but it keeps me thinking about it.

Dunno, it's hard to learn a language in isolation...good luck with it!

17:54 / 21.04.04

I`m using a combination of the hutt book, the eurotalk CD and the lonely planet phrase book. Slow progress. But progress.
I`m considering putting post it notes on objects that I`m trying to learn the word for.

17:56 / 21.04.04

that works.
also try putting verb tables on the wall opposite the toilet.

18:07 / 21.04.04

I've been learning German for four years now, and a new language can be tough. Once you are further along and have the grammar somewhat down, pick up a book or movie in that language and translate it. Even if you have to look up every word in there, you will learn from it. I did the prologue of Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Eventhough I didn't know many of the words, and some of the idioms didn't make much sense to me, I still took alot away from it, and remembered atleast a third of the words I had to look up.

Basically, two pieces of advice:
1) (kinda cliched but) Just keep at it.
2) Look around in your area or online for someone who knows the language already, and try to get them to help you out from time to time with ideas you can't quite get and to check pronunciation.

19:47 / 21.04.04

Nothing can beat total immersion. Books can work, but only if you use them with tapes, which it doesn't sound like you're doing from what you say.

Even if you can't find a course, you could consider advertising in the paper/seeking out someone who speaks the language for conversation.

Basically, though, in my experience (as a terrible picker up of languages), actually going to a country where the language is spoken is the only way to gain any real fluency. For me, anyway one month in Mexico = about 12 months learning, in terms of picking up vocab, getting used to speaking Spanish, understanding what others were saying, etc.

Good luck, though

21:41 / 21.04.04

The hutt book includes two hours of tapes.
The CD has a lot of spoken word.
There is a small chance thet the world service will become usefull if I ever understand more than one word in a thousand.
As for total immersion...that`s what I`m preparing for.
I`ll try to find nearby nepali speakers,
It`s a little unlikely though.
Thanks for all your help.

21:54 / 21.04.04

Mr Spong, do you like near a university by any chance? I know that my old uni had a notice board in the language department, where anyone could post up messages asking to swap conversational skills (french conversation for portuguese, or whatever)... Might be worth checking out...

22:31 / 21.04.04

Use sticky labels or masking tape to write names on all the objects in your home: door, window, bed, fridge, toilet etc...

Then you can legitimately talk to yourself: "Where is the milk? Ahh! It is in the fridge, next to the sink."

I find it helps.

22:33 / 21.04.04

ahh... too hasty there. I see you already covered that one.