Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with foreignlanguages

Help me sound like I know a lot of foreign languages.

blahtsk — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:49:55 -0800

Help me sound like I know a lot of foreign languages. -I want to spend 30 mins a day for a month to sound as fluent in a foreign language as possible.
-I'll be using VTrain / leitner cardfile system / staggered repetition after the 30 days to maintain what I've learned.
-So in 6 months I should be pseudo-fluent in 6 languages...

The use cases are:
-Amaze co-workers with phrases like, "Good morning," "Let's go eat lunch," "Good night," "See you tomorrow."
-Dazzle strangers from faraway lands with phrases like "I only speak a little [LANGUAGE]," "I don't understand," "My name is [NAME]," "Nice meeting you," "I taught myself a little [LANGUAGE]," "What part of [COUNTRY] are you from," "Nice weather," etc.
-Make my wife swoon by saying "I love you" in a dizzying number of languages.

First I'll need a list of common interchanges, starting with the basics. Almost a flowchart of question:responses. For example:

SCENARIO 1: GOOD MORNING

A:
"Good morning."
"Good morning."

B:
"Good morning."
"Oh! Your [LANGUAGE] is very good!"
[Go to: SCENARIO 5:C, TALKING ABOUT [LANGUAGE]]

C:
"Good morning."
"How are you?"
[Go to: SCENARIO 3: WELL-BEING]

Then I'll need the actual translations and cultural insights that go along with each interchange in each language.

I think a simple way to do this would be to buy the basic Pimsleur for each language, and listen to one language a month. However, Pimsleur's curriculum goes into more detail than is necessary for the casual faux speaker.

What I would really appreciate, is if you guys know of any resources that will help me with my project, e.g.:
-Do you know of a list of common foreign language phrases that, say, covers 75% of "casual interchange" use cases?
-A site or product that provides audio specifically for commonly used phrases / interchanges?
-Any other tips or resources that come to mind.

Languages I already speak:
-English
-Japanese (intermediate)

Languages I want to learn the basics of:
-French
-Italian
-Mandarin
-Cantonese
-Hindi
-Urdu
-Spanish
-German
-Latin

Thanks in advance.

Learning Portuguese I think I'm learning Portuguese I really think so.

grapefruitmoon — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:17:59 -0800

Learning Portuguese, I think I'm learning Portuguese, I really think so. : Or at least, I'd like to be. I'm going to be making my first expedition to Portugal sometime this fall/winter and I would really like to learn some Portuguese first. I'm looking to pick up the basics (reading a menu, asking directions to the bathroom) and maybe hold down a basic conversation. Nothing too fancy.

I do speak two foreign languages, including French (which I'm told has a similar grammatical structure) so I'm not a language virgin. However, the last time I studied another language was in college, where I had those classes to go to and whatnot.

I live in Boston and I'd like to know if anyone has any experience with language classes around here (I'm not a student currently enrolled anywhere). Also, I'd really like to know about what "Teach Yourself Basic Portuguese In Your Sleep!" books/CDs or whatnot are actually useful and not just full of the "The monkey is on the branch" type information often found in intro level books.

Portuguese-specific programs/books are of course what I would most like to hear about, but I'm more than willing to check out general courses/books that helped you learn Swahili or Ancient Greek or whatever.

Videochat with strangers in foreign languages

fantasticninety — Thu, 29 May 2008 06:28:30 -0800

Is there a site, or link within Aim or iChat, where you can videochat in different languages? I'm looking for a way to communicate with strangers in different languages. Two scenarios interest me the most.
1. Half and half video exchange between talking in English and talking in the other language (ie, a site specifically setup for language exchange).
2. Sites for people in that native tongue to meet up and chat (for example, Italians videochatting about the latest soccer match, or their financial woes or whatever).

This would be with people using AIM or whatever equivalent.

What kinds of cool or unusual foreign-language utilizing jobs are there?

bitterkitten — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:24:25 -0800

What kinds of cool or unusual jobs might I be able to find that utilize foreign language skills? I've been in IT for about 11 years and am getting burnt on it. I never loved it, it's always just been "ok" for me, and my particular job is actually one of the ok-paying, extremely-low-stress IT jobs that I've found. I have always loved foreign languages, and while I am not fluent at the moment, I will make it my business to become so if I can find something that will pay me decently and provide benefits from the get-go. I say 'benefits from the get-go' because my health is not the best and I need the insurance. I might consider another country if I thought I could wing it there (I am in the U.S. presently).

I'm a pretty creative guy, have excellent English writing and speaking skills, been through 4th semester Spanish in college, not to mention all the IT support background. Doesn't have to be Spanish-y, language-wise, but that is the one I know the most of.

I do realize of course there are teacher & translator jobs, but besides those, anything else you can point me towards?

gracias, mefiters.

Which ( if any) US Presidents spoke/speak a foreign language?

Etta Hollis — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:18:40 -0800

My German coworkers recently asked me if George W. Bush spoke a foreign language or did he have to wear an earpiece the entire time during the G8. I never thought about it before, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't know a foreign language, at least well enough to hold a conversation. Which then made me think, have any of our Presidents had enough knowledge of a foreign language to hold their own in a conversation with other world leaders? A quick Google search came up with nothing.

How do you make due in an area where you do not speak the native language and you have no one that you know to help you?

mrzer0 — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 11:09:47 -0800

My fiancee and I are planning a honeymoon abroad, we're thinking of visiting Spain and/or France. Neither one of us are well spoken in the native languages... do we need to worry? What are people's experiences in this situation (just traveling abroad in general, to a place where you don't speak the language)? Is it a huge burden to bear on yourselves or on the country's native peoples? To be fair, she took 4 years of French in high school, and I took 4 years of Spanish in high school. Unfortunately, that was 10 years ago for both us, and we are beyond rusty. What do people do? Do you hire translators? Just hope to have good luck and find lots of people who speak English?

I have always wondered what people do in these situations. We do not know a single soul in either of these countries, so we have no one to help us get around. And out of all the people I know that have traveled to places abroad, they have traveled to places that speak predominately English, or they actually spoke the native tongue. I just can't honestly see sitting at a dinner table spelling everything out in some sort of digital translator, or constantly checking a dictionary.

Obviously, I have some small experiences with this when travelers come over here (to Michigan). But those are just little one and two minute encounters (granted they are full of confusion). Anyway, just looking for thoughts and experiences. Thanks!

Language learning tips!

anjamu — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 18:43:48 -0800

I'm at a stage where I need to memorize vocabulary in a foreign language, and I am looking for advice, tips & useful software. The more recommendations, the happier I'll be, especially as regards flashcard software and that sort of thing.

I'm also interested in radio broadcasts in Spanish, French & Portuguese, and possibly slowly-spoken Hindi. And in bilingual texts in the latter.

And memorization techniques, can't forget those.

Ooof.

Looking for language learning catalog

JanetLand — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 11:12:23 -0800

Does anyone know of a good mail-order catalog that sells language learning tapes and software? I know there are some companies, like Pimsleur, who probably have catalogs of just their stuff, but I'm hoping to find somebody who sells language learning materials from lots of different companies. I really prefer catalogs to Internet sites -- I know I can get pretty much anything I want through Amazon, but browsing is much better with a paper catalog.

Where to go for Korean classes in Orange County?

C^3 — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 09:00:29 -0800

How are private foreign language classes in California's Orange County? I'd like to take a beginning Korean class that would be close to my new workplace in Orange County (specifically Irvine). The community colleges in the area don't seem to offer any, so right now I'm looking at alternatives. Do any mefites here have experience with private language courses in the Orange County area?
I'm looking specifically at LanguageDoor right now, but advice and tips for private tutors would be welcome as well. I'm not looking for a self-directed study program right now though, because I usually do much better in a directed study environment.

Any help would be very appreciated.

Non-English Hip Hop / Indie / Dance Radio

scalespace — Sun, 23 Jan 2005 22:22:21 -0800

I just recently discovered Czech Radio 1 which plays, at least from what I've listened to, hip-hop/indie/dance. I know there's BBC Radio 1 and KCRW, but they're both in English. Are other stations with similar formats but in different languages? Internet streaming would be ideal.