Comments on: 5 Poor Excuses For Not Learning a Foreign Language http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/ Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:25:13 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Nick http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/comment-page-1/#comment-70947 Nick Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:19:55 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/#comment-70947 Je remercie! Tu nous offres tres bon (reasons) apprendre des langues. Ok, I tried. Je remercie! Tu nous offres tres bon (reasons) apprendre des langues.

Ok, I tried.

]]> By: S A M http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/comment-page-1/#comment-63490 S A M Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:01:18 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/#comment-63490 I understand the points you gave for some not wanting to learn a new language because I fell into a couple of those categories myself...the money and I'm not determined enough to learn a language on my own. A few months ago I started to use www.edufire.com and I think my feelings have changed. It's not all on my own with this site and it's much more affordable than other avenues I have looked into in the past. I understand the points you gave for some not wanting to learn a new language because I fell into a couple of those categories myself…the money and I’m not determined enough to learn a language on my own. A few months ago I started to use http://www.edufire.com and I think my feelings have changed. It’s not all on my own with this site and it’s much more affordable than other avenues I have looked into in the past.

]]> By: Mikorka Kalman http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/comment-page-1/#comment-63486 Mikorka Kalman Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:19:42 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/#comment-63486 Kató Lomb, famous Hungarian interpreter once said a foreign language is the only thing that is worth being learnt even a little. If you only know a little chemistry you may blow up your house, or if you only know to play the violin a little you torture your audience. But it is endeed worth knowing only 200 hundred words of a foreign language. This really sounds encouraging. :) Kató Lomb, famous Hungarian interpreter once said a foreign language is the only thing that is worth being learnt even a little. If you only know a little chemistry you may blow up your house, or if you only know to play the violin a little you torture your audience. But it is endeed worth knowing only 200 hundred words of a foreign language. This really sounds encouraging. :)

]]> By: Sara at On Simplicity http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/comment-page-1/#comment-63387 Sara at On Simplicity Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:36:45 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/#comment-63387 Ack! All my excuses are gone! I just love the idea of working my brain in a way that it hasn't been worked in years (like you mentioned in #1). I have to imagine there are some sweet side brain benefits to learning a language beyond the actual skill. I know for a fact that the local library has resources for at least five different languages, so I think it's just a matter of setting aside a certain amount of time each week and making it happen. Thanks for the kick in the drawers! Ack! All my excuses are gone! I just love the idea of working my brain in a way that it hasn’t been worked in years (like you mentioned in #1). I have to imagine there are some sweet side brain benefits to learning a language beyond the actual skill.

I know for a fact that the local library has resources for at least five different languages, so I think it’s just a matter of setting aside a certain amount of time each week and making it happen.

Thanks for the kick in the drawers!

]]> By: joe http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/comment-page-1/#comment-63328 joe Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:27:32 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/#comment-63328 nice post, I would also point out, another possible motivation for people using web 2.0. they actually can not only get a lot of resources for free but they can even make money out of it just by teaching their native language. I wrote a post about this issue: http://hubpages.com/hub/learn-languages-online-and-make-money thanks nice post, I would also point out, another possible motivation for people using web 2.0. they actually can not only get a lot of resources for free but they can even make money out of it just by teaching their native language.
I wrote a post about this issue:

http://hubpages.com/hub/learn-languages-online-and-make-money

thanks

]]> By: Irene http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/comment-page-1/#comment-63327 Irene Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:46:18 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/#comment-63327 I laughed loudly by reading Ana's reply (the wealthy Steve). But now I understand what Steve would say with his calculation. I think the costs are excuses. The most important point for learning language is the motivation how is mentioned before from Sarah, and the will to learn with a goal and last not least a little discipline. I laughed loudly by reading Ana’s reply (the wealthy Steve).
But now I understand what Steve would say with his calculation.
I think the costs are excuses.
The most important point for learning language is the motivation how is mentioned before from Sarah, and the will to learn with a goal and last not least a little discipline.

]]> By: Tom http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/comment-page-1/#comment-63320 Tom Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:23:05 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/#comment-63320 Perhaps you can take those things out of the equation, but there are people (like me) who don't have an MP3 player or a mobile phone or their own computer (I'm typing this on a friend's MacBook). Right now, a lot of that is beyond my means -- even using a computer at a library is a bit of a stretch if only because I can't get to the library during the day and when I can the computers are all in use. Perhaps you can take those things out of the equation, but there are people (like me) who don’t have an MP3 player or a mobile phone or their own computer (I’m typing this on a friend’s MacBook). Right now, a lot of that is beyond my means — even using a computer at a library is a bit of a stretch if only because I can’t get to the library during the day and when I can the computers are all in use.

]]> By: Steve http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/comment-page-1/#comment-63319 Steve Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:45:58 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/#comment-63319 Ana, Many tens of thousands of people spend $1500 per MONTH for intensive language courses at schools. I see them at ESL schools here in Vancouver. What do you think a university language courses cost to put on? But on the Internet you do not need to spend that amount. I just put up an idea of what you could spend. but most people have an MP3 player, internet access, and do not need extra earphones etc. Lost of things are available free. But even if you wanted to go first class, with your own private tutor, you need not spend more than this, and you can spend a lot less. And you will probably do as well or better than at the university language class. After two years of part time study on my own I am reading and listening to Russian literature in the original. At many North American universities, in their Russian program, they do these in translation, even after three years of study. Ana,

Many tens of thousands of people spend $1500 per MONTH for intensive language courses at schools. I see them at ESL schools here in Vancouver. What do you think a university language courses cost to put on?

But on the Internet you do not need to spend that amount. I just put up an idea of what you could spend. but most people have an MP3 player, internet access, and do not need extra earphones etc. Lost of things are available free.

But even if you wanted to go first class, with your own private tutor, you need not spend more than this, and you can spend a lot less. And you will probably do as well or better than at the university language class.

After two years of part time study on my own I am reading and listening to Russian literature in the original. At many North American universities, in their Russian program, they do these in translation, even after three years of study.

]]> By: Steve http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/comment-page-1/#comment-63318 Steve Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:38:10 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/#comment-63318 Ana and Sara and others, I only mentioned the $1,540 per YEAR since there are many people, many tens of thousands of people, who spend that amount per MONTH intensive courses. I see them doing ESL here in Vancouver.What do you think is the real cost of a university language course? Of course you need not spend very much. I was just trying to add up what you could spend, if you really wanted to go first class, so to speak. Three sets of ear phones, two MP3 players, etc., buying rather than renting videos and audio books and books, a tutor or coach giving you lots of personal attention. You really do not need to do that, and most of you have MP3 players and internet access. By the way I lost my exercize ear phones and bought a new set from Roots for $14, the best earphones yet for all purposes. I also believe the iPod shuffle at $55 is the best buy for active language learners. I mean for $70 you have can set up a language lab. And yet universities are investing $$$$$$ in sophisticated language labs. Tax-payers money at work!! Ana and Sara and others,

I only mentioned the $1,540 per YEAR since there are many people, many tens of thousands of people, who spend that amount per MONTH intensive courses. I see them doing ESL here in Vancouver.What do you think is the real cost of a university language course?

Of course you need not spend very much. I was just trying to add up what you could spend, if you really wanted to go first class, so to speak. Three sets of ear phones, two MP3 players, etc., buying rather than renting videos and audio books and books, a tutor or coach giving you lots of personal attention. You really do not need to do that, and most of you have MP3 players and internet access.

By the way I lost my exercize ear phones and bought a new set from Roots for $14, the best earphones yet for all purposes. I also believe the iPod shuffle at $55 is the best buy for active language learners. I mean for $70 you have can set up a language lab. And yet universities are investing $$$$$$ in sophisticated language labs. Tax-payers money at work!!

]]> By: Ana http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/comment-page-1/#comment-63317 Ana Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:23:19 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/5-poor-excuses-for-not-learning-a-foreign-language/#comment-63317 ok, sorry for the misunderstanding... anyway, this cost is highly overestimated, see my comment below on this (nr. 15). ;) ok, sorry for the misunderstanding… anyway, this cost is highly overestimated, see my comment below on this (nr. 15). ;)

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