Experiences with learning languages?

So, apparently my last exam block destroyed what was left of my gaming addiction. But, it seems that now that gap leaves me bored to no end.

So recently I've started trying to learn Chinese Mandarin. I've got a few online programs to start learning, and plan to check in with my neighbors (Chinese) every now and then to ensure I have the tones right that I learn.

What I need is for anyone who has learnt a language online in the past to share their experiences, how hard was it to learn online. If there was anything you learnt that helped you in any way learn faster, I would like to know it.

I'm just doing these online course to start out, perhaps next year, depending on whether I take the physics of engineering course path to engineering I may take an arts degree in Chinese to fill the gaps and further become fluent.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

 

Depending on how difficult the language is sometimes you need a private tutor, theres always something they can help you with.

 

Well, I've never really learned languages online, but I have learned Japanese in school for many years now.

I think it's important to try and immerse yourself in both the language AND the culture. Set out a couple to a few symbols to learn every week or so and keep to a regular schedule, as well as try writing small things like basic entries about your day, or even keep a diary if/when you progress that far. Try to say symbols you learn aloud and as parts of words so you can associate both reading, writing, aural and vocal aspects of the language.

Another way would be to try watching Chinese shows with subtitles. I've learned a surprising amount of words by watching Japanese anime. Eventually after you've learned enough you tend to pick out words you know and fill in the gaps for other words based on the subtitles. Sooner or later you can understand the gist of what is being said, even if you don't fully understand everything that the characters may be saying. Perhaps ask your Chinese neighbours for any recommendations.

I do believe however that to learn a language you need some sort of routine practice. For me it's school, in both class and study. You may have to be a little more creative if you're not studying it anywhere. Routine is important because it reinforces both a habit and what you already know.

Apart from that, try to vary your learning between attempting to read, write, speak and listen. They're the four main components to any language, and so you need to learn each to grasp a full appreciation of it.

 

One of the issues with Chinese is that writing is almost a whole other language. At current I'm learning with Pinyin which is a roman based system, so I can get the idea of the sounds and speech, however when I begin to start writing, I then need to pretty much start over, since the Chinese symbols each represent a single word or expression, rather than a letter.

The current program I'm using is Rosetta Stone, it's a bit expensive, but it uses an immersion type program, which floods you with words and imaged relating to them. I haven't gone too far into it at the moment, however what I have learnt it seems to be teaching well with the method.

 

There is one difference between learning languages online and through actual interactions.
It's the fact that the internet has many distractions (facebook, sythe etc.)

It's not the "where" that matters, but the "how."

And the best way to improve your skills in a foreign language is to constantly speak it.

A lot of my friends left for the states (I live in S.Korea) to study, and they either came back without having learnt a thing, or as a person who can speak and understand English without any problems.

This difference exists because of how they spent their time in the States.
Those would could not get used to the new culture spent their time speaking and hanging out with other Koreans there. Thus, there was no progress at all.
However, those who did not stick to the Korean cliques and actually spent their time with the American people there came back like a boss.

A very good example of the latter are my two friends Kwon and Park. They both don't study for shit and quit Highschool. However, after a single year in the states, Kwon messaged me through msn and at first, I couldn't believe that it was him speaking to me. A single year could do a lot.
Park came back to Korea and took the TOEFL test, in which he received a 106 on. Now that's something.

Thus, you must remember. Use the new language that you have learnt in everyday life.

 

Depending on your age, it may take a little longer. I personally have never tried online and took most of my languages at a very young age. Do you have any sort of linguistic background that could help you pick up on languages at a quicker pace, possibly?

 

Once you understand a bit of it, you should go play Maplestory lawl.
I've known some people who play the Japanese/korean/chinese/... versions and have learned quite a bit of those languages with just random people speaking to them.

 

I've been learning chinese for the past 4 years.
你好！怎么样

Try to take it at a local college, it really helps to be in a classroom environment vs independently learning it.

 

Thanks for the comments

@Sexay: Since I can't exactly go to China in the next few years this might be a bit of trouble. However I do live in Australia, and as I had clearly seen in the open day of the universities there are a lot of people of an asian decent. Perhaps some may be Chinese that I may befriend in the years to come.
On another note, using it regularly would you say perhaps when looking for something in the house or saying a sentence, try to repeat it in Chinese or something?

@Snatchmasta: I may be able to take it at the university I'm going to next year as a duel degree. Currently I want to study nuclear engineering which I can fully do in Australia, so I was planning on going to USA after 2 years. However if I learn Chinese to a standard I am please with, perhaps I could move to China to complete the last two years instead.

 

Exactly. Its easier and less nothersome than practicing in front of a mirror. Incorporate the new language into your daily life

 

Lots of american institutions don't recognize chinese university degrees. You could take a semester/year in china though pretty easily, you just have to check with your schools exchange program policy

 

I guess there is always that. Being in Australia, our school year finished 8 months before yours anyhow. Either I could start half way through the school year and continue straight away, or when I transfer I could take a detour for a semester.

 

Hmm I learned English as my first language but always spoke Mandarin with my parents
If you wanna get really good at Mandarin watch chinese dramas with subs ^-^
you'll learn pretty quick

 

Hawt. Are there any good ones you can recommend. Hehe.

 

Hmmm
Boy and Girl (Love in the City)
I think you can find some on youtube
My sister watches it haha so I'm not sure lol

 

Don't know of any good dramas (most people will redirect you to a Korean one and tell you that it's Chinese) but there are always those whack Kung Fu movies

Kungfu HipHop (my personal favorite)
Shaolin Soccer
etc

 

Sounds like fun. What about cartoon kinda things. I got into anime a while ago but yeah, that's Japanese. drrr.

 

你好！我会说一点中文! I don't really have much experience with learning other languages, except for about the past month or so I've been learning Mandarin Chinese as well. I've been learning it at the college I go to though. I've also been trying to do some learning on the side though, because I've been picking it up pretty quickly and feel like the class is moving too slow for me.

I got an app on my Android phone that allows me to type in Chinese. I type the Pinyin, and the characters come up. It just sucks that none of my friends speak/read/write Chinese though, so it's basically pointless. :/

I was thinking about starting to watch Ni hao, Kai-lan! If you don't know what it is, think about Dora the Explorer, but for Mandarin. Apparently it comes on the little kid channel on tv. Anyone know how helpful this is?

 

i suggest learning dutch, it's very interesting

 

Well at least I know the direction in which I should take. Thanks guys. Keep it coming!