OT - Have you ever wanted to try and learn another language?

I know quite a bit of German from my German GCSE.

But the language I'm really interested in, is Japanese.

I love a lot of the aspects of Japanese culture, and a lot of my favourite things are Japanese. I want to be able to just appreciate some Japanese things which I can't, and have to resort to viewing the cheesy English remakes/dubs.

Plus a lot of my artistic interests and other stuff are Japanese. (I'm not referring to any weird Hentai porn, in case that crossed your mind).

It's a culture that kind of fascinates me, and I'd like to become fluent in it.

I just wanted to know, do any of you guys speak in another language? How long did it take you to become pretty much fluent in it?

 

Si. Dos Anos.

 

Yes, two years. I did that without google translate

Had to do a year of Spanish in Sixth form to get to go to Barcelona.

 

I fancied learning Japanese as well, took a few courses in it and the speaking part isn't as daunting as some feel due to the fact that the language is toneless so it doesn't really matter how you say the words as opposed to Chinese which you have to speak in a different tone depending on the person (ie upper class). The tough bit about Japanese is the reading and writing as I think they have 3 different alphabets and even some Japanese people can't write all of it. Like i said I only took a few courses but with dedication i'd say you could be speaking decent enough Japanese that you could survive in Japan in about a year. When learning a language that you are passionate about instead of what they teach you at school it is a lot more interesting; good luck if you go for it.

 

eBar.

 

Can speak Welsh and French fairly well, but also tried learning Slovak. Seriously, if anyone is considering learning a Slavic language, don't. It just takes the piss

 

Lots of Japanese living in the North East now, a lot of them go to the games. I'm sure one of them would give you Japanese lessons in exchange for some Geordie lessons.

 

This does not really count, but l am pretty good at understanding Jamaican/English/Rastafarian patois.
Not so much the result of a thorough education, as a misspent youth. Lol

 

I can count to six in japanese, Thats about it tho. Not bad at French but would love to be better. Bit out of practice as its 26 years since I last did French at school

 

Turkish is a tricky bugger tho.

One beer is... Bir bira.

Although 'thank you very much' is teshekkurrederim (may be a bad spelling but that's how I say it)

 

German is quite easy too.

 

Apparently Sweats is the best German speaker on not606.com

 

Did a bit if Russian in school - Wish i'd kept at it. Would love to learn Dutch, Afrikaans and Brazilian Portuguese too.

 

Talk to Cove about some free lessons.

 

I learnt to speak a bit of Luganda when I was volunteering in Uganda. "Jebale, emanya gange nze Bossa Martin. Nina emyaka a biri mwebiri ne nva mu bungareza" (none of it spelt right, but that's bassically my name, age and country of origin)

Also chatted to a lad there who didn't speak a word of English, but I managed to decipher enough of his french to understand he was from Congo - replied with "Aaaah Lua Lua" and then we stumbled through a half hour conversation where "Lua Lua" was followed up with a handshake every time!

 

Language to learn if you want to make money is Mandarin Chinese. Considering they will soon be the biggest economic superpower you will be sought after by firms wanting to expand there

 

I've had a few drinks tonight, so I'm not as sharp as usual, but last I heard; China has over a billion people in it, which makes it very overpopulated, and it was skint!

Before April I was unemployed for about a year, and I noticed loads of firms asking for French, German, Japanese, Cantonese, Turkish speakers. The wages were 18k+ a year after a years approval!

 

Wise words indeed

谢谢

 

China is anything but skint. Sure they're all but bailing out America at the moment

 

Not to brag, but my cousin is fluent in English, French, German, Spanish, South-American Spanish, Portugese, Brazilian Portugese, Italian, and is currently learning Urdu and Farsi.