Odd?????

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jttheclockman

jttheclockman

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Feb 22, 2005
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I thought I would throw out an odd question here. Has anyone learned a new language recently??? I ask this because I am wanting to learn the Ukrainian language. I am of Ukrainian decent with my fathers' family coming from Ukraine. With my Dad passing away about 3 years ago just about all the family on that side has passed. I am getting up in my age and was thinking it would be nice to learn the language of my ancestors. I am also thinking of taking a trip to the Ukraine. We never did speak the language in the house as I grew up so I am starting at zero knowledge.

My question is if you have taken on a new language how did you do it??? Did you take a course somewhere or did you do the tape thing that I keep reading about??? I was never good at the studying thing or the memory thing so I am looking for an easy method. Any suggestions??? Thanks. I told you it was an odd question. :smile:
 
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Rosetta stone is pretty good. I have them "freebie" download. my family us from the ukrain as well. But never learned it. Heck I didn't even pay attention in english classes.
 
Hummmmmmmmmm, an easy method to learn Ukrainian. :rolleyes: Найкраще, що я можу пригадати, щоб ввести фразу ви хочете сказати в Google і подивіться, що відбувається. :wink: Other than that I am at a loss. Anyway, hope this helps a little. Let me know if it will help you. :biggrin:
 
John I commend you for your ambition to learn the language . Check with your local library about where to get courses . I hope this works out for you .
 
I'm glad that's you and not me, attempting to learn a new language, I went through that nightmare when I come to Australia from Portugal, and that was enough for me. After 20 odd years, I'm still learning, and from what I've seen, it never goes to end either...!

One thing that I wish was readily available then, as is today and that is the hand held voice recognition and translation "thingy". I used a good one (about $800 to buy) to have a conversation with someone in Chinese, not long ago. These translators are brilliant, you can type of speak to it in your language and they translate on screen or speak out in the language you have selected, and vice versa! This is something not a lot bigger than a PDA, uses batteries and is just great to use. Do a Google search and you will find lots of them!

Just a word of advice, don't buy a Chinese cheap stuff for only a few bucks, they are no good, nor are able to make a correct translation, that means that you endup getting the wrong "message" and the other person would be able to understand a damn thing either, as word by word translation doesn't work, the meaning and the right order on the phrase construction, is was makes a language being understood, if you know what I mean...!:wink:

Whatever you do, good luck with it!:smile:

Cheers
George
 
I have spent some time at a place called Berlitz. I was able to learn to speak, read, and write farsi in 6 weeks, that was a few years ago.
 
chriselle said:
Well, if you can classify "recently" as being the past 15 years....then...yes.....I've been at Japanese for about that long.
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I have you beat - 24 years! and the older stuff is fading fast, new stuff won't stick!


I had a cousin that upon retirement (age 65) decided to go to college and get a degree. He did! He also joined a Spanish club and learned that too - not just academically, but conversationally.

I would check out any course as to its stated purpose - Some courses are for academics/grammar and major on the formalities of the language and are more for literary studies. Other courses focus on the conversational / communication aspect and are more practical for travelers and family talk. There is a considerable difference in the two.
 
mbroberg said:
Hummmmmmmmmm, an easy method to learn Ukrainian. :rolleyes: Найкраще, що я можу пригадати, щоб ввести фразу ви хочете сказати в Google і подивіться, що відбувається. :wink: Other than that I am at a loss. Anyway, hope this helps a little. Let me know if it will help you. :biggrin:
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yeah but can you say it? I can.

John, You are likely to find that Ukrainian is very similar to Russian and that's the language you'll learn first since it's much more widely taught. After getting the basics of Russian, which isn't too hard, you can learn the differences between it and Ukrainian. At least that's how they did Belorussian at the Language school in Monterey (Military).

Fun facts about Russian -

1) There are 33 letters (31 pronouncable), once you lean them all you have to do is pronounce each letter in a word and you'll be right 99% of the time.

2) Word order doesn't matter. IF you forget a word in a sentence, just put it on the end and as long as it has the right ending the meaning will be clear. "The boy hit the girl" is they same as "The girl was hit by the boy" (same number of words)
 
jttheclockman said:
.....My question is if you have taken on a new language how did you do it??? Did you take a course somewhere or did you do the tape thing that I keep reading about??? I was never good at the studying thing or the memory thing so I am looking for an easy method. Any suggestions??? Thanks. I told you it was an odd question. :smile:
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Some people have a natural facility for language and pick it up easily and others do not. Also, some folks respond to one method of learning better than another so which might be best for you is probably just a guess.

Do you have family and/or friends that speak the language. Maybe some of them could help you get started. If there is no one around that speaks the language, then I wonder what the point is of you leaning it? I know that last comment sounds a little negative; but I am going somewhere with it and will have more to say depending upon your answer.

Good luck with your new project!!:smile:
 
Randy_ said:
Some people have a natural facility for language and pick it up easily and others do not. Also, some folks respond to one method of learning better than another so which might be best for you is probably just a guess.

Do you have family and/or friends that speak the language. Maybe some of them could help you get started. If there is no one around that speaks the language, then I wonder what the point is of you leaning it? I know that last comment sounds a little negative; but I am going somewhere with it and will have more to say depending upon your answer.

Good luck with your new project!!:smile:
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There are no more members of my family that speak it, alive. I was wanting to take this on as both a heritage thing and to be able to converse somewhat intellegently if I do make the trip. I realize it would not be too easy because my learning skills have faded when I gotten out of school over 30 years ago but I am willing to give it a try. I thought some have tried the tape thing and have done well with it or some have tried the internet thing and found that worthwhile. So I guess I was looking for some input. I do realize everyone is different and people learn in different ways. I don't know how my answer will help you chose your words but that is about it.
 
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