Hello, :o

Today I want to ask you about a simple question that had been turning in my mind, and I do really want to know your opinion.
The question is: What is the best way to learn a foreign language –case of the English language- ? In other words if someone wants really to master the language is reading or speaking sufficient for him or not?:o!!!

For me as a learner I like to: read English books, listen to an English speaker and watch English documentaries. So is this sufficient for learning a foreign language ?!!:p

Hello, :o

Today I want to ask you about a simple question that had been turning in my mind, and I do really want to know your opinion.
The question is: What is the best way to learn a foreign language –case of the English language- ? In other words if someone wants really to master the language is reading or speaking sufficient for him or not?:o!!!

For me as a learner I like to: read English books, listen to an English speaker and watch English documentaries. So is this sufficient for learning a foreign language ?!!:p

inso.us


Your English seems very good, so obviously you are not American. Another good way to learn is to live and work in the country.

Col

ya Thanks for Your nice Reply...:mad:

Reading is good. Start with young reader material and work your way up to more adult fare. That will give you a sense of the written word.

Perhaps rent a few DVD movies intended for family viewing to include small children. For example, some of the old Disney classics. They will avoid complex and contradictory language uses.

Work your way up through general family viewing to stuff with PG13 ratings. When you get to R rated stuff, that will include lots of slang, colloquialisms, and the like. I'm suggesting rentals for all of those because if you come across an odd turn of phrase, you can look it up on the Internet and then go back to that part of the movie using scene selection to get the flow of the language for that phrase.

I've found that speakers of English as a second language have the greatest problem with alternate words for the same concept. We are talking about euphemisms here, plus idioms and double-entendres.

You might also wish to visit a library. Try to find old copies of a magazine called "Maledicta" - which was dedicated to presenting linguistic oddities and interesting linguistic comparisons between cultures.

Case in point: Maledicta once published an article given 117 ways to express the concept of having expelled gas from one's anus. In common language in English (very common), this is a fart. But even in English, there are literally dozens of ways to say this without using the pithy four-letter words. Some examples - all of them applying either to the verb or the noun ...

barking spiders
stepping on a frog
cutting the cheese (reference to smell)
passing gas
poot - often used as a child's nickname, particularly an infant
toot
rip; also "ripped your pants with that one"
"Thought I heard a moose"
let one out
one-cheek sneak
silent-but-deadly
quiet little ooze-out
ass whistle
fog horn
whoopee cushion without the cushion

You get the idea. It will be the colorful euphemisms that tell you a lot about a language. Once you understand the euphemisms, you will speak, read, and hear like a native. Probably better in some cases.

Your English seems very good, so obviously you are not American. Another good way to learn is to live and work in the country.

Col

That's very interesting Col, it seems to me you're folks have been doing a real number on the language in the last few decades.

Are ya'll not teaching the Queens English in your schools lately?

Hello, :o

Today I want to ask you about a simple question that had been turning in my mind, and I do really want to know your opinion.
The question is: What is the best way to learn a foreign language –case of the English language- ? In other words if someone wants really to master the language is reading or speaking sufficient for him or not?:o!!!

For me as a learner I like to: read English books, listen to an English speaker and watch English documentaries. So is this sufficient for learning a foreign language ?!!:p



Rosetta Stone of course.

rip; also "ripped your pants with that one"


Be aware that the word "pants" means "an item of underwear" in the UK and a pair of trousers in the USA. See how the Americans have ruined our language?

As Doc is American, his first language is not the Queen's English, I suggest you try to get hold of UK published books and DVD's so as not to fall into those awful Americanisms that blight our language. Unless you plan on living in the USA of course, but that would not necessarily be a good plan. If you use Americanisms in the UK you will look rather stupid.

Josie - "Ya'll" is just lazy slang - not something to teach someone who wants to progress in English.

Col

Col how could you miss this

it seems to me you're folks have been

you're is an abreviation of you are, quite nonsensical in that phrase, it should be your.

Brian

From personal experience I can vouch for the technique known as "Horizontal Berlitz". Just find yourself a partner who is fluent in the language you want to learn.

Improved my swedish no end when I met the lady who is now my wife

Rabbie is correct I have a young relation who failed his gcse French but was speaking pretty fluent Chinese in no time as he had to get past the girls grandmother to date her. (The girl that is not the grandmother :D )
Nothing beats 1 to 1 tuition and a real need.

Brian

Col how could you miss this



you're is an abreviation of you are, quite nonsensical in that phrase, it should be your.

Brian

I shall refrain from posting, until my morning coffee.

I shall refrain from posting, until my morning coffee.

LOL , Col can't use that excuse for missing it.

Brian

I admit, I did miss it.

Oh, and if the person wants to learn correct English in the UK, then don't live north of the M4 corridor.

Bri - I heard the song "Sorrow" by The Merseybeats on the radio today, is the singer really singing "With your long blonde her and your eyes of blue"? Can you not say hair correctly in Liverpool?

Col

From personal experience I can vouch for the technique known as "Horizontal Berlitz". Just find yourself a partner who is fluent in the language you want to learn.

Improved my swedish no end when I met the lady who is now my wife

I dated a German girl in the 60's when I had a flat in London, she lived opposite me in Hampstead - she was the full European foreigner, hairy armpits, spoke no English, brunette, stunning looking. Ahhh, memories. . . . . . .

Phew!!! need to lie down now, where's my GTN spray?

Col

Be aware that the word "pants" means "an item of underwear" in the UK and a pair of trousers in the USA. See how the Americans have ruined our language?

Actually, "ripped your pants" and "ripped your panties" BOTH appear in American English for that particular euphemism. And as far as the Queen's English, I'm not THAT far off in my syntax or understanding of the "east of the big pond" variety of the language. If anything will ruin our language, it is the young folk who use text-speak because of the 160-character limit on messages. Or is that 140 characters? I don't have texting on my phone so I'm not sure.

I knew a Japanese woman once. I don't recall learning a single Nipponese word.

But, as an American once said, “Ignorance is Bliss”. So why be wise?

I admit, I did miss it.

Oh, and if the person wants to learn correct English in the UK, then don't live north of the M4 corridor.

Bri - I heard the song "Sorrow" by The Merseybeats on the radio today, is the singer really singing "With your long blonde her and your eyes of blue"? Can you not say hair correctly in Liverpool?

Col

Hey it was her hair
or maybe they meant she was a tall fair skinned bit of stuff.

Brian

BTW The problem with living South of the M4 corridor is that nobody will talk to you.

But, as an American once said, “Ignorance is Bliss”.

Is that why the majority of Americans are happy.
;)

Brian

Is that why the majority of Americans are happy.
;)

Brian

And why not?

Interesting that the entire world uses "English" as a near universal language - and it is American English in the majority of instances. So it appears when Britian lost the war, they also lost the language. Too bad.

Interesting that the entire world uses "English" as a near universal language - and it is American English in the majority of instances. So it appears when Britian lost the war, they also lost the language. Too bad.
At least we went on to become a civilised nation and you lot better start learning Chinese:rolleyes:

At least we went on to become a civilised nation and you lot better start learning Chinese:rolleyes:

To that I can only say "God Save The Queen", whatever that means. Blimey, you blokes are a daft lot. :eek:

Here is an aid for any not-Brits reading this thread, in case you would like to find out what they are saying:

http://www.translatebritish.com/dictionary.php

Blooming nora, they are bloody-well arsed, aren't they?

Interesting that the entire world uses "English" as a near universal language - and it is American English in the majority of instances. So it appears when Britian lost the war, they also lost the language. Too bad.

It would be useful then, to the rest of the world, if you could pronounce words correctly. Try pronouncing words with a double "t" as a double "t" and not a "d".

As in "better" not "bedder" or "Beatles" not "Beadles". The statue of "Liberdy"? Uhhh - it makes me cringe when I hear Americans speak.
We have one doing our local TV weather forecast, I understand it to be true that many people have complained because he cannot pronounce words correctly. Personally, I turn over the channel if he comes on.

Oh, and can you try spelling "Britain" correctly, it makes you look a bit of a prat when you can't even do that.

Col

It would be useful then, to the rest of the world, if you could pronounce words correctly. Try pronouncing words with a double "t" as a double "t" and not a "d".

As in "better" not "bedder" or "Beatles" not "Beadles". The statue of "Liberdy"? Uhhh - it makes me cringe when I hear Americans speak.
We have one doing our local TV weather forecast, I understand it to be true that many people have complained because he cannot pronounce words correctly. Personally, I turn over the channel if he comes on.

Oh, and can you try spelling "Britain" correctly, it makes you look a bit of a prat when you can't even do that.

Col

Really? It would be less effort if you merely changed the channel instead of turning it over. I think perhaps you have a floater in your dinges over the terrible humiliations your country suffered in the 18th, 19th and 20th century. Must be tough losing an empire and embarrassing to still support a royal family who are mere figureheads. By the way, while we are prattling on, can you explain the Brits extreme lack of fashion sense and their aversion to dentistry? I have long been curious about that.

Really? It would be less effort if you merely changed the channel instead of turning it over. I think perhaps you have a floater in your dinges over the terrible humiliations your country suffered in the 18th, 19th and 20th century. Must be tough losing an empire and embarrassing to still support a royal family who are mere figureheads. By the way, while we are prattling on, can you explain the Brits extreme lack of fashion sense and their aversion to dentistry? I have long been curious about that.
Better our royal family than a lying cheating president like Richard Nixon

Better our royal family than a lying cheating president like Richard Nixon
You got me there, Rabbie. Or a cowboy like King George of the U.S. But poor Col would have never arrived that that brilliant comeback.

To that I can only say "God Save The Queen", whatever that means. Blimey, you blokes are a daft lot. :eek:
god bless the Disunited States:rolleyes:

Better our royal family than a lying cheating president like Richard Nixon

Don't forget the outstanding George W Bush. If ever you need a lesson in how to look after your own interests and make millions in the process, or to start a war and screw up the world balance - he's your man.

The British Royal family earn millions in tourism, mainly off of the Yanks and Japanese. If the US populace feel the same way as you, then why do they come here to spend their tax fiddled dollars?
Prince Charles does not draw from the civil list and the Queen (God Bless Her) has made cost cutting savings in the Royal household especially on expenses.

Anyway, this discussion is pointless - childish tit-for-tat.

To get back to the topic, learning correct English by living and working in the country is an excellent way to learn - and if you want a pigeon type English, then the USA is good for that. But don't expect people outside the USA to understand what you say.

Col

Let be known to all concerned that I have high regard for the English people and government. Recent comments by me were tongue-in-cheek in response to friendly (I hope) anti-American comments. In no way were they meant to offend. In regards to the language, however, I will venture to say that there is NO "correct" English. Even the English have a hard time understanding many of their own countrymen (countrypeople?). Dialects creep in no matter how large or small the population. Take a look at Ireland. It is a small island with a smallish population, but there are at least 4 distinct dialects of English spoken. If you get into Gaeilge (Irish Gaelic) then there are at least three dialects of that. "Language is a social phenomenon. In America — as anywhere — it’s shaped by contact, conflict and incredible cultural complexity." according to noted linguisitics professor Dennis Baron. And because it is a social phenomena subject to influences of new cultures, technologies, fads and a host of other things, it is always changing, adapting, evolving. And so I offer that the English spoken in London is no more "pure" or "correct" than English spoken in Boston, New York, San Francisco or Topeka. They are all English.

Chipper is talking a lot of sense in that a dynamic modern language such as English will continue to evolve. There was a Professor involved in University entrance selection on the Tele recently who suggested that in the future txtspeak would become acceptable as a whole generation would have grown up using it.

I have no objection to the americanisation of the language, color makes more sense than colour but I do prefer traveller to traveler, but I suppose that is because I'm used to it, and why must we retain the French way of ending so many words, I remember a guide in Spain saying that he must remember not to say center but centre (with an emphasis on the r ) as we were English, I think that says it all.

Brian

Let be known to all concerned that I have high regard for the English people and government. Recent comments by me were tongue-in-cheek in response to friendly (I hope) anti-American comments. In no way were they meant to offend. In regards to the language, however, I will venture to say that there is NO "correct" English. Even the English have a hard time understanding many of their own countrymen (countrypeople?). Dialects creep in no matter how large or small the population. Take a look at Ireland. It is a small island with a smallish population, but there are at least 4 distinct dialects of English spoken. If you get into Gaeilge (Irish Gaelic) then there are at least three dialects of that. "Language is a social phenomenon. In America — as anywhere — it’s shaped by contact, conflict and incredible cultural complexity." according to noted linguisitics professor Dennis Baron. And because it is a social phenomena subject to influences of new cultures, technologies, fads and a host of other things, it is always changing, adapting, evolving. And so I offer that the English spoken in London is no more "pure" or "correct" than English spoken in Boston, New York, San Francisco or Topeka. They are all English.


I look like Austin Powers and I have been rather offended by your remarks.

Let be known to all concerned that I have high regard for the English people and government. Recent comments by me were tongue-in-cheek in response to friendly (I hope) anti-American comments. In no way were they meant to offend. In regards to the language, however, I will venture to say that there is NO "correct" English. Even the English have a hard time understanding many of their own countrymen (countrypeople?). Dialects creep in no matter how large or small the population. Take a look at Ireland. It is a small island with a smallish population, but there are at least 4 distinct dialects of English spoken. If you get into Gaeilge (Irish Gaelic) then there are at least three dialects of that. "Language is a social phenomenon. In America — as anywhere — it’s shaped by contact, conflict and incredible cultural complexity." according to noted linguisitics professor Dennis Baron. And because it is a social phenomena subject to influences of new cultures, technologies, fads and a host of other things, it is always changing, adapting, evolving. And so I offer that the English spoken in London is no more "pure" or "correct" than English spoken in Boston, New York, San Francisco or Topeka. They are all English.

Yes, but if you want to hear English in its most elegant form, you must go to Texas.

Even the English have a hard time understanding many of their own countrymen (countrypeople?).

Too right old chap. Try understanding someone from Newcastle / Birmingham or Liverpool. It's hard to believe they inhabit the same island.

Correct English is spoken in the home counties around the M4 / M25.

Brian is right about Spanish - Castillian Spanish (spoken in most of Spain), is different from South American Spanish.
Catalan of course (from the north east of Spain) is totally different.

Col

Correct English is spoken in the home counties around the M4 / M25.

Col

Absolutely, nobody enunciates English as elegantly as a Cockney.

Brian

Absolutely, nobody enunciates English as elegantly as a Cockney.

Brian
and you mustn't forget the Essex Whine

And because it is a social phenomena subject to influences of new cultures, technologies, fads and a host of other things, it is always changing, adapting, evolving. And so I offer that the English spoken in London is no more "pure" or "correct" than English spoken in Boston, New York, San Francisco or Topeka. They are all English.

True, ChipperT. It's what we get for speaking a language that isn't dead yet.

Uhhh - it makes me cringe when I hear Americans speak.
We have one doing our local TV weather forecast, I understand it to be true that many people have complained because he cannot pronounce words correctly. Personally, I turn over the channel if he comes on.


Col

Brilliant news!!!! It seems my (and many other) letters to the BBC have won the day, the Yank doing the weather has been removed, we now have an English young lady doing it. No doubt the ratings dropped every time the Yank came on.

Col

Brilliant news!!!! It seems my (and many other) letters to the BBC have won the day, the Yank doing the weather has been removed, we now have an English young lady doing it. No doubt the ratings dropped every time the Yank came on.

Col

Yes, we can't have someone making sence on British news programs.

Yes, we can't have someone making sence on British news programs.

We also need someone who can spell correctly.. . . . . .(sence?)

I don't think it was the fact he couldn't predict the weather, it was the way he pronounced the words e.g., "weatherwise, it will be a bedder day tomorrow" ugggh how awful it must be to speak like that.

Anyway he's gone now so that's all over.

Col

Yes, we can't have someone making sence on British news programs.
Ignoring the misspelling on "sense", that should be "programmes" should it not? :D

Ignoring the misspelling on "sense", that should be "programmes" should it not? :D

Whoops a daisy

Whoops a daisy
Yes, you know the Brits propensity for adding unnecessary letters to the simpliest of word, such as "programme", "colour" and "aluminium"... :p

Yes, you know the Brits propensity for adding unnecessary letters to the simpliest of word, such as "programme", "colour" and "aluminium"... :p

We didn't add them, you took them out.

Brian

I don't think it was the fact he couldn't predict the weather, it was the way he pronounced the words e.g., "weatherwise, it will be a bedder day tomorrow" ugggh how awful it must be to speak like that.

Anyway he's gone now so that's all over.

Col

You could have a Scouser, geordie or even a Glaswegian, anything but that awfull essex accent.

Brian

You could have a Scouser, geordie or even a Glaswegian, anything but that awfull essex accent.

Brian

I wonder if Col still has his west country accent?

I hope so.

Or he's gone all estuary?

Can we have a youtube video of you talking Col - say voiced intro to one of your bass vids?

Best way to learn another language is first to have a purpose to learn and then immerse yourself in the language as much as possible.
Most difficult language is english as it is a mutt language which has borrowed all of its words from other languages and has applied the the grammatical rules from the same sources just to add to the difficulty. It seems so difficult that for the majority of people who have it as their first language are unilingual, and they rarely have the capacity to learn even one other language.

Hello, :o

Today I want to ask you about a simple question that had been turning in my mind, and I do really want to know your opinion.
The question is: What is the best way to learn a foreign language –case of the English language- ? In other words if someone wants really to master the language is reading or speaking sufficient for him or not?:o!!!

For me as a learner I like to: read English books, listen to an English speaker and watch English documentaries. So is this sufficient for learning a foreign language ?!!:p

I wonder if Col still has his west country accent?

I hope so.

Or he's gone all estuary?

Can we have a youtube video of you talking Col - say voiced intro to one of your bass vids?

My West Country accent came flooding back last weekend as I spent the weekend in Bristol. My God they do talk wierd over there. . . . . . . Polish, Romanian, Lithuanian, Russian.:)

I don't think I speak like Ken Livingstone.
Col