Self-studying languages...

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kc8ufv
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29 Dec 2009, 3:02 pm

Aspie1 wrote:

It's the vast number of idiomatic expressions that gets me; you probably have to speak Russian from birth to understand them.

Idioms are the biggest hurdle in learning any language. Sometimes I swear people can't just say what they mean.

Nika
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Joined: 28 Dec 2009
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31 Dec 2009, 9:36 pm

Aspie1 wrote:

I've been self-studying Russian for a year by now, plus my friend from Belarus is helping me. I already know the alphabet, spelling, and pronunciation, but grammar is really hard. You conjugate the verbs like in Spanish, but you also decline the nouns and adjectives (I think Latin and maybe German has it too). This wasn't too difficult. It's the vast number of idiomatic expressions that gets me; you probably have to speak Russian from birth to understand them.

I think much harder than memorizing the prefixes and suffixes in Russian is when to use which case or which "go" verb. Proper usage was always much tougher to remember for me than the actual word formations.

gemstone123
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02 Jan 2010, 4:13 pm

Nika wrote:

gemstone123 wrote:

I'm self-studying a French GCSE and I've recently started learning a little Italian. Is anyone learning languages on their own?

Very cool. I speak both if you want to practice together.

I'm sort of teaching myself Polish and Polish Sign Language at the moment. I taught myself Portuguese, Farsi, American Sign Language, and bits and pieces of other languages. As you can see I really enjoy languages.

My self study Italian has lagged quite a bit. I really need to concentrate on my French so that I can take the exam. French isn't too bad once the different verbs are mastered though. I still need to improve my vocab though.

Wow those are an interesting mix of languages. Sign language huh? What made you interested in learning that?

Snazzlestick
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Joined: 1 Jan 2010
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02 Jan 2010, 4:42 pm

Nika wrote:

gemstone123 wrote:

I'm self-studying a French GCSE and I've recently started learning a little Italian. Is anyone learning languages on their own?

I could help you with Polish, I'm fluent in it

I've taught myself the Cyrillic alphabet so far but working onto teaching myself more Russian when I have the energy

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gemstone123
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02 Jan 2010, 4:45 pm

Is Russian a fun language to learn?

Snazzlestick
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02 Jan 2010, 4:55 pm

It is. It's pretty to look at and to hear Has a sort of sing-song variety to it, I think.

Netish
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03 Jan 2010, 11:45 am

I dabble in all sorts of language studies...but I can never seem to stick too it. I am best at reading and writing other languages as I would never practice it aloud.

Thus far I have basic spanish reading and understanding, minor reading and understanding French and Latin, tiny reading and understanding Japanese [kanjii and romanji (sp?)] and ASL (Signing), miniscule reading and understanding German

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