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Learning other languages

All Acting Regiment

00:52 / 25.03.06

So I'm trying to learn Greek and Spanish to the point where I can read the old epics and some modern Spanish stuff like Goytiloso. I'm doing okay with dictionaries and a chart of the Greek letters. I can pretty much pronounce the Greek script now, although trying to work out what those sounds mean sends me to the dictionary.

Does anyone have any tricks they use for this?

Isadore

01:14 / 25.03.06

I find flash cards helpful for learning Latin vocabulary. Write the [word / question] on the front of the card and its [meaning / answer] on the back; make a whole bunch, carry them with you, and randomly drill through a few when you have a moment to spare.

All Acting Regiment

01:20 / 25.03.06

Ooo. Sounds like a plan. It's a shame my curricular language learning was left lolloping loose by that lazy lazar Mmme. Rogers de Glossop.

Shrug

12:15 / 25.03.06

Would an all Spanish Barbelith thread be of use?

All Acting Regiment

13:45 / 25.03.06

Wow, if there is one?

Shrug

13:49 / 25.03.06

Nah, but you could just start one. I'd imagine there's a few native Spanish speakers on the lith that'd like to join in. Rambling off-topic discussion in Spanish sounds good. My own Spanish is pretty terrible but I'd definitely read it if not post too often.

Shrug

14:23 / 25.03.06

Incorporation of grammar correction in a sister thread or perhaps even in thread might be nice!
I can forsee problems with ene (squiggly things over the n) though. Recently had a problem with this when talking about a recently viewed film called Un Ano sin Amor.

pangloss

14:21 / 26.03.06

once you have a certain level of proficiency, books with the original text and an english translation printed side by side are an extremely good way to learn.
For (ancient) Greek I recommend the Loeb editions; there should be one for most of the main classical Greek texts. In celebration of some anniversary Loeb have also just published a book containing short excerpts in Greek and English (also Latin/English). For Spanish, Penguin have a book of short stories with parallel English translation - I haven't used it, but the German one in the same series was good.

14:15 / 27.03.06

On a parallel note, I want to learn more French by reading a novel. Can anyone reccomend something with a limited vocabulary but profound philosophical lessons/ jesuit ninjas? I've had L'Etranger, Alain-Fournier's Le Grand Meaulnes, and the Maigret books praised to me. Any other thoughts, or comments on those, welcome.

Ariadne

14:25 / 27.03.06

I don't know what sort of things you enjoy, but Madame Bovary's not too hard to read - and Boule de Suif by Maupassant was one of the first books I read and really, really enjoyed in French.

Mourne Kransky

14:35 / 27.03.06

Shrug, you can achieve a tilde in a Lith post by typing & n tilde ; but without the gaps. Like this: Un Año Sin Amor.

Ariadne

14:36 / 27.03.06

And I blush to admit it, but reading Harry Potter in French is relatively easy and fun!

14:50 / 27.03.06

My Mother's reading Potter in French at the moment - I might try to snaffle it when she's done.

Thanks for the other thoughts.

Feverfew

14:57 / 27.03.06

Also, just to share a discovery that made me very happy over the weekend - there is a Waterstones near Goodge Street tube, for those in or near London, that is massive, and has entire sections for texts in foreign languages, as well as remaindered and second hand books.

Can you tell I'm a book geek yet? Seriously, it's amazing; and the Film section was right next to the Mythology section, I swear I didn't move from the two for about half an hour.

For those looking for something to read to aid learning Spanish - I recently took an 'AS' level (ah, Night School...) and we were given Cronica de una muerte anunciada by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Lazarillo de Tornes, author mostly unknown, both of which come recommended and both of which have English translations, in the latter case online.

I don't know if that's any help, but I live to serve. Apparently.

pangloss

17:11 / 27.03.06

ex: I may be biased (my ficsuit is stolen from the book), but I think Voltaire's Candide would be a good choice. It's short, smart, and laugh-out-loud funny. There's a lot of philosophy in there, much of it in the form of pot-shots at various schools of philosophy/religion.

The language isn't too bad, either: have a look at the Gutenberg edition and see if it suits.

sleazenation

17:45 / 27.03.06

It is frightening that I know other people who also read their Harry Potter in French...

18:12 / 27.03.06

Ex, I'm not sure I'd go so far as to recommend it, but my fourth year of French I had to read La Vouivre by Marcel Ayme. It was not easy going.

There's a film, too, apparently.

Fritz K Driftwood

21:04 / 27.03.06

There is also the French Pod Class (http://frenchpodclass.com/) on iTunes. I've listened to the first nine and they are pretty basic, but in later classes the teacher deals with books and reading. You have to get past alot of French pop music and conversations with the teacher and his girlfriend, so be prepared.

Shrug

22:01 / 27.03.06

Oh, yay, thanks for the help Xoc, shall be avoiding similarly risible mistakes from now on.
And for other learners of the Spanish language. Here's a pretty basic but handy site.
Link

Shrug

22:12 / 27.03.06

Also a list of Spanish newspapers online here,
El Paìs's being particularly good. Daily reading is good for improving profiency in the language, I'm told, and newspapers usually contain nice, neat, little, informative bites.

Baz Auckland

03:54 / 28.03.06

There are some nifty online flashcards here, for almost 40 languages... some (i.e. Spanish) have more vocab quizzes than others (i.e. Urdu)

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