To think it must be great to be able to speak another language?

[hiddenhome]

Found myself in Newcastle today and wandered into a Polish store which sold lots of foodstuffs. Some Polish people in there all chatting to each other. ds1's friend's parents can speak three languages and it all seems to be so interesting and other wordly.

Cue me, thinking it would be great to learn another language and insists upon learning Russian in the hope it will actually make me feel more interesting and exotic I have a whole new alphabet to learn, can't pronounce the words - ds1's friends parents thought I was trying to speak Czech to them - and all in all, it's just so bloody silly as I can only speak about 5 words, but I go around the house muttering to myself and trying to remember things and it feels lovely.

Is it possible to learn anything like this by yourself and what is the point?

I learned Irish for no reason at all other than I felt like it. I love languages. You could learn Polish just because, I know quite a few people who have done. You'd be able to practice in the Polish shops. I know what you mean, it gives you an insight into another way of living. Is there no class you could join? My friend learned Russian at night school 'just because' then went on holiday there and loved it.

Is it the one in Newgate centre? wonders where you were

I speak three [smug emoticon] and I think it's easier if you talk to people. Do you know anywhere you could put up a flyer asking for someone Russian who wants to practice English and you could practice your fledgling Russian.

удача (good luck)

Should have linked that!!!

ooh, language swaps - a good plan!!

Yeah, it's possible, I love teaching myself languages. It does take ages to reach a good conversational level, especially in something like Russian that's not very close to English, but people are pleased/ amused even if you just manage a few words. If it feels like a chore, and there's no particular need to learn that language, then it's not worth it, but it sounds like you're enjoying it and finding it interesting (on the whole - obviously some bits are always gonna be a bit tough) so go for it.

I moved to Wales 20 years ago and it's normal here to speak welsh, english or a mix of both. I love it, welsh is a lovely, descriptive language. DH is bilingual and so are all my DCs because the schools are welsh medium. It's like an extra string to their bow. DH has to speak to farmers a lot and he can do that easily in either language, whereas I have to revert to english if it gets too technical. Having said that, 've learned loads and understand far more. Locals here will stick the english word in a sentence if they can't be arsed to remember the welsh one. E.g ' gaf i pound o' bacwn' os gweilwch yn dda?

It was along Clayton Street Kayano

I have joined a Russian Language site which seems very good. It has a forum and opportunities to become penpals (over the net/skype etc) to converse in Russian and English

It is great. I've been bilingual all my life and it certainly helps in learning new languages, because you have a reference point outside of English iyswim. It's also helped me in my job because I can identify "crossed wires" in a conversation between two people of different language backgrounds -- you're just more sensitive to things like that when you have more than one language.

A language swap is definitely the way to go. Don't try to learn a language from a book/text. If the language is written in the same alphabet as English, for example, you WILL find yourself pronouncing foreign words in an English way, you just can't help doing that. Whereas learning it verbally/by ear initially, and then much later learning how to read and write the language, will mean you have better pronunciation in the end.

Good tip oikopolis I'm finding Youtube very useful for pronunciation by actually hearing the language spoken by Russians. I've learnt about a third of the alphabet by using a child's app on my ipod I like to do things properly ha, ha, but as long as it's enjoyable I don't mind.

can you watch Russian TV/listen to the radio online too?

Languages are wonderful. A swap is definitely the way to go, you can't learn from books.

Russian is fabulous. Crazy but fabulous, I love it. I'm shit at it and have not spoken it for ages but I love it.

I can watch Russian online scroogeemcduck but it's too fast for me to ever hope to follow I can recognise greetings though

It is a crazy language

. Had not thought of that. Even children's TV is fast . I am very jealous of you learning a language with a different script . It is cool.

I can follow at this level

It's a wonderful thing to do. I used to speak one quite well and two at a basic "survival" level, (as well as English of course). All a bit rusty at the moment though. It does give you another way of thinking about things. Good luck!

Incredible. It doesn't take "ages" to be conversational btw. Fluent yes, conversational you can get up to a decent standard in a matter of weeks. BUT that's assuming you put a lot of hours into it. If you're studying half an hour a week then yes it will take forever.

Oh and ignore anyone who says it's impossible to learn a language to fluency without going there, or that if you go there you will magically absorb the language. I've known too many cases to prove both of these wrong.

When I started learning English it was mainly by watching English speaking telly with subtitles in my own language. (When I was little, and later also at school.)

See if you can get hold of Russian films with English subtitles.

I speak Japanese, I did a years intensive course at SOAS before I moved over there. When I finished the course, I thought I was, if not quite fluent, then getting there. When I started work in Tokyo and everyone spoke so fast, and used colloquialisms and I realised I could speak it in theory but not in practise! Took about a year until I felt comfortable chatting and I still

The more conversation practise you can get in the better, but there is nothing wrong with starting off being self taught.

Well, the grammar in that last post of mine was so terrible, now I wonder if I can even speak english properly!

I speak English and Jockanese :)

I'd love to learn Greek..but the alphabet, arrggghhhh. Our Greek friends did try to explain it to me years ago but I. Just. Didn't. Get. It.

At all.

I am british but speak Russian and Polish. I did it to study the literature, which I did all proper n that at posho Oxford university.

Apart from a bit of espionage work, i never use it now apart from to talk to my electrician...

I speak three languages fluently, and can get by reasonably well in another three. I used to be quite competent in three more which I have forgotten entirely.

DH is a qualified interpreter in five languages, and has a smattering of a sixth.

Languages are wonderful - fun, fascinating and they open so many unexpected doors! You can certainly teach yourself an awful lot, but you'll need to practise if you want to achieve a certain level of proficiency. But where there is a will, there is a way!:)

Good luck - and enjoy!