Learning a second language - Page 2 - School & Work

Amy · 10-27-2009, 10:48 AM

I looked into both Rosetta Stone and Fluenz and think I'm going to go for the latter. The reviews said that Rosetta Stone basically flashes a lot of words in front of you but doesn't teach you how to put them together, whereas Fluenz has a tutor and the lessons are aimed to teach you how to do practical things- learn how to get/give directions, order at a restaurant, etc.

polkadotted · 10-28-2009, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by Amy

I looked into both Rosetta Stone and Fluenz and think I'm going to go for the latter. The reviews said that Rosetta Stone basically flashes a lot of words in front of you but doesn't teach you how to put them together, whereas Fluenz has a tutor and the lessons are aimed to teach you how to do practical things- learn how to get/give directions, order at a restaurant, etc.

If you can I highly recommend taking it in person maybe with a private tutor, adult class, or community college.

I'm bilingual in Japanese and my husbands has been trying to learn with rosetta stone, the program has been difficult for him because it assumes you know how to read the language and properly innunciate, etc. I've done Japanese in class, it really was easier to have that extra human interaction and have more 'realistic' conversations, rarely do you have those stiff orchistrated sounding conversation that you find in so many books and recorded instructions.

*Pamela* · 10-28-2009, 11:14 PM

I'm learning Chinese right now. I may not end up using it in my career, persay, but knowing the career choices D's making, I figure it will be the most valuable wherever we end up going. If nothing else we'll both know it and be able to teach it to our kids.

Roxie0816 · 10-28-2009, 11:16 PM

i learned Italian, but it wasn't to make myself more marketable..that's just my heritage, and i wanted to learn.

jlbecker · 10-29-2009, 08:41 AM

i think it is a good idea for you to learn spanish in your situation. i did not learn a second language to make myself marketable, but i studied abroad in italy and spoke italian. i have lost a lot if it since i haven't used it in years. i wish i still could speak as fluently as i once did.

dh learned spanish because he worked in restaurants where there was a large mexican population. he learned it in order to communicate better with his co-workers.

SgtLinnell'sGirl · 10-29-2009, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by Amy

I looked into both Rosetta Stone and Fluenz and think I'm going to go for the latter. The reviews said that Rosetta Stone basically flashes a lot of words in front of you but doesn't teach you how to put them together, whereas Fluenz has a tutor and the lessons are aimed to teach you how to do practical things- learn how to get/give directions, order at a restaurant, etc.

I'm fluent in Spanish - if you ever need any help feel free to PM!

jttigerbaby · 10-31-2009, 07:47 AM

If your spouse goes to DLI you can actually take the language class they are taking for free. They have to have open seats though, and they usually pack those classes full. There also has to be funding, and there was none while we were there.

teenytinytracy · 10-31-2009, 08:42 AM

I'm in TX too.. What helped me was working at a restaurant! I got to practice all my Spanish at work and it helped me get to know everyone a lot better. =) Also helps with communicating with the DB's mommy!

You should also watch telanovelas and univision channels to test yourself

Viva · 10-31-2009, 03:00 PM

Ha ha ha, I did like 3 years of Spanish in High School and I never learned to speak. However, people often speak Spanish in Vegas and I have figured out that I know what the person is saying... I just can't respond, LOL. Comes in pretty handy when people speak Spanish around me because they don't think I can understand. Then I just call them jerks in English

Uh, as far as practicing... dude my mom lives in Texas and she just randomly speaks Spanish to people. None of her friends speak it but whenever she runs across a clerk or someone who does she tries to speak her broken bad-accented Spanish to them. I think its hilarious, but they are usually pretty impressed that she is trying to learn and are good sports about it.

Alexandra · 11-01-2009, 09:56 AM

I have attempted to learn French, Spanish, German and Hebrew. I am fluent in none of them

10-28-2009, 11:16 PM	#14 (permalink)
Roxie0816 One day at a time Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: LDR Posts: 4,004 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 1% Longevity: 20%	i learned Italian, but it wasn't to make myself more marketable..that's just my heritage, and i wanted to learn. __________________ "Missing someone is your heart's way of reminding you that you love them."

10-31-2009, 07:47 AM	#17 (permalink)
jttigerbaby Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Fort Hood TX Posts: 794 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 0% Longevity: 9%	If your spouse goes to DLI you can actually take the language class they are taking for free. They have to have open seats though, and they usually pack those classes full. There also has to be funding, and there was none while we were there. __________________

10-31-2009, 08:42 AM	#18 (permalink)
teenytinytracy Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: I'm in Fort Worth... BF is at Fort Knox Posts: 68 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 3% Longevity: 9%	I'm in TX too.. What helped me was working at a restaurant! I got to practice all my Spanish at work and it helped me get to know everyone a lot better. =) Also helps with communicating with the DB's mommy! You should also watch telanovelas and univision channels to test yourself __________________

10-31-2009, 03:00 PM	#19 (permalink)
Viva ahimsa Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,763 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 0% Longevity: 35%	Ha ha ha, I did like 3 years of Spanish in High School and I never learned to speak. However, people often speak Spanish in Vegas and I have figured out that I know what the person is saying... I just can't respond, LOL. Comes in pretty handy when people speak Spanish around me because they don't think I can understand. Then I just call them jerks in English Uh, as far as practicing... dude my mom lives in Texas and she just randomly speaks Spanish to people. None of her friends speak it but whenever she runs across a clerk or someone who does she tries to speak her broken bad-accented Spanish to them. I think its hilarious, but they are usually pretty impressed that she is trying to learn and are good sports about it. __________________ It's Halloween so.... you know, BOO!

11-01-2009, 09:56 AM	#20 (permalink)
Alexandra Beltway Bandit Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fort Meade, Maryland Posts: 2,987 Blog Entries: 4 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 0% Longevity: 55%	I have attempted to learn French, Spanish, German and Hebrew. I am fluent in none of them __________________

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10-27-2009, 10:48 AM	#11 (permalink)
Amy Account Closed Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 9,233 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 0% Longevity: 49%	I looked into both Rosetta Stone and Fluenz and think I'm going to go for the latter. The reviews said that Rosetta Stone basically flashes a lot of words in front of you but doesn't teach you how to put them together, whereas Fluenz has a tutor and the lessons are aimed to teach you how to do practical things- learn how to get/give directions, order at a restaurant, etc.

10-28-2009, 11:14 PM	#13 (permalink)
Pamela MilitarySOS Jewel Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 6,246 Classifieds: (1) Activity: 1% Longevity: 19%	I'm learning Chinese right now. I may not end up using it in my career, persay, but knowing the career choices D's making, I figure it will be the most valuable wherever we end up going. If nothing else we'll both know it and be able to teach it to our kids.

10-29-2009, 08:41 AM	#15 (permalink)
jlbecker Damn, it feels good to be a gangsta Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 14,522 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 0% Longevity: 58%	i think it is a good idea for you to learn spanish in your situation. i did not learn a second language to make myself marketable, but i studied abroad in italy and spoke italian. i have lost a lot if it since i haven't used it in years. i wish i still could speak as fluently as i once did. dh learned spanish because he worked in restaurants where there was a large mexican population. he learned it in order to communicate better with his co-workers.