Second Language?
 

Hello

Ive decided to learn Spanish as a second language. Might help me out on those Miami flights!

Do any language speakers out there know of good places/tutors?

Anybody else learning at the moment?

:confused:

Cactus Languages - See http://www.cactuslanguage.com/en/index.php - are known to be good.

Thanks for that - they look good but I think I may have to learn it in this country as I would still have to work ( I fly at the moment and holidays are rare!)

Vayboy23/Spanish
 

Your home work.........

1) las ruedas no trabadas
2) solicito un circundar
3) hago a su padre realmente deso matarme?
4) no tengo wada declararme
5) deso hablar al embajador britanico

Have fun.........Daz

Does anyone know good places for German in SYD? (Aprat from the Lowen Brau Kellar?)

I was formally enrolled at UNSW language centre, but they are rather expensive and as the course was only on one night a week, it wasn't as 'intensive' as i had hoped.

Are there any good home based programs for Australian's?

The University of Sydney Continuing Education has some fantastic language classes. I have been studying German through them and it has been great. Their next start up of classes are in late Aug/early Sept I believe. You might want to try the Goethe Institute for intensive classes also. Good luck!

University of Sydney continuing education

Goethe Institute

Dazdaz
 

Dazdaz

I think you need to brush up on your grammar as hardly any of that made sense!!

:)

Thanks Nihao, just what i was looking for.

Does anyone know a good place in London to learn Arabic??? Dont know why I want to learn it seeing as I dont live in that part of the world anymore but think it would be an interesting language to have under your belt, lets face, I never use my Gaelic!

arabic
 

depends on which local dialect of arabic you want i have spent 9 out of the last 12 years in the m/e but its different in kuwait than in auh and dxb , yemen and saudi, i suppose the same here with the jocks taffs geordies, swampies , brumies liverpool etc the list is endless. each region has its own yokel lingo

King's College London offers excellent language classes.

Spanish and Arabic are both on offer there.

http://www.kcl.ac.uk/mlc/evening/

Languages made easy
 

Anyone wanting to fast track Italian, French,Spanish and maybe one or two more...Check out the Michel Thomas Discs...Google: Michel Thomas...Don't let the spooky wig scare you..Smart guy Mr Thomas!

Unfortunately you have to speak English first, as they're all from English to the other language. A couple of anglo saxon friends have done it with Amazing speed...It's not mastery of the language but Amazing speed and not the school type formal language, but more the argot generally spoken..

It's going to need some exposure to the language. what seems to be the letdown in the course, is that you might phrase a great question, but not understand the response if spoken at normal speed and minor (or major) local differences...

But this is a reflection of your ability to speak...Your victim thinks you speak well, so responds naturally. Perhaps when you start to converse, stumble a little more than you need to, to signal the victim that you're on the learning curve but not there yet...

Don't start with the phrase " Sorry, I don't speak XXXXXXX very well" or any other phrase which is excusative of the language to come.....because if you push this phrase out clearly and with confidence...You're in fact signalling that you're better than you say you are...and confusion reigns eternal...

Remember, If you speak with a shop keeper in a small town in Spain or Italy, it's no different than speaking to a shopkeeper in a suburb of Huddersfield...(no offence Huddersfieldians, just making a point...

He's/She's (Generally) used to speaking the local patois with his local clientele... Many times I've heard English people speaking Italian or French with locals and going away mystified. But sometimes the language was fine, and they just happened to be speaking with someone as dumb as dirt...But the foreigner feels inadequate because they don't realise this...

All nations carry their share of the terminally disconnected :ugh:
Ciao...

Yeah! DazDaz....

Stay away from the auto translator, Never does you any favors!

;)

If you can afford to take the time off, make your way to Antigua, Guatemala where you can get excellent one-on-one language instruction from local tutors (4 to 5 hours a day), and live with a local family for about $100 a week.