Best Langauge learning Method

[DCRacing]

OK, My daughter is having a few issues with learning German at school, so i thought i would try to help her by learning it as well and trying encourage her to put a bit more effort in to the classes. BTW she is only 7, i guess i had also better start learning some asian language as well seeing as the red head wants us all to enter the asian century.........
Back on to the topic tho, what tool or langauge program would be best for me to try and pick up a bit of German and help her out a bit. I also want to get a handle on a few other languages just to swear at people and they don't know what i am saying and think i am sophisticated.... lol

[Large]

Hogan's Heroes and Commando Comics

[BANDITROD]

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha fucking hell large

[Watto]

I nose nuffink Herr Kernel :D

[wackyrider]

The best thing for me when I was a kid was actually watching TV in the language. You'll be amazed on how you start picking things up of you are enjoying it

[Gix11]

Yea, best to know somebody from that country or visit it. You HAVE to pick up bits then. Of course; that's not very convenient though.....

[TonyOW31]

Yea, best to know somebody from that country or visit it. You HAVE to pick up bits then. Of course; that's not very convenient though.....

When I worked in Germany I could get by quite easily, trouble is you forget pretty quickly after you leave the environment.
Funny thing is, the only German I remember now is how to order a beer.

[Chase]

There's lots of different language exchanges around - some over skype on the web and some run by local community centre. You'll have to check out local ones to you but here are a couple internet ones;

http://www.language-exchanges.org/
http://www.monash.edu.au/health-wellbeing/get-involved/language-exchange.html
http://www.language-exchanges.org/

[TonyOW31]

OK, My daughter is having a few issues with learning German at school, so i thought i would try to help her by learning it as well and trying encourage her to put a bit more effort in to the classes. BTW she is only 7, i guess i had also better start learning some asian language as well seeing as the red head wants us all to enter the asian century.........
Back on to the topic tho, what tool or langauge program would be best for me to try and pick up a bit of German and help her out a bit. I also want to get a handle on a few other languages just to swear at people and they don't know what i am saying and think i am sophisticated.... lol

My daughter was learning Japanese at school, and the thing that worked best for her was taking in a Japanese student for six months, might be a bit more difficult getting a German student though.

[Chase]

My daughter was learning Japanese at school, and the thing that worked best for her was taking in a Japanese student for six months, might be a bit more difficult getting a German student though.

Especially when you specify they have to be 17 and always wear their uniform in the house..

[TonyOW31]

Especially when you specify they have to be 17 and always wear their uniform in the house..

She was 17 actually, and always wore those white sox pulled up to the knee.

[Chase]

Gotta love cultural enrichment :cool:

[Gix11]

There's lots of different language exchanges around - some over skype on the web and some run by local community centre. You'll have to check out local ones to you but here are a couple internet ones;

http://www.language-exchanges.org/
http://www.monash.edu.au/health-wellbeing/get-involved/language-exchange.html
http://www.language-exchanges.org/


That's bloody great advice Steve, never heard of that before. Thanks mate.

[Azrael]

I always found it easier when you're living in the country of origin but in your case i would suggest 5 words a week and 5 phrases you use daily per week to start then 5 words a day as she becomes more familliar and can put her own phrases and/or sentences together.
Learn with her and she will learn quicker as she will have someone to converse with.
Go buy a post it note pad and stick them on everything in the house from the fridge to the toilet labelling everthing in the foriegn language and only use the phrases relative to those objects in the chosen language.
Pick phrases that you both use everyday, "would you like a drink", "can i be excused, i need to use the toilet" "Dad i set the cat on fire" etc.
If you are both militant about it, you, and by sheer inquisitive default, everyone else in the house will be talking in german or whatever language u choose in no time.

Use it as much as you can. You will NOT forget english..

[Jinx]

I agree with Tony but think Mandarin is the one to go for. An Asian exchange student is the easiest way to learn in Oz. Other options are go and live there for a year or marry a Chinese girl :D. Japanese is ok but as China is one of our major trading partners and getting bigger, Mandarin will be more useful.

[DCRacing]

Got to love the instant and insightful response from this site when an obscure question is asked, I will now pay more attention to Hogan's Heros and get out all the old comics i can find............What about Mandarin tho large?
Thanks for the help Lads

[oldskool]

Why do they teach our kids German?
I can think of a number of languages that would be more advantageous.


1

Mandarin
Sino-Tibetan
Chinese Characters
1151
China, Malaysia, Taiwan



2
English
Indo-European
Latin
1000
USA, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand


3
Spanish
Indo-European
Latin
500
Mexico, Central and South America, Spain


4
Hindi
Indo-European
Devanagari
490
North and Central India


5
Russian
Indo-European
Cyrillic
277
Russia, Central Asia


6
Arabic
Afro-Asiatic
Arabic
255
Middle East, Arabia, North Africa


7
Portuguese
Indo-European
Latin
240
Brazil, Portugal, Southern Africa


8
Bengali
Indo-European
Bengali
215
Bangladesh, Eastern India


9
French
Indo-European
Latin
200
France, Canada, West Africa, Central Africa


10
Malay, Indonesian
Malayo-Polynesian
Latin
175
Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore


11
German



Number 11 hey well there is 10 good reasons not to waste your time learning German, looks like Spanish is the go if you don't want to learn mandarin.

[DCRacing]

Yeah spanish is on my list, just need to help my daughter out at the moment........
No idea why they need to learn it tho.....

[oldskool]

Pro active parenting they call that, don't let them teach your kids what you don't want them too.
Be proactive in what your kids learn, I believe its your job as a good parent.
At that age they need all the best direction as there at their most receptive.
And better people they will make.

[maggs]

Another option is the Rosetta Stone on-line or on DVD option. I used it before I left to live in a Spanish speaking country and it helped. www.therosettastone.com.au
You will know you're getting it when you start to have dreams in another language. Learning from a native speaker is always the best but not always convenient.
I learnt German in high school and in my travels around the world it proved to be almost useless to know. Spanish or Mandarin is the go IMO.