Re:How to Learn Any Language in 3 Months
by jacquesm on Monday October 19, 2009 @01:48AM
(#889567)
I second that, but only for countries where the language and culture are somewhat related to your own.
Two decades ago I lived in Poland for a while, and it took me significantly more than three months to get the hang of it. Compare that to Spanish, which I've never spoken, nor spent any extended time in a Spanish speaking country and yet I can read a Spanish newspaper without too much trouble, borrowing a bit here and there from French and Latin to keep going.
But when confronted with some Spanish tourist I don't stand a chance unless they slow down and are willing to use lots of finger pointing and pantomime.
Two decades ago I lived in Poland for a while, and it took me significantly more than three months to get the hang of it. Compare that to Spanish, which I've never spoken, nor spent any extended time in a Spanish speaking country and yet I can read a Spanish newspaper without too much trouble, borrowing a bit here and there from French and Latin to keep going.
But when confronted with some Spanish tourist I don't stand a chance unless they slow down and are willing to use lots of finger pointing and pantomime.