Language Learning

[Sunny Beach]

Language learning is useful but difficult, at least if you don’t need to use your skills at work. I think that it is so easy to forget your skill and that’s why I am here now.

Best regards Sunny Beach

[Yucca 69]

You have to save money and leave to the foreign countries, then you have to use your skills.



Best regards; Yucca69

[Eager to learn]

I agree that you most have some good reasons to learn foreign language. It doesn’t motivate you enough to only civilize yourself without having some need to use the language. Do you agree?

Best regards; Eager to learn

[The Virtual Coyote]

I promised to my self I don’t read nothing but English language (or Swedish) books or magazines. In that way I’ve learned very much. Get a foreign Pen Pal; it gives you motivation to learn language.

-The virtual Coyote-

[Another eager learner]

agree that you most have some good reasons to learn foreign language. It doesn’t motivate you enough to only civilize yourself without having some need to use the language. Do you agree?

Best regards; Eager to learn

Dear Eager to learn,

I do agree and then again I don't. The other day I counted the number of foreign languages I have studied in my life: seven. I don't think I could find my way to the railway station in most of them. Has it been a waste of a lot of valuable time?

Regards

Another eager learner

[Ritva]

Dear Eager Learners

I quite agree with you that the need (or interest) to use a foreign language plays a big role in learning the language.

I myself have studied four languages in addition to my native Finnish. Some of them I have actually had a chance (or need) to use actively, others not. If I at some point have used the language actively and managed 'to find my way to the railway station', I still feel good about it and quite confident (itseluottamusta). Some of these languages I haven't used for many years but if I needed them, they would start to come back little by little. Activating them will take some time. I just have to accept it.

One of my languages I've only learnt (at quite a high level as well) but never really actively used. To get that language onto the level of 'finding my way to the railway station' will take a lot of practice and time. Well, I think that 'Practice makes perfect' and sooner or later I need to give myself time to practise even the basic things. Still, I think that the basis is there somewhere and I might proceed quite well if I first gave myself the chance to do the basic practising.

Was it a waste of time or not? I don't know. Now, being a language teacher, I know that I should have had more experiences of success with that language. Concrete experiences of managing to do something in that language, not only doing well in grammar exams! If I ever continue to learn that language (which is Russian, by the way), I will look for these kinds of experiences. I will learn a sentence and I will make sure I can use that in the way I might want to use it in 'real life'.

Cheerio

Ritva - practice makes perfect fan

[February Star]

Practice makes perfect - I agree with you on that.

Cheers

Febraary Star

[Alice]

Lifelong learning in Finland

What do you think about this?
Are you interested languages skills?
Are you going abroad?
People will be healthier and happier, when they can do someting interesting.
Many Adult Education centers were made many years ago.
Whose were those centers built? Thank you!
WE CAN LEARN AND ENJOY NOW.
Best regards! ALICE

[poole pirate]

Think of us poor English people who would love to speak other languages, but we can't find people who don't want to speak and practice their English! I'm only joking. I have been very lazy with my language learning, as I know that I will find someone who speaks English virtually wherever I am in Europe. If you live in another country, and don't learn the language properly, it is disrespectful to the people of that country, and you miss out on so much. Believe me, I have been guilty of this. poole pirate.

[Ritva]

Dear Alice and Poole Pirate

thank you for your messages

In Finland, Adult Education Centres (kansalais- ja työväenopistot) are excellent places to study foreign languages, for example. You can learn the basic structures, you can practice them with other students and then, at some point, in real-life situations as well.

And luckily, the Finnish Tv does offer programmes without dubbing. We can learn a lot of the language in our home surroundings.

Well, Poole Pirate, your fate as a Brit is to manage almost all over the world in your native language but as you mentioned, it deprives you of the need and opportunity to use a new language in these situations. It requires a lot more effort from you to use the foreign language you have been studying.

All this made me remember one song with interesting words

I’ve never been to Athens
and I’ve never been to Rome.
I’ve only seen the pyramids
in picture books at home.

I’ve never sailed across the sea
or been inside the plane
I’ve always spent my holidays
in Brighton in the rain.

I’ve never eaten foreign food
or drunk in a foreign bar.
I’ve never kissed a foreign girl
or driven a foreign car.

I’ve never had to find my way
in a country I don’t know.
I’ve always known just where I am
and where I’ll never go.

I’ve read travel books by writers
who have been to Pakistan.
I’ve heard people telling stories
of adventures in Iran.

I’ve watched TV documentaries
about China and Brazil.
But I’ve never been abroad myself
it’s making me feel ill.

I’ve studied several languages
like Indian-Malay.
I’ve learnt lots of useful sentences
I’ve never been able to say.

The furthest place I’ve ever been
was to the Isle of Man
and that was full of tourists
from Jamaica and Japan.