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Greetings Martha, Grant, and Fellow Linguaphiles,
My "eptitide" for the English language is a jealous mistress, rejecting all of my many efforts over the years to acquire a second language.
For instance, I would love to love Spanish, but Spanish won't love me back...or am I required to drive a taxi cab in Puerto Vallarta to prove that my love for Her is true?
Like water off a ducks backs, for me second languages are summarily repelled by an impermeable mental membrane.
It seems I'm second-language proof...or am I simply lazy, or too old at 65, or do some folk just plain "lack the knack" for second languages?
Any help certainly can't hurt,
Tom
tzarnek@mc.net
McHenry, IL
Greetings Tom, and welcome to the forum!
Conventional wisdom says second languages are more easily learned when you're young and the brain is more "flexible." But there are compelling results to be had from what they call "immersion" training. That's how I learned German at age 21 in two semesters. I don't speak or read it that often, but could survive in Munich if I had to. 🙂
Now that I'm (much) older and living in Arizona, I've been trying to pick up Spanish as a third language, but it's been a slow process.
If you're serious about learning another language I highly recommend the Rosetta Stone software. It has great reviews and a solid track record ... used by both military and government personnel (and tons of civilians). I'm thinking about getting a copy for Spanish, but at this time can't commit to the daily practice routine. I know 4 people who have used it (3 for Spanish and 1 for Chinese) and they tell me they feel fluent and confident with their training.
I'm sure some people are better at picking up another language than others who might "lack the knack," but I believe anyone can do it if they seriously try. You can currently get the Spanish version of Rosetta Stone for $139 for 12 months (which is all it should take if you can commit to the routine). Good luck!
Greetings Heimhenge,
I appreciate your warm welcome, and your detailed comments. Thanks a bunch.
Here's my new strategy for acquiring Spanish as a second language: I'm going to teach myself! Sounds odd, I know, but here's the deal: I'm simply going to acquire Spanish words and phrases that are meaningful, comfortable, and useful to me, and I'm going to bury them so deeply into my psyche that they'll have no choice but to "take root" there. Anyway, that's the theory.
I'm also hoping that the grammar, syntax, usage, and idioms will eventually just "rub off" on me. I regard this as an "intuitive" as opposed to "conceptual" approach to learning a language--this is, after all, akin to how I acquired English in the first place. A final odd thought, oddly expressed: it seems that I always learn better when I first "understand" a subject before I try to learn it formally. Sigh...not my most successful expressive effort.
Happy linguiphilia,
Tom
tzarnek said: I’m simply going to acquire Spanish words and phrases that are meaningful, comfortable, and useful to me ...
Yeah, you could do it that way. For example, take the useful phrase "Where is the bathroom?" (a good one to know). Run over to Google Translate and convert that to Spanish as "¿Dónde está el baño?" and copy and paste to your list of useful phrases for study and memorization. Repeat for next phrase.
Once you get to some critical mass of phrases you'll start to see some patterns emerging in terms of syntax and grammar. How many phrases will be "critical mass" is hard to say ... probably depends on which phrases you choose. Not sure you'll pick up any idioms that way though.
Buena suerte con su proyecto!
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Grant Barrett
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