Monday Matters: What language would you like to learn?

[Former_Member]

Even though my skills are pretty limited, I've always loved studying language.

I'm not able to take a proper course at the moment, but I recently began using a free language learning app on my phone to pick up some French basics. It will certainly only take me so far, but it's been a fun way to learn something new in my down time.

What language would you like to learn? Why?

[ABeadedLady]

Ahhh that's cool - the apps are surprisingly helpful I've found! I've just got back from living in Franch for about six months and my French has obviously improved (although we lived with a lot of English people!). I would practice on the app and then when I was in a shop of something it would transpire that I remembered a really useful word from the app. I guess immersion would be the best way. But terrifying!!

Aside from maintaining French, because I wouldn't mind moving there permanently one day, I'd like to improve on the German I learnt at school and I'd love to learn Russian - I love it's harsh sound. I think I prefer the harsher sounding languages (German, Russian) to the Romantic languages (French, Italian, Spanish).

[OneFairfaxRoad]

French for me! I've downloaded a conversational French app and a French numbers app to help me speak French on buying trips. I need to spend a little more time - ok a lot more time - with these apps!

On a buying trip last month in Provence, I sometimes had to resort to bargaining at the flea markets with a pen and pad of paper! If I didn't understand the price, I asked the seller to write it down and then I wrote down my counteroffer. Everyone was good natured about it, but I would feel more comfortable and probably get better prices if I was conversant in their language.

[Former_Member]

Sign lanuage, a beautiful and very universal way to communicate.

[Former_Member]

I would like to learn Old English, the language used in dark age manuscripts like Beowulf. It has absolutely no practical advantage, apart from being able to appreciate old poetry in its intended rythym and stanza. For an amateur linguist it is beautiful to see how the language has evolved to modern English and how much it has in common with the Scandinavian and Germanic languages. It even ties down into my native language of Finnish, through borrowed words and concepts.

[XbyAB]

I have been learning English the last years.
In case someone is reading this threat how wants improve his English I can recommend some podcasts (for beginner and intermediate). “ESL- English as a second language” and the BBC has some nice podcast like “The English we speak”.

[Former_Member]

back in school i learned english, russian and italian and i´d love to improve my russian and italian. since i know 1 language from the big language families in europe (germanian, slavic, romanian) i find it easy to understand similar ones like spanish, slovakian, swedish and so on but only when they are written. i´d love to be able to speak them properly.
other than that japanese or chinese would be really interesting but these are a lot more work to learn than others

[Anthropologeek]

I speak English and Spanish and I'm working on leaning French too! My hubby has promised me that if I learn he'll take me to France. I better git! Au revoir!!!

[Archaeopterknits]

I've studied French, Spanish, and Catalan so while I attempt to keep improving those I'd also like to learn Swedish, Arabic, Romanian, and Latin.
For the most part, I study them for the literature. There are so many books that just never get an English translation.

[Former_Member]

Spanish and Russian. I love those two languages.

[BlackBeltHomeDecor]

I would like to expand my ability to speak Japanese. For a short time, I actually lived in Okinawa, Japan and I wish that I could remember half of what I learned when I was there. The karate style that I practice actually originated in Okinawa so I do use some of the Japanese language when I do karate but I would like to be able to speak the language more fluently.

[WoodBeJewels]

Hmmm maybe French will be a good language to learn, as I do want to visit that country someday.