Saturday, October 24, 2009

Forign Languages?

Ok so basically, i want to be a doctor when i grow up. But i also want to learn languages. Like right now im 16 and im going to costa rica this summer for a month to help learn spanish. But once i begin college how would i be able to learn a new language just living in america?
Is there anyway i could do both, without taking away from my schooling once i go to college. I mean like, the only way to actually learn a language is to live in the country... How can i make this work?
Answer:
What about taking language classes in college? Or you can study abroad (I spent a semester in Costa Rica). Good luck and have fun in CR!
In order to become fluent, pick up slang and sound like a native speaker you will need to be in a native speaking community or country, however you can learn a language anywhere. You do need to occasionally use the knowledge in order to retain it. Most medium or large cities will have some type of community set up around whatever language you are trying to learn. Search the net, you'd be surprised what type of activities there are - french language dinner parties intended to help people who are trying to lean the language, for example.Additionally most universities will have activities, clubs or other resources for temporary immersion environments, at least for the more popular foreign languages. I have also seen some residence programs at schools where the residents of a particular rooming house all sign an agreement to only use a specific foreign language within the house.Just a few examples. Really the best thing to do would be to ask the department head for the language you want to learn at whichever university you decide to go to. They should be able to let you know what's available at that school.
Either take a spanish class in college... or use Rosetta Stone if you can afford it. However, make friends with fluent spanish speakers in order to learn the slang. Personally I would learn by just making friends who are fluent in spanish, and learn from them while they are speaking.
Both are possible. I am a neurosurgeon, and as you are probably aware, neurosurgery is one of the most hectic superspecialities of medical sciences. However, I am fluent with four languages in addition to English and am busy with the fifth one now. I have found that the best way to go about it is to buy a language-learning kit (these are available as CDs plus books) and start learning from it. You can get one or more of your friends motivated into doing the same. As you all progress, you can all start conversing in that new language in bits and pieces and increase the amount. I have found that you can do wonders with this. The CD will give you the correct way to pronounce the words and the book will show you how it is written. The conversations will make you fluent and confident. For me, it takes about a year to become fluent in a new language. Suppose it takes a year for you and your friends to acquire fluency, you can all then plan a 2-week trip to the place where that language is spoken. It gives a real high.All the best.

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