I know we have some forum members here who live in non-English speaking countries, but I'm not sure if they're real ferners or just expatriates. So this is the thread where you can brag about what languages you know.
I've been taking Russian as a B.A. requirement. I'm a lazy student who doesn't do much work beyond what's required...но ещё, Я немного говорю по-русски. Кто-нибудь с мной? Я хочу практику.
I spent a few years in Ukraine, and studied about 3/4 of the way through to a Russian Minor until it started taking over my major and got dropped like "Fat Man". So, I know Russian, but I don't use it so it's rusty. Mostly it's just filler on my resume' and I hope no one calls me on it. But if you would like to speak russian together for practice I would be willing. I'd have to set my computer up to type in Russian.
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I'm french, living in Paris so obviously, speak french fluently. should know spanish since my mother is spanish but haven't got around to it. she preferred to teach me english first.
Mix a little folly with your plans: It is sweet to be silly at the right moment.
Originally posted by brainofp: should know spanish since my mother is spanish but haven't got around to it.
I haven't gotten around to talking to my mom either. It just takes so much time growing up to listen to that lady and figure out what she is trying to communicate, and I had a lot to, like word finds on Cheerio boxes and drawing side views of cars in pencil.
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Originally posted by Shadrach: I spent a few years in Ukraine, and studied about 3/4 of the way through to a Russian Minor until it started taking over my major and got dropped like "Fat Man".
My freshmen year at college I decided it would be fun to take Japanese. Needless to say I took a withdrawal from the course before mid semester - better that than an F. I probably could've pulled out something respectable, but for my degree I would've had to taken a second level course in Japanese, and I wasn't ready to suffer through that.
==== What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.
Posts: 498 | Location: Care-a-lot | Registered: 16 July 2007
Originally posted by Shadrach: I spent a few years in Ukraine, and studied about 3/4 of the way through to a Russian Minor until it started taking over my major and got dropped like "Fat Man".
My freshmen year at college I decided it would be fun to take Japanese. Needless to say I took a withdrawal from the course before mid semester - better that than an F. I probably could've pulled out something respectable, but for my degree I would've had to taken a second level course in Japanese, and I wasn't ready to suffer through that.
Yeah, I can handle gammar worksheets, random one paragraph essays about sports you play, and memorizing foreign poems to recite on an oral exam. Three hours in the evening once a week plus homework is not a big deal, and you can learn quite a bit that way. but I arrived in a class that was wanting me to do all of that as well as spend five hours in a high school class assisting a Russian teacher, and I realized it was impossible while being a full time engineering student and working a part time job.
Language classes at a university are always available though. They are typically in the evenings and have a wide range of ages enrolled in them. After I graduate I will maybe take a class a year or something. I think everyone should study foreign languages. Most of the rest of the world raises their children to be bilingual from elementary school. Knowning how to communicate in a foreign language really just lets you understand better how different people think and live, and ultimate will help you communicate better in your own language.
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I am Brasilian so I speak portuguese. It's great having an awesome classic catalogue of Brasilian music i can enjoy but there really aren't many good more modern offerings from there in the music department, but i can definately recommend some great music from the 60's and 70's.
Posts: 54 | Location: Austin | Registered: 25 November 2007
living in the only fully bilingual province in Canada, i was awarded the oppurtunity to take early french immersion.. great program, but unfortunately, they've recently got rid of it and replaced it some sort of pseudo-french program. its a shame that young children won't be learning french at a young age anymore as I believe it teaches great independent learning skills.. and picking up a second language later in life is no doubt much more difficult
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However, I master the trick just like Nixon Causin terror, quick damage ya whole era
Originally posted by Midnight: I am Brasilian so I speak portuguese. It's great having an awesome classic catalogue of Brasilian music i can enjoy but there really aren't many good more modern offerings from there in the music department, but i can definately recommend some great music from the 60's and 70's.
Have you heard Bonde Do Role?
==== What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.
Posts: 498 | Location: Care-a-lot | Registered: 16 July 2007
There's not one fully bilingual province in Canada man. Some more than others, that's all. I'm guessing you're living in New Brunswick right? Anyway, cheers from Montreal!
French and english, of course
Posts: 2 | Location: Montreal | Registered: 03 April 2008
There's not one fully bilingual province in Canada man. Some more than others, that's all. I'm guessing you're living in New Brunswick right? Anyway, cheers from Montreal!
French and english, of course
well, we're the only "constitutionally bilingual province in the federation".
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However, I master the trick just like Nixon Causin terror, quick damage ya whole era