How to learn a new language

[ntg]

While you could learn some basic gammar and volcab from books, web couirces, software etc. You can only really learn the language by living in that country AND forcing yourslef into an environment where the only way to live is to speak the langauge.You will also need to allocate lots of time, and when your brain is fresh not tired.

....

In fact my French has got worse in the last year as I am simply too busy to utter a word most days - at the same time my English has definitely got worse as well, something to be careful about if you plunge yourself into non-anglophones.

Agreed..

 

[Charlie Bravo]

I started to learn a bit of Dutch a few months back as I have a lot of Dutch friends and was seeing a Dutch girl at the time.
Quite difficult to pick up but I felt embarrassed not even knowing the basics.

Good luck with it!

 

[SlugForAButt]

Michel Thomas!
Google & no warez. Sorry, buy his CD's they are worth it.
Incredible, you'll be speaking foreign in no time.

EDIT: BTW Dutch sounds like no other European language, go from Germany (which I can kind of get along with) to Holland (???????)

DOUBLE EDIT: Just checked my hard drive, and yes he does a Dutch foundation course

 

[Sonea Fifer]

But something like French or Spanish would be the most useful.

This - my work has recently started quite a few different course's including foreign language classes, they're also including English in this as a large majority of the workforce on the floor are Eastern European.

I've signed up for beginners Spanish and am expecting the class to start at some point later this month. I'm also told we can take this up to SVQ level, I'm not too fussed on gaining any qualifications out of this but the fact that my work is paying for me to learn and all it will cost me is some of my spare time and a little commitment sounds good, I'm looking forward to getting started. Maybe worthwhile seeing if your place of employment does the same?

 

[SlugForAButt]

But something like French or Spanish would be the most useful.

+1
Learn French & Spanish & you'll get by in most places of the world even if it isn't their first language (it may be a derivation of the English, French or Spanish also).
Colonial languages are the way to go.