View Poll Results: Which is the most satisfying to be able to do when learning a foreign language?

Voters
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  • Speak

    10 41.67%
  • Listen

    7 29.17%
  • Read

    7 29.17%
  • Write

    0 0%
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Thread: Reading, writing, listening or speaking?

  1. #1
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    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?

  2. #2
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    Sex
    Ingenting kan stoppa mig
    In Post-Soviet Russia internet porn downloads YOU!

  3. #3
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    Oops, I forgot to include screaming.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by basurero
    Oops, I forgot to include screaming.
    I wouldn't be the one screaming, sister.
    Ingenting kan stoppa mig
    In Post-Soviet Russia internet porn downloads YOU!

  5. #5
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    My mum tells me otherwise.

  6. #6
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    Most people don't give a rabbit's tail about listening
    Find your inner Bart!

  7. #7
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    Quote 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...
    Заранее благодарю всех за исправление ошибок в моём русском.

  8. #8
    Старший оракул
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    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"????

  9. #9
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    Quote 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."
    Заранее благодарю всех за исправление ошибок в моём русском.

  10. #10
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    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.
    Au soleil
    M'exposer un peu plus...

  11. #11
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    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.
    «И всё, что сейчас происходит внутре — тоже является частью вселенной».

  12. #12
    Почтенный гражданин BabaYaga's Avatar
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    Quote 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.
    Ой, голова у меня кружится |-P ...... and my brain hurts too....

  13. #13
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    Listening is like trying to do a jig-saw puzzle with a lot of pieces missing! Speaking is much easier.
    Let me be a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to talk, think and act for myself. - Chief Joseph, Nez Perce

  14. #14
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    Quote 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...
    Hei, rett norsken min og du er død.
    I am a notourriouse misspeller. Be easy on me.
    Пожалуйста! Исправляйте мои глупые ошибки (но оставьте умные)!
    Yo hablo español mejor que tú.
    Trusnse kal'rt eturule sikay!!! ))

  15. #15
    MOG
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    Quote Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie
    Quote 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...

  16. #16
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    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.

  17. #17
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    I'd choose to think in the foreign language.
    Я так думаю.

  18. #18
    Почтенный гражданин Volk's Avatar
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    Quote 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".
    Please correct any Russian language mistakes I make.

  19. #19
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    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!


    Quote 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 )
    Я ЕСТЬ потому что мы ЕСТЬ. Чтобы были МЫ -- ЕСТЬ Я.
    ПРОЛЕТАРИИ ВСЕХ СТРАН, СОЕДИНЯЙТЕСЬ!

  20. #20
    Старший оракул
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    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.

    Quote Originally Posted by Basurero
    I find listening to be the most boring of them all.
    You must be joking! The most entertaining for me!

    Quote 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."
    Please correct my mistakes if you can, especially article usage.
    My avatar shall be the author I'm currently reading.

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