Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: How did you really learn a foreign language?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 71 posts

Re: Ask HN: How did you really learn a foreign language?

#21

Post by phicou »

I learned an unfamiliar language while spending two years in the Peace Corps. They have had many years to refine their language teaching materials. Still, I only learned the basics after 2 months of very intensive training.

Once I knew the basics, I was able to learn a bit more from friends and neighbors, especially children. Eventually I ended up dating and marrying a local. Even though she spoke fluent English, we would try to use the local language for anything not too detailed. This increased my vocabulary and comprehension.

Once I was able to use and understand words, a book that described some of the theory and formalities of the grammar really helped improve my ability to express myself. I went from "cargo cult speaking" to actually knowing why I was using the structures I used.

I still don't know as much as I'd like, and for more complicated statements, I have to use English.

For your situation, I wouldn't expect to get too much out of a "101" course, but if you really want to learn, you'll have many opportunities, especially with Spanish. Try to talk to the staff at Mexican restaurants, and write down any words or phrases you don't know, to look up later.

There is no substitute for hours speaking (and listening). That will give you plenty of opportunities to learn new words, new idioms used by different people, provide plenty of opportunities for people to politely correct you, and most importantly, improve your confidence in your abilities.

Re: Ask HN: How did you really learn a foreign language?

#22

Post by biohacker42 »

Quality of education. You're far from the only American I've heard say: I took x years of y and can't even say 'hi' in y.

I don't know what American schools do wrong, but Europeans have little trouble teaching kids to have a working knowledge of foreign languages in the same number of years.

The brute force approach would be to live in a place where the language you're trying to learn is native. English is my 3rd language but I didn't get really fluent in it until moving to the US.

Re: Ask HN: How did you really learn a foreign language?

#23

Post by alain94040 »

Spend your next one-month vacation in the country whose language you want to learn. It's that simple.

In the meantime, read all the books you can so you don't start from zero when you get there (although it will feel like you are starting from zero the first few days).

Re: Ask HN: How did you really learn a foreign language?

#24

Post by wushupork »

I learned "Kung Fu" mandarin when I trained with fresh off the boat professional martial artists who didn't speak a lick of English. The only way to communicate was for me to start learning mandarin.

That said, I believe there's no better way to learn a language than to live in the country and not speak English.

I was a diplomat brat and at various points in my life I could speak Bahasa Malay, Italian, and Hokien (does anyone even know what that is). However they all fell into disuse when I moved. But the reason I became fluent was because I was immersed in the people, all the kids, TV, everything.

I know many American teachers in Thailand who live in American neighborhoods and eat where foreigners eat. As a result they never learn any Thai.

Re: Ask HN: How did you really learn a foreign language?

#26

Post by hernan7 »

I guess learning a language works different for different people. Me, I took English classes for several years, but what really got me over the hump was reading Guitar Player magazine. Since I like playing the guitar, reading the magazine was interesting to me. And it was written for native English speakers, so no sugar-coating or "simplified" version there.

Curiously, once I was able to read Guitar Player in the bus without a dictionary by my side, I also became able to understand spoken English. I don't know why, really. I suppose I had gathered enough data from reading the magazine to be able to extract meaning from context not only when reading, but when listening to spoken English too.

Re: Ask HN: How did you really learn a foreign language?

#27

Post by zandorg »

I was in the top set for Maths and English, but in 5th (eg, 5th worst out of 6) set for French. I just couldn't be bothered to practise memorising the words.

The wierd thing is that I can remember foreign names with NO trouble. French names, Japanese (Masayoshi Son), etc.

Re: Ask HN: How did you really learn a foreign language?

#28

Post by pasbesoin »

Lots of exposure. Hardly comprehensive, but a few tips:

Destiños. A UIUC/public television teaching show with a running story.

http://www.learner.org/resources/series75.html

Find music in the language, with lyrics, that you like. When learning German and French, I listened to pop music that friends recommended. A lot of language learning is not specifically semantic; train your ears (and brain) to the sound of the language. Sung lyrics can also emphasize aspects of pronunciation and colloquial use in a way other sources may not.

Find engaging activities that use the language. Much more motivating. And allow yourself to be entertained by the process. Don't focus just on the end goal of being fluent; enjoy the learning process and each moment of use.

Re: Ask HN: How did you really learn a foreign language?

#29

Post by msbmsb »

Immersion and Usage.

Any opportunity to be surrounded by the language, and especially when you are forced to use it, will greatly increase your fluency. Not being too concerned about making mistakes and just speaking as much as you can is also important. Immersion and free usage after a base of grammar/vocab study is what works for me.

Post reply on HN