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Post by bjd on Jun 13, 2009 7:39:57 GMT
As I mentioned in the post above, I had hoped that my Spanish would miraculously return. Well, it did so, pretty much. Especially since the Spanish spoken in Ecuador is clear and not too fast. While waiting at Madrid airport on my way, I couldn't understand anything that local Spaniards said, but when standing in the boarding line, I spoke with Ecuadoreans and had only vocabulary gaps. And once there, I spent much of my time either with people willing to correct my Spanish, or else in total immersion with people who spoke nothing but Spanish, so I had to speak and listen.
I have another trip to S America planned for the end of the year but my motivation has gone downhill again. I really have to memorize those irregular verbs!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2009 11:39:52 GMT
I have resumed my efforts at learning Italian,this time with a friend. Avowed less time on the computer doing "other things".
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Post by lagatta on Jun 13, 2009 13:06:44 GMT
Can't you devote some of your computer time to Italian? There are lots of newspapers etc online as well as specifically-designed language-learning materials.
I'm doing that for German now - listen to the news on Deutsche Welle and Der Spiegel.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 13, 2009 14:48:17 GMT
As I mentioned in the post above, I had hoped that my Spanish would miraculously return. Well, it did so, pretty much. Especially since the Spanish spoken in Ecuador is clear and not too fast. While waiting at Madrid airport on my way, I couldn't understand anything that local Spaniards said ... I learned Spanish in Madrid when I was a child -- the same Spanish that now sounds odd to me. While viewing the film La Mala Educación with two Mexican friends, I was privately embarrassed that I was having so much trouble understanding the dialogue. When the film ended, their first comments were on the lines of, "I would have enjoyed that so much more if I'd understood what they were saying!"
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2009 14:59:50 GMT
Can't you devote some of your computer time to Italian? There are lots of newspapers etc online as well as specifically-designed language-learning materials. I'm doing that for German now - listen to the news on Deutsche Welle and Der Spiegel. What I really meant by that was less time on here. Makes sense to do some language tutorial on line.
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Post by rikita on Jun 14, 2009 7:44:34 GMT
no travel plans but still trying to learn japanese. i mainly use online sources for that...
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Post by Kimby on Jul 6, 2009 2:48:40 GMT
My next trip will be Australia. Though it will be a challenge, I plan to pick up the language as I go. ;-)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2009 4:06:52 GMT
It's a tricky one.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2009 11:07:29 GMT
Can't you devote some of your computer time to Italian? There are lots of newspapers etc online as well as specifically-designed language-learning materials. I'm doing that for German now - listen to the news on Deutsche Welle and Der Spiegel. Lagatta,can you give me some good links for Italian newspapers or anything you think might be helpful? Thanks,
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Post by lagatta on Jul 6, 2009 11:56:16 GMT
I'm on the RAI (public broadcaster) mailing list, with cultural info. Will try to find it. Here is a broad list of media in Italy: www.kidon.com/media-link/it.phpWhat level are you at? Do you speak any other Romance languages, such as Spanish (Castillian), French or Portuguese? bbc has a well-organised short course for beginners: www.bbc.co.uk/languages/italian/lj/The about.com sites always have some good pointers (though they explain everything in English, which can be a bad habit): italian.about.com/ I haven't been teaching Italian recently, so I hadn't looked at the Italian one. They have some interesting timely content, about questions to Berlusconi (indeed) and Tendopoli - the tent citiy outside Aquila that is becoming far too permanent - well, you know a lot about incompetent assistance for disaster victims. I'll get back to you with more sites I have bookmarked, though most are dictionaries, or perhaps obscure cultural stuff.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2009 12:25:15 GMT
Am at a very basic level. Had several years of French so know grammatics but horrible speaking skills. Grazie!
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Post by happytraveller on Jul 6, 2009 12:32:02 GMT
Casimira, the most important thing you have to understand when going to Italy is: Ciao Bella
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Post by lagatta on Jul 6, 2009 13:27:13 GMT
Bella, e bello! casimira, even if you don't recall your French (or Spanish, Portuguese etc) the grammar background will help you; it is an advantage over starting from zero. Will you have the opportunity to sign up for a class at a local school or community centre? If you can, you'll meet other people interested in Italy. Of course, there is a long and storied Italian presence in New Orleans. www.airf.org/
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2009 16:21:40 GMT
I have met a few of the people involved. I think Bixa knows a few too. That series of books put out are really wonderful. I found some family photos in one of the issues about where I'm from in NY. Thanks again.
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Post by spindrift on Jul 6, 2009 20:29:17 GMT
I am thinking of ditching Japanese for a term and starting Spanish. I feel the urge to visit Mexico and South America..........
If I could find the motivation I could learn the two languages at the same time.
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Post by rikita on Jul 6, 2009 22:28:47 GMT
スピヌヅリフトーさん - 日本語とスペイン語のべんきょうしてほうがいいですよ!
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 6, 2009 23:55:25 GMT
*throws Spanish-learning thought waves at Spindrift*
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Post by spindrift on Jul 7, 2009 18:23:24 GMT
Rikita-san! Konbanwa! Nihon-go wa totemo yasashii demo Supein-go wa totemo muzukashii desu ne?
#12411? Wakarimasen. Setsumei o kudasai!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2009 19:01:26 GMT
*throws Spanish-learning thought waves at Spindrift* that was very effective Bixa,I am impressed.
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Post by rikita on Jul 7, 2009 22:09:06 GMT
well that number just sneaked in there somehow, no idea why... 私には日本語がむずかしいです am a bit frustrated today, always when i think i get a grip on things, something new comes up...
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Post by rikita on Jul 7, 2009 22:09:25 GMT
oh, another number. weird.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2009 1:42:32 GMT
looks kind of like a fortune cookie with the lucky numbers included.
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Post by rikita on Jul 8, 2009 19:38:39 GMT
yeah. today's lucky number is z 88 then.
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Post by spindrift on Jul 9, 2009 12:45:52 GMT
Ah! Sumimasen! Watashi wa baka desu! Mochiron Nihon-go ga totemo muzukashii desu.
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Post by rikita on Jul 9, 2009 21:51:18 GMT
今日わ日本語があまり難しくありません。。。
スピンヅリフツ-さんはwww.smart.fmとwww.lang8.comがしっていますか?
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Post by nic on Jul 13, 2009 8:52:25 GMT
I speak a smattering of six different languages. While I wish I was fluent in them all, it's just enough to get by. Directions, ordering food, pleasantries: these I can do; anything more is pushing it, but I continuously work at it.
French is the one I am closest to being fluent in. I should probably focus on that one for the time being. I'd also like to become fluent in Arabic and Veneziano.
Does anybody know how good the Alliance Française's classes are? I have been considering signing up for one of their courses.
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Post by spindrift on Jul 14, 2009 13:34:08 GMT
Konnichiwa! Nihongo wa sekai de mottomo muzukashii to iwarete imasu. Watashi wa kono e-meiru no hito wa shirimasen! Atsui natsu no hi o tanoshinde kudasai
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Post by rikita on Jul 14, 2009 22:11:31 GMT
spindrift-san - wakarimasen deshita...
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Post by spindrift on Jul 15, 2009 9:21:28 GMT
Rikita-san -
"It is said that Japanese is the most difficult language in the world!
I do not know those email addresses (that you gave me)...
The hot summer days are to be enjoyed (by you)"
'Irawate imasu = it is said' 'mottomo' = the most 'tanoshinde = to be enjoyed'
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Post by rikita on Jul 15, 2009 21:32:22 GMT
ah, arigatou gozaimasu!
well, you should check out the sites then, i at least am finding them quite useful...
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