Learning a language..

[idontknowwhattosay]

Has anyone learnt a new language as an adult? Are there any that are easier to grasp than others?
Just been on holiday and its made me realise how crap i am at this

@idontknowwhattosay
People do it all the time. YOU DO NOT NEED TALENT!! (Sorry for screaming) you only need an interest, willignness to make a fool of yourself, and a bit of time. An adult needs about 80 hours to get to A1 level, and about 200 to get to A2 - which covers the first 3000 words and everyday grammar.
If you want somethiong close to English, try Frisian (Future Learn offers a free introductory course), or Norwegian or Dutch.
Italian is great, so is Turkish (no irregular verbs) or Russian,.
You are never to old. And you really do not need talent.

Get a language audio course e.g. Pimsleur.
You listen and repeat.

I have learnt several, including one to near-native level fluency (i.e. frequently mistaken for a native speaker). In my view, the key is just lots and lots of practice and a willingness to accept that you'll make mistakes along the way. It's great fun!

I’m 46 and started learning Spanish on a free course at our local community project and I’m really enjoying it. I do two hours class a week plus twenty minutes a day on the Duolingo app, I’m getting it slowly, I’m better at reading and translating it than speaking but I’ll get there!

Not too late. People struggle more with the idea of making mistakes.

I find I can pick up languages rather than learn in a class. What helps is that I’m happy to get things really wrong (someone will correct you).

Pick a language that you’ll converse in (where do you holiday?).

I learnt Italian and Spanish as an adult. Best thing was to spend time there, residential courses or work experience type things. I’m a lazy learner and this way was easiest! When I stopped studying Italian I forgot it. Spanish has stayed.

I’m now trying to learn basque and it is really, really hard! It’s not got any other connection to another language so it feels like a code. Spanish was easy!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3552642-to-ask-if-you-speak-a-foreign-language-why-you-chose-that-one

Some good chat on this thread.
I learnt Arabic as an adult

I'm currently learning Arabic. I think it would be easier if I had more opportunity to practice daily. I learnt Spanish for a while which I found easier as I also speak French. If you know someone that speaks the language you'd want to learn it might be easier as you'd get the opportunity to practice it outside of classes.

I'm currently learning Welsh. I've learnt German and Spanish to AS-level as an adult.

Little and often works best, I think. Try Duolingo - it's free. Then in the summer, look for evening classes starting in September (though provision has been slashed in recent years.)

I also recommend Duolingo. However LanguageTransfer Complete Spanish, available on Youtube, is excellent to complement Duolingo, as the explanations are very clear and the arrangement of the sections is very methodical. Also, the guy who invented it and speaks on it has the most beautifully mellifluous voice, worth tuning in just for that.