Learning a foreign language

[Lucas Wiseman]

Has anyone tried Rosetta Stone's products for learning Spanish? I took Spanish for two years in high school but only remember a few words. I'm headed to Mexico in a couple months for two weeks (on business) and would like to be able to communicate a little bit while I'm there. Just wondering how Rosetta Stone has worked for others or any other suggestions for learning basic Spanish. I considered just taking a week off and doing nothing but watch Telemundo, but I'm not so sure that's the best approach

 

[Dyno]

I've never used Rosetta Stone, but someone I know did in advance of a long trip to Italy. She said she learned and retained quite a bit. Unfortunately, she said once she got over there, the people she was dealing with all wanted to practice their English, so she didn't get to use much of her newly learned Italian.

 

[PeteyPirate]

Among language professionals, Pimsleur is said to have the best products:

http://www.simonsays.com/content/index.cfm?PID=523078&tab=13

Very pricey, though.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Good news: I'm bilingual.

Bad news: They're English and Profanity. Sorry, Webby.

 

[Brooklyn Bridge]

This saves me from having to start a new post. I was thinking of doing the exact same thing. I heard Rosetta stone was an easy way to learn. And they're not too expensive, about $200. My question, should I take up Spanish or French? Spanish for obvious reasons, would be practical, (esp in this line of work) but I travel to Canada once a year and would like to make it over to Europe at some point, therefore French.

So, Spanish, or French? Thanks.

 

[Lyman_Bostock]

This saves me from having to start a new post. I was thinking of doing the exact same thing. I heard Rosetta stone was an easy way to learn. And they're not too expensive, about $200. My question, should I take up Spanish or French? Spanish for obvious reasons, would be practical, (esp in this line of work) but I travel to Canada once a year and would like to make it over to Europe at some point, therefore French.

So, Spanish, or French? Thanks.

I would say Spanish is much more practical. In Canada, French is spoken predominantly in Quebec, but in Montreal, most people (from what I can tell) are at least somewhat bilingual.

As far as Europe is concerned, English is probably more widespread than French is. It's very easy to get by in Europe in English these days (as opposed to 10-15 years ago). It's how a lot of Europeans communicate with each other, let alone North Americans.

 

[KG]

Man I only remembered because of this thread but I have the French one somewhere. I had gotten it on a whim and then went back to school and didn't have time to do it. I need to find it.

Come hang out around any fast food joint in Atlanta if you want to learn Spanish. I don't necessarily mean that in a negative way. Just from living in the metro Atlanta area I've picked up enough Spanish to be able to read a sign and figure out what it's talking about. Sometimes I can somewhat follow a conversation going on nearby. What's funny is when it's a couple of guys making sexual remarks, thinking none of the American chicks around them have a clue. I'll turn to them and give them "the glare." It's a hoot to see the look on their faces.

 

[User 1019]

The Army offers Rosetta Stone to soldiers at no cost. When I finish flight school, which'll be about 18 months, I tink I'm going to pick up one, although I have no idea which it'll be.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Ivate a la mierda!

The only phrase you'll ever need in Mexico... ;D

 

[FileNotFound]

This saves me from having to start a new post. I was thinking of doing the exact same thing. I heard Rosetta stone was an easy way to learn. And they're not too expensive, about $200. My question, should I take up Spanish or French? Spanish for obvious reasons, would be practical, (esp in this line of work) but I travel to Canada once a year and would like to make it over to Europe at some point, therefore French.

So, Spanish, or French? Thanks.

I would say Spanish is much more practical. In Canada, French is spoken predominantly in Quebec, but in Montreal, most people (from what I can tell) are at least somewhat bilingual.

As far as Europe is concerned, English is probably more widespread than French is. It's very easy to get by in Europe in English these days (as opposed to 10-15 years ago). It's how a lot of Europeans communicate with each other, let alone North Americans.

I spent quite a bit of time in Montréal the last couple of years, and I found myself actually surprised at how many people DON'T speak English well. I understand the farther north you go in Québec, the more true that is.

For getting around in Europe, English will do just fine. For getting around in the southern U.S., Mexico or South America, Spanish is much more practical.

 

[Human_Paraquat]

I picked up the Arabic version of Rosetta about a year back for real cheap but never got around to it. Thanks for the reminder -- summer project!

 

[leo1]

i guess great minds think alike. lately i have been thinking about picking up the spanish version of rosetta stone sometime later this year. i have no idea how well it will work.

 

[Lucas Wiseman]

I decided to go ahead and order the Rosetta Stone... it was like $230... however, there is a six-month guarantee and you can return it for any reason within six months for a full refund. So if I don't like it or I get everything I need out of it, I will just return it.

 

[Brooklyn Bridge]

I know a bit of Spanish, but its not words you'd want to repeat unless you want to get shot by the Latin Kings. Its just not Atlanta, there are parts of Boston, or any other large Northeast city where you can hear spanish. How much would being bilingual help in getting a new job? Its gotta account for something? NO?

I too am suprised at how much I can "read" the French in Montreal. I can basically tell what's going on by looking at it for a few minutes. Its just the whole conversation thing gets me.

 

[User 1019]

The Army pays damn good money to those who are proficient in other languages. One of my lieutenant buddies gets paid extra for speaking Japanese -- he's stationed in Germany -- while another gets extra for Russian.

Yeah. It counts for something.

 

[Del_B_Vista]

You might also try poking around iTunes for free podcasts. I found one for Italian that was pretty good for the basics, and I never got past about the third 10-minute podcast of more than two dozen.

 

[Football_Bat]

The Army pays damn good money to those who are proficient in other languages. One of my lieutenant buddies gets paid extra for speaking Japanese -- he's stationed in Germany -- while another gets extra for Russian.

Yeah. It counts for something.

I had a chance to go to DLI and skipped it. I'm kicking myself every day.

 

[JR]

Spanish is easier to learn than French if that's any help.

As far as Quebec, goes. yeah a lot of people in Montreal and Quebec City are bilingual but in the outlying areas, particularly the rural parts, it's French patois only.

If you're travelling in Europe, French is probably more practical.

German's good too.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Webby, let me know how that Rosetta Stone stuff helps you. I'd like to learn Spanish and Chinese and have been mulling over Rosetta.

 

[Flash]

I know a bit of Spanish, but its not words you'd want to repeat unless you want to get shot by the Latin Kings. Its just not Atlanta, there are parts of Boston, or any other large Northeast city where you can hear spanish. How much would being bilingual help in getting a new job? Its gotta account for something? NO?

I too am suprised at how much I can "read" the French in Montreal. I can basically tell what's going on by looking at it for a few minutes. Its just the whole conversation thing gets me.

Reading it, I find, is a lot easier than listening to it. I have bilingual friends and when they go off on tangents in French, I'm usually lost, picking up the odd word here and there.

But translation through reading, I'm usually pretty good.