Thread: Fun Learning a New Language

  1. #1
    Board Conservative UnregdRegd's Avatar
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    Fun Learning a New Language

    Is anyone having as much fun as I am learning a new language? A new language always opens doors. Right now, I'm watching TV 5 to help improve my French. I thought something good was going to come on, but it's only some 1950s/1960s-era war film. Maybe something better will come on later. I've also started learning some Latin by using tutorials and other resources freely available over the Internet: Codito ergo sum.

    For those of you who thought this was going to be about a programming language, I'm not finished yet: I'm also learning Java for my freshman computer science courses. I'm not having fun learning this bloated, slow-to-launch programming language, though.
    I am a programmer. My first duty is to God, then to nation, then to employer, then to family, then to friends, then to computer, and finally to myself. I code with dignity, honor, and integrity.

  2. #2
    Pursuing knowledge confuted's Avatar
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    It's Cogito Ergo Sum, kid.
    Away.

  3. #3
    Amateur
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    Je pense que le français est une langue plutôt difficile à maîtriser pour un étranger car même nous n'appliquons pas toutes les règles correctement.
    And, no, I don't have that much fun learning anything, it's just very useful sometime. Like here where I speak English.
    And I don't think it is interesting neither to learn Java. (my opinion though...)

  4. #4
    PC Fixer-Upper Waldo2k2's Avatar
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    Well, as a sociology student, I agree with the hypothesis that your perspective is tied to your language. Speaking only one language, recognizing only one set of symbols and meaning for the objects around us may limit your world view. Knowing more than one language (spoken or programming) will improve your perception of the world, or say, programming in general. I'd say if you're interested enough to learn, go for it while you still can. Become the next Rennaisance man!
    PHP and XML
    Let's talk about SAX

  5. #5
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    I don't think you are right. Languages are just expression of the mind, it cannot open your mind. Thinking of becoming wise while staying at such material things is a mistake to me.

  6. #6
    l'Anziano DavidP's Avatar
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    Latin, eh! Awesome! I love Latin (I am quite good in it actually).

    If you want any help with Latin, visit my webpage:

    http://www33.brinkster.com/cyfallshs


    There is a Latin section. I have not posted all my Latin notes, but quite a few are on there.
    My Website

    "Circular logic is good because it is."

  7. #7
    It's full of stars adrianxw's Avatar
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    New season of my Spanish classes begins 19:00 tonight.
    Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity unto the dream.

  8. #8
    I just started learnig German two weeks ago.
    It's fun. I'm affraid of the der die das, ... if you know what I mean. We've only learned the nominative. But we'll see what happens.

    I can understand some German, because it is similar to dutch. But I can't speak it nor write it. That's why I'm learing it.

    here's something I learned last weak :
    Juan Fuentes ist Spanier. Er ist Friseur, lebt shon 8 jahre in Deutsland und ardbeitet seit 3 jahren bein Airport-Frieseur.

    BTW: it's fun learing German

  9. #9
    Pursuing knowledge confuted's Avatar
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    It is NOT fun learning German.

    But if you're convinced that you want to do it, machen sie sich sicher dass du "der, die und das" lernen. Alright, I'm not sure if that's at all correct, but make sure you learn the appropriate gender for EVERY noun you learn. You're going to need it later, when you do adjective endings and such.

    Auf wiedersehen!
    Away.

  10. #10
    It's full of stars adrianxw's Avatar
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    An airport hairdresser? I can't say I'd ever considered going to the airport for a hair cut.
    Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity unto the dream.

  11. #11
    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
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    Good maes - spelling's a little messed up a couple times, but still pretty good.

    I took 4 years of German in high school and 1 semester in college. I really want to take more so I don't forget it - I loved it.

  12. #12
    Registered User
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    lyx, je crois que la grammaire du français n'est pas difficile à maîtriser.

  13. #13
    Wannabe Coding God
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    I've studdyed: English (not much to say...), Spanish ( hated it (only studdyed it for 2 years),German (same as spanish) and Italien (studding atm semes to be funny, will try to studdy latin later). So as you can see I'm not to fund of langunges....(although so far I've never desliked a programming langunge...exepted the one you write on TI calcs...)
    They say that if you play a Windows Install CD backwords, you hear satanic messages. That's nothing; play it forward and it installs Windows.

  14. #14
    Board Conservative UnregdRegd's Avatar
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    Je pense que la grammaire de la langue française est plus simple que la grammaire de la langue latine ou allemande, du moins si la langue maternelle est anglais. Au contraire, la compréhension orale et la prononciation correcte sont plus difficiles que la grammaire française.

    (I think the French language's grammar is simpler than the German or Latin language's grammar, at least if your native language is English. However, oral comprehension and correct pronunciation are more difficult than French grammar.)

    "Codito ergo sum" was meant to be a joke: "I code; therefore, I am."

    When I said a language opens doors, I meant more that it allows you to access cultural features you might not otherwise have access, or easy access, to. With what French I do know, I can read French newspapers on the Internet and get a pretty good idea of what had been written. This provides alternative points of view to what you'd get in the American and other English-speaking media. Likewise, with continued development of my French, I can access new French literature, speak to French people in their native language, and read French poetry; I would also be better prepared to visit France, Québec, French-speaking Wallonia in Belgium, and so on.

    Of course, there aren't any countries where Latin is spoken anymore. I'm learning that language out of pure scholarly interest ( me = geek; ).
    I am a programmer. My first duty is to God, then to nation, then to employer, then to family, then to friends, then to computer, and finally to myself. I code with dignity, honor, and integrity.

  15. #15
    carry on JaWiB's Avatar
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    I just started my second year of French...i have bad pronunciation but I can remember the meaning of words pretty well...hopefully ill have at least a basic understanding of French by the time I graduate (two years)
    "Think not but that I know these things; or think
    I know them not: not therefore am I short
    Of knowing what I ought."
    -John Milton, Paradise Regained (1671)

    "Work hard and it might happen."
    -XSquared

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