Thread: Reading, writing, listening or speaking?

Which do you find to be the most satisfying part of learning a foreign language out of the 4 principle areas: reading, writing, listening or speaking?

Sex

Oops, I forgot to include screaming.

Originally Posted by basurero

Oops, I forgot to include screaming.

I wouldn't be the one screaming, sister.

My mum tells me otherwise.

Most people don't give a rabbit's tail about listening

Originally Posted by Gerty

Most people don't give a rabbit's tail about listening

You know what, though? If there were one area that I would want to be PERFECT in, it would be listening -- it's so much more difficult than the others in my opinion...

I like listening to English speech (But I should confess its hard!!! )

BTW "not to give a rabbit's tail about smth" means "not to care about smth"????

Originally Posted by Chuvak

I like listening to English speech (But I should confess its hard!!! )

BTW "not to give a rabbit's tail about smth" means "not to care about smth"????

Yeah, I've never heard that one before, but that's the safe assumption. I'm not sure if that's a Canadian thing or a Gerty thing. Here we typically say "smb doesn't give a rat's a$$ about smth" like so:
"I already have a high grade in this class, so I don't give a rat's a$$ about this quiz."

Definitely to read - there is nothing more satisfying than to be able to read literature you love in the original language.

Writing comes second.

I cannot WAIT to write in Russian.

Because I have a poetic nature, I chose reading. Reading different things with proper intonation, especially fiction, is what I really like to do in English. But, basurero forgot about "all choices". When you can cope with everything, this is the most satisfying part of you study.

Originally Posted by Rtyom

But, basurero forgot about "all choices".

Oi, I was going to say that!





I couldn't choose to save my life. All the combined aspects of the language open up a whole world of wonderful literature (reading/writing), and of interaction with people (listening/speaking).
Grabbing a Паустовский off the shelf, and just sitting down with a good cup of tea, and read, read, read - with no stack of dictionaries next to the chair - ahhh, that would be bliss.
And on the other side, good knowledge of the spoken language provides you with X million possible new friends.


No, don't make me choose.

Listening is like trying to do a jig-saw puzzle with a lot of pieces missing! Speaking is much easier.

Originally Posted by DDT

Listening is like trying to do a jig-saw puzzle with a lot of pieces missing! Speaking is much easier.

Speaking is like producing jig-saw puzzle pieces that are supposed to fit with each other...

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

Originally Posted by DDT

Listening is like trying to do a jig-saw puzzle with a lot of pieces missing! Speaking is much easier.

Speaking is like producing jig-saw puzzle pieces that are supposed to fit with each other...

Reading is like creating jig-saw puzzle that are only to cut into pieces as you like...

So nobody likes writing eh?

Anyway, I intentionally didn't include an option for everything because then that would be the only one people would choose.

I find listening to be the most boring of them all.

I'd choose to think in the foreign language.

Originally Posted by Leof

I'd [color=red]choose[/color[ to think in the foreign language.

Actually, that made me think of something I've wondered, because I only have one language I'm fluent in.

For those who have English as a second language, how often do you 'think' in your native language compared to English if you've learnt it over a long time?

I've always just guessed you think more in your native language, but to those who've been fully emersed for years in an English-speaking culture, it must change somewhat.

I've never had to think of these things, so to speak.

As for my choice, What good is one of those options if you cannot do another? You cannot get the satisfaction of speaking to a native if you cannot understand them back.

I agree with "all choices".

Do not forget writing...when you write the left hemsphere of your brain is getting warmer and warmer... Your imagination will improve better and learn foreign languages is about vivid imagination, isn't it? And second one to be not forgotten: If you want to write, you had to known write... circle...marry-go-round (nice word, sounds funny to me)

So I am here and write...with many mistakes, but write!

Originally Posted by Leof

I'd choose to think in the foreign language.

Your definetely right, as you always are, dear Leof. Welcome back!
My grandfather used to said: If you think as the enemy, you'll become the enemy. And If you are the enemy, only now you are able to defeat your enemy...

Now only imagine that your enemy is all foreign languages...
LET FIGHT THEM ALL!

(My grandfather fought in the battle of Dukla with Soviet Krasnaja armija )

Hello everyone!
After two and a half months of absence I decided to drop in again (my second comeback already). After all, I need some speaking, or at any rate writing, practice.
Glad to see the forum prospering, people discussing all kinds of pressing issues, MasterAdmin expanding his territory and so on.

Now, let's get to business. As for me, it's difficult to choose from the given alternatives. As was already said, it's better to have them all :P At present I'd like to improve my speaking skills because those are the skills that sux most There is no practice whatsoever as to speaking English in my life.

Originally Posted by Basurero

I find listening to be the most boring of them all.

You must be joking! The most entertaining for me!

Originally Posted by Basurero

Пожалуйста, исправьте меня, если я допустил ошибки!

Here you go. Let's begin with your signature
Пожалуйста, поправьте меня, если я допустил ошибки!
You can "исправить ошибку". But "исправить кого-нибудь" means "to make them mend their ways."