retired_mjfrush

Right I've been looking to learn a new language for quite awhile now and been looking at the best way of doing it.

coz of my job it's difficult for me to commit to regular classes or anything, as they would be missed regularly and therefore more expensive than the benefit.

I've found the RosettaStone set of computer based learning which seems ideal. However don't know of anyone who has used it and before I go spending a lot (£330!!!) on it figure I should research it.

Any other tips of learning a complex language whilst with limited and varied out of work time?

retired_jodenby

The Link Word system is very helpful.

Basically makes you remember a specific thing about every word.

alidog

Borrowed my mum's Pimsleur Italian set for a few weeks before I went to Italy, and although I'm far from fluent I found about 15 thirty minute lessons got me to a decent enough level, whereby I didn't have to use much English whilst I was over there.

What language are you thinking of learning, and why? I ask as I've always wanted to learn a different language but have always been stuck on what to go for.

2boxers

ive just rented an audiobook for your iPod to learn german- called iSpeak

they also do Italian,French, Spanish & possibly Japanese

alidog

Pimsleur by the way works on repetition, so initially they'll have you repeat a word / phrase quite often then they'll leave it for a few minutes and ask you to recall it later on. Then they'll leave it a bit longer then ask you again.

It's supposed to help transfer the knowledge from short-term to long-term memory, and it seemed to work quite well for me.

retired_Steeler

spanish is a nice language and easy to pick up, i heard.

theres 2 versions though, the american version and the european version

retired_navy0614

I keep meaning to top my Russian up. Fully intend to learn German still at one point also.

retired_ks reddy

What language?

Not Jive is it?

retired_jodenby

Ah... Russian. I nice easy language to start learning :o

retired_mjfrush

I'm going for one of the hardest actually and going for Arabic.

Reason? Think it will be amazingly helpful at work and in society in the future and that culture interests me a lot.

Unfortunately it seems as it's a toughie!