If you could learn one language ...

[beanzontoast]

French. Had to give it up because of a subject clash at school. Wonder how long it would take to pick up a workable knowledge of everyday French?

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

French. Had to give it up because of a subject clash at school. Wonder how long it would take to pick up a workable knowledge of everyday French?

Similar but I was afraid of the French Teacher . Best thing to do is go over there and muck in with the locals. My school boy "le/la voiture" (gender?) is archaic for "l'auto"
etc etc.....

So yes I'd quite like to get to grips with French again. But sometimes I'm attracted to Gaelic (the Scots variety).

 

[Arch]

French. Had to give it up because of a subject clash at school. Wonder how long it would take to pick up a workable knowledge of everyday French?

Probably quite quick, if you were immersed in it. I have friends who've emigrated and they've picked it up well - but then they have been making the effort to do so.

Decent French would be a priority for me - I reckon I could get by on tour if I had to, with a dictionary. But other places I'd consider living include Scandinavia (esp Denmark) or Holland, so those would be useful too...

 

[Arch]

Similar but I was afraid of the French Teacher . Best thing to do is go over there and muck in with the locals. My school boy "le/la voiture" (gender?) is archaic for "l'auto"
etc etc.....

My friend told me not to get too hung up over genders, when talking - better to just have a stab at it, than not try for fear of getting it wrong, and often in speech you just use a quick l' anyway. I'd like to know it better, but I'm gradually getting more confident about just having a go - often they will like you for it, even if you make a bit of a hash of it.

 

[Headgardener]

I myself would like to have a go at the gaelic or welsh just so that I could join in any convesations at the teashop when I go to those countrys

 

[Andy in Sig]

French. Had to give it up because of a subject clash at school. Wonder how long it would take to pick up a workable knowledge of everyday French?

Was the other one "non-collaboration for beginners"?

 

[Haitch]

Hittite, or perhaps Elamite (the cuneiform version). But if I look deep into my heart, it's probably a non-starter.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

My friend told me not to get too hung up over genders, when talking - better to just have a stab at it, than not try for fear of getting it wrong, and often in speech you just use a quick l' anyway. I'd like to know it better, but I'm gradually getting more confident about just having a go - often they will like you for it, even if you make a bit of a hash of it.

Indeed I have had a bash. One place I stayed I had a long pigeon French chat with my landlord. He was interested in my bike computer (they were new fangled things then). I didn't know the word for miles - so I made it up. He didn't seem too bothered . He did start to teach me some simple pronounciation - "Y" is not y but EE as in Puy de Dome.

I also befriended a young boy on one holiday. I had his mother in fits with my pigeon French. "Le Tenneece de Aujourd hui" after a game with racket and ball. Even I don't know what I was trying to say

As for genders I think you are generally correct but there is a difference between Le Tour and La Tour!

 

[Campfire]

I would like to improve my German which theoretically should be quite reasonable but I'm not so good at grammar, having never learned it initially. I can hold decent conversations as that's mainly what we do in our class, plus reading literature & current affairs but I'd just like to be better!

I'd also love to re-learn French which I did at school but was not so good at. My friend lives in Spain & I'd love to be able to speak the language when I visit her.

However, I'll probably just keep on learning German & keep on thinking about the rest!

 

[Andy in Sig]

German's easy once you have gripped the grammar.

 

[XmisterIS]

German's easy once you have gripped the grammar.

Therein lies the problem! It confuses the crap out of me!

 

[rich p]

I did Italian night class for a couple of years but I plateau-ed and now try to do some at home from time to time. I'd really like to get better at it.

 

[Arch]

As for genders I think you are generally correct but there is a difference between Le Tour and La Tour!

Oh, I know. But one imagines context would make it clear which was intended....

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Oh, I know. But one imagines context would make it clear which was intended....

Quite so Le Tour commence a la Tour

 

[XmisterIS]

Oh, I know. But one imagines context would make it clear which was intended....

Same in German! Can be very confusing! (for me anyway!)

E.g.

die See = The sea
der See = The lake

die Leiter = The ladder
der Leiter = The leader (male)
die Leiterin = The leader (female)

(Please excuse me while I bang my head against the wall!).