Ziņojumi: 4911
Pilsēta: Рига, Плявниеки

I suppose something, what is really interesting or funny to read. So magazines (if You have a lot of friends in Prague, You can ask to send You some newspapers or magazines in Czech...something easy like Cosmopolitan, or Vogue, not Popular Mechanics ) And the first what remembered: Gashek - Shvaik (Even found how it will be in Czech: Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka )[/quote]

Oops, read once again and saw that You ask how to learn... but it seams I was still in theme what Deadlock reads, so though that You ask what to read But anyway, to read and to listen "live" language is very effective way

_________________



Зорко одно лишь сердце (с)

Pēdējo reizi tika rediģēts: Alja_S (Piek Nov 06, 2009 00:46), kopumā tika rediģēts 1 reizi

Ziņojumi: 9708
Pilsēta: Prague, CZ

well, yep, the thing is that is really just a few phrases that is known so far...

How about audio-courses? Do they work, or not for everyone? Hus is making success after 2 audio-courses, I started one, but it makes me feel myself so stupid

_________________
Зайка сыночек и лапочка дочка (2007+2009)


murrmelade
Thanks God I'm a WOMAN!

Ziņojumi: 9708
Pilsēta: Prague, CZ

Alja - to read Czech - is quite an easy thing Some style mags is a great idea, thanks! Cuz I have some recipe-mags, they are just funny, noproblems at all

_________________
Зайка сыночек и лапочка дочка (2007+2009)


murrmelade
Thanks God I'm a WOMAN!

Ziņojumi: 9834

I think TV is good. I've been watching german channels for a long time, and then i just began to understand german and even speak alittle

Ziņojumi: 2201

Murr, I have Tri orísky pro Popelku in Czech on CD. You might like it.
Anyway, with Slavic languages you can always imagine and invent how the words might sound. The most important thing is to catch the right accent as quick as possible

Ziņojumi: 473
Pilsēta: Rotterdam

Murr :

I started one, but it makes me feel myself so stupid

why? i heard you repeating - sounds really good

Ziņojumi: 4321
Pilsēta: Рига, Пурвциемс

I guess, audio courses work well in case you have so-called audio-memory, then it's the best way to learn any new information, including language.
I remember myself learning German, absolutely new, like you mentioned. Started as everybody does - alphabet, simple grammar, common phrases, words... It goes on with time, just rolls like a ball, all you have to do - keep kicking and rolling it.
Try to make simple sentences with the words you already know, like kids do - I go home, I like winter, etc.
Print words, divide apartment into zones and stick words from appropriate zone - food on the refrigerator, clothes on the wardrobe...

_________________

Ziņojumi: 9708
Pilsēta: Prague, CZ

accent is just TERRIBLE to me. its absolute disaster. I hear, i understand, but when it turn to repeat - I mess everything up.

and this makes me feel so stupid like nothing in my life before.


it is simple!! it is so familiar to pronounce! I mean - its not like Chineese or smth like that... it just slovenian group language... uhrrr...

_________________
Зайка сыночек и лапочка дочка (2007+2009)


murrmelade
Thanks God I'm a WOMAN!

Ziņojumi: 4321
Pilsēta: Рига, Пурвциемс

ha-ha, girls, Chinese language is very easy to pronounce, when you get the point about the 4 variations of tone, believe me.

_________________

Ziņojumi: 4321
Pilsēta: Рига, Пурвциемс

I suppose, you're nervous, 'cause you don't have so much time left and there've been only 2 lessons and you're that kind of person, who wants everynthing to be done in the best way or it's better not to do it all. correct me, if I'm wrong.
maybe just relax and take it easy?

_________________

Ziņojumi: 9708
Pilsēta: Prague, CZ

I guess what piss me off most is that hus is speaking quite fluent and his success is a lot noticable

well, I will catch up.

_________________
Зайка сыночек и лапочка дочка (2007+2009)


murrmelade
Thanks God I'm a WOMAN!

Ziņojumi: 4321
Pilsēta: Рига, Пурвциемс

Murr :

I guess what piss me off most is that hus is speaking quite fluent and his success is a lot noticable well, I will catch up.

c'mon, don't get pissed off, look at it from another point - he speaks better->he can help you faster, and you work as a team!

_________________

Ziņojumi: 9834

about an accent you have to imitate, free yourself like you are playing. as if you were teasing someone

also very important with whom you speak most of the time. I was learning Latvian with Latvian literature teacher in 1st gymnasium. I spoke so well not even latvians could tell I am not native. But now? not much left

Ziņojumi: 7940
Pilsēta: Valencia, España

Murr, as you remember...I've been in the same situation a year ago.
And this is the second time when I started to learn absolutely knew language for me...
First of all, start to study the basic grammar course and simple phrases. (Audio courses help me not only to understand but also hear and feel the language better IMHO)
- find synonyms and antonyms for every unknown word.
- watch TV - news and cartoons
- read simple books - for children or the special books for foreigners.
I have read my first serious detective in spanish!!! two weeks ago!!!)
- In Chech Republic you'll fling yoursef into surrondings and the language will stick to you!!!

Relax...Take it easy

_________________
Жизнь и отдых в Испании http://www.lifeinspain.lv

Pēdējo reizi tika rediģēts: Nellen (Piek Nov 06, 2009 16:21), kopumā tika rediģēts 2 reizi (-es)

Ziņojumi: 7940
Pilsēta: Valencia, España

and...I'd like to add that the associations connected with words help me get them by heart.

_________________
Жизнь и отдых в Испании http://www.lifeinspain.lv

Ziņojumi: 11805
Pilsēta: Scotland

Sorry for squeezing into your lovely conversation I just couldn't help but notice that most of our girls here translate what they want to say/write rather than think in English. The outcome is quite hard to understand (unless you speak Russian). Just a quick tip - don't ever try to translate anything (maybe just some new words) and never ever translate expressions literally. The best way is to read books and magazines, watch movies and even cartoons in order to pick up the right way to speak. Chat with the actual Englishmen or Americans at least and try to use their expressions rather than translate your own.

Words like "actual", for example, mean "real", "certain", NOT "trendy". I would recommend using Thesaurus http://thesaurus.reference.com/ to find the right word.

_________________
Lace Factor - услуги стилиста ОНЛАЙН

Ziņojumi: 2804
Pilsēta: Иманта

OMG, this is one nice thing. In my desperate need of expressing English, I've started to post comments on the articles on usmagazine.com, that is how you start having a dialogue with other participants. Of cause, this is not best way how to improve the language

Ziņojumi: 4911
Pilsēta: Рига, Плявниеки

BTW, it's quite difficult to chat with Americans and Englishmen in open forums or chats First of all they have a lot of specific expressions and shortenings, which is unreal to translate... Also Americans write with many grammatical errors... and use very simple phrases... a lot of slang. It is like to study Russian somewhere in the country village.

I think the most important is to have good vocabulary if You study language by Yourself... then the live communications only. Of course TV and movies help but when You come to the country, if You have good vocabulary, some grammar and no complexes then You start to speak good very quickly.

_________________



Зорко одно лишь сердце (с)

Ziņojumi: 2618
Pilsēta: Пурвциемс

Hi
Can I join you? Just want my English make better

_________________

Ziņojumi: 4321
Pilsēta: Рига, Пурвциемс

Sound, I totally agree, but... in order to think in any foreign language, you have to practice it for a long time, you have to live in native-speaking country so you can catch up all these idioms and phrases. Very few of us have such an experience.
I can think in Russian, in Latvian, but unfortunately, not in English.

_________________

Pēdējo reizi tika rediģēts: macabra (Piek Nov 06, 2009 19:35), kopumā tika rediģēts 1 reizi

Ziņojumi: 1640
Pilsēta: Ильгуциемс

Hi, ladies.
What a surprise to read you all english-speaking
That's really a good practice for those who knows english well but can not use it every day because of latvian-russian-speaking society
so, let's chat

_________________
Наша жизнь- это то, во что её превращают наши мысли.(с)

Ziņojumi: 11805
Pilsēta: Scotland

Alja_S :

BTW, it's quite difficult to chat with Americans and Englishmen in open forums or chats First of all they have a lot of specific expressions and shortenings, which is unreal to translate... Also Americans write with many grammatical errors... and use very simple phrases... a lot of slang. It is like to study Russian somewhere in the country village.

That's the point Most people speak some form of slang. Very few use proper language That's what makes the language alive and real and that's totally the reason why foreigners have problems with both speaking and understanding natives. Surely it's important to know the proper language, but you use the other one in real life

_________________
Lace Factor - услуги стилиста ОНЛАЙН

Ziņojumi: 9834

yep, if an american wanted to read our forum, he would be surprised
"мо я понимаю" "бо седня"

Ziņojumi: 9834

For me to understand a native is much easier then those to whom English is a foreign language. Like people from India

Ziņojumi: 4321
Pilsēta: Рига, Пурвциемс

Ok, if I want to learn REAL English, that is spoken on the streets, in pubs, at homes, shops, etc. - how can I do it here, in Latvia? Forums, chats? Movies in English?

_________________