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06:59
December 27, 2011
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I'm sure at least a few of you on this site have heard of Khatzumoto, the guy who learned Japanese fluently in 18 months without even going to Japan. Here's a link to his blog if you haven't. http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/. Now he proposes that one must immerse one self in the language in order to learn it. This is no real divine revelation, but that he does so without leaving his hometown is different. My question is though, how did he immerse in Japanese. I haven't been able to find a clear explanation on his blog. I've only really gotten out that he turned everything that involved audio to Japanese and that he used an SRS for the kanji. In any case I would like to do the same thing he did, but for Italian. I just love the way the language sounds. I love opera and music. And Italian cuisine ain't half-bad:). I also would like to travel to Italy, although that's secondary to other places like Africa and China, where my brother lives. Also, perhaps this isn't a good reason, but already knowing Latin and Spanish, I feel like it will not that difficult and it won't take long to learn. If anyone has any tips on how to immerse oneself, please say so. Or if anyone can suggest good Italian films and music (not opera and such that is.)
Thanks a whole heap to everyone
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11:43
Experienced Language Hacker
July 22, 2011
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It's really as simple as doing everything that you love right now in the English language, but in Italian. If you listen to English music, listen to Italian music instead. If you watch English language TV programs, watch Italian language TV programs instead. Same with books. Same with hobbies. Surround yourself with things you love, just make sure that the things you love, you do in Italian. There will be exceptions, like your job/wife and so on where this won't be possible, but that's ok. As long as everything else is Italian. 
Reward your hard work during the day with relaxing into your normal English routine for an hour or two at the end of the day.
As for finding resources to actually be able to do all this maybe some Italian learners on the forum can help you out with websites and things like that, but you really have to research and find out what is available to you in your area; Bookshops/libraries that stock italian books, shops that sell Italian music, language exchanges etc…
It's probably not the most informative of posts, this… but once you get into the swing of immersing yourself (even if you only change one thing at a time) you'll find your ability to sink into the language and absorb it grow with time.
Gaeilge, 
English
Studies: 
Polish
On Hold: 
Spanish
Next: 
Italian Is cainteoir dúchais Gaeilge mé. Same with English. Zacząłem uczyć się polskiego, y ahora, he dejado aprender el castellano.
13:11
July 8, 2011
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One of the most important lessons I've taken away from Khatz is that it's okay to make it easy and fun. If you can't bring yourself to do a textbook lesson, then don't be a masochist and try to force yourself, because then you'll start to avoid Italian. Instead, you can "procrastinate" by surfing the web, playing games, or reading trashy celebrity gossip, as long as it's in Italian. Don't take the high road and do what you think is "best" for your Italian; do what you can continue over and over enjoyably; in other words, quantity (=frequency of contact with the language) over quality. For example, watch your favorite TV show in Italian (and visit a forum about it, and read the YouTube comments about it) even though you think the news would be more productive. The goal with his method is to make it so that the language is no longer an activity on your to-do list, but a way of being.
I hope this helps!
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Current Mission: 3 Months to Fluent (B1) Mandarin
03:56
Experienced Language Hacker
July 28, 2011
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I just can't thank you enough, MJ, for introducing me to that wonderful blog.
He so perfectly captures how I enjoy learning my languages.
Though I feel guilty I'm not doing this in Hindi, now. I ought to go find a http://www.FluentIn3Months.co.in
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05:30
December 27, 2011
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@Emerald & Jasminetea,Thanks. That clarifies things, so it has helped a bunch.
@Alasdair No problem man. I'm happy to introduce you to something good. Although yeah I know what you mean, I feel guilty somewhat for not finding this site in Italian. Currently my computer is set to Spanish, but I guess I'll change that soon. I'll probably post up on the language log section of the forum after February 1st, until then I have a lot going on. My Grandfather's funeral is tomorrow. I have an application to fill out and a short story to finish editing for a magazine, that of course if they accept it, which isn't too likely, but in any case, it's due on the 1st.
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23:14
Experienced Language Hacker
July 28, 2011
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How do you set your entire computer to Spanish?
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23:42
July 5, 2011
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I think he meant the OS. You can do this any OS (if I'm not mistaken). It's really easy on Linux if I'm not mistaken again
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02:45
December 27, 2011
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Well I'm not sure exactly how I did it. I think I went to system preferences and changed it to Spanish. Now everything's in Spanish. As for the internet, well for non Spanish sites, like this, it offers to translate it. Hope that clarifies things.
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03:07
Experienced Language Hacker
July 22, 2011
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On a Mac (I use OSX Lion):
Apple Menu -> System Preferences -> Language & Text
And then drag your preferred language to the top of the list. Easy!
Gaeilge, English
Studies: Polish
On Hold: Spanish
Next: Italian Is cainteoir dúchais Gaeilge mé. Same with English. Zacząłem uczyć się polskiego, y ahora, he dejado aprender el castellano.
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