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?
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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.
I wouldn't be the one screaming, sister.Quote:
Originally Posted by basurero
My mum tells me otherwise.
Most people don't give a rabbit's tail about listening :lol:
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...Quote:
Originally Posted by Gerty
I like listening to English speech (But I should confess its hard!!! :x )
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$$ about smth" like so:Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuvak
"I already have a high grade in this class, so I don't give a rat's a$$ 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. :D
Oi, I was going to say that! :xQuote:
Originally Posted by Rtyom
:wink:
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. :cry:
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.
Speaking is like producing jig-saw puzzle pieces that are supposed to fit with each other...Quote:
Originally Posted by DDT
Reading is like creating jig-saw puzzle that are only to cut into pieces as you like...Quote:
Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie
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.
Actually, that made me think of something I've wondered, because I only have one language I'm fluent in.Quote:
Originally Posted by Leof
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".
:eureka: 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!
:love:
Your definetely right, as you always are, dear Leof. Welcome back!Quote:
Originally Posted by Leof
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... :thumbs:
Now only imagine that your enemy is all foreign languages...
LET FIGHT THEM ALL! :bouncy:
(My grandfather fought in the battle of Dukla with Soviet Krasnaja armija :wink: )
Hello everyone! :D
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.
You must be joking! The most entertaining for me! :wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by Basurero
Here you go. Let's begin with your signature :wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by Basurero
Пожалуйста, поправьте меня, если я допустил ошибки!
You can "исправить ошибку". But "исправить кого-нибудь" means "to make them mend their ways."
I choose listening. I think its the most difficult of the four. Its especially satisfying if the people you are listening to think you can't understand them!
Pejko, the word is merry-go-round. Merry just means happy. Marry is a different thing altogether.
Welcome back, Leof and Vadim! :D
Now look at that: he's only just gotten back, and already he hits the nail right on the head! :o :lol: :lol: :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by Leof
Yes, that sums it up perfectly: fluency is when you think in a language, and you have to master the other four first to be able to do that. :)
I change my vote to "thinking" too! ;)
Volk: - I speak one language with my family, another at work (and with most friends), and a third during weekends (when I do some teaching, as a hobby). I use all three languages so regularly that I only ever think in the language that I happen to be speaking at that moment - that is, I don't think about speaking, I just do it. I don't "translate" from one to the other (sometimes, in French, I do - I don't have total fluency there for more than normal everyday conversation; specialized words I have to translate, or ask for a translation.)
What DOES happen when I'm really tired is that I open my mouth and another language comes out than the one I intended to use... :lol:
Also, my German speaking skills are ......errrr....basic - and these days, I sometimes find myself talking baby-Russian to Germans without realizing it. Much to the astonishment of the German, of course. :lol:
So I think you sort of jump from "language-brain-segment" to "language-brain-segment" as you go along.... :?: ...... as long as you use a language often enough, you start thinking in it.
:)