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02:51
December 14, 2011
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Okay, sorry for the silly title (I wanted to write something else but my mind doesn't want to remember the words), but I really need help.
I have a few problems that doesn't let me continue my studies. I don't think they are big problems, but still, I can't make any progress. That's why my mission failed, not because I didn't wanted to, but because I just can't.
I don't know how to start. It was easy with Esperanto, since it has a website where you can learn the whole language without other resources, but what about the other languages?
I can't find resources, and if I find them I don't know how to use them, or which one to use first, so I just don't use them.
I can't get native speakers to talk with me, because I'm a really shy person and I'm scared to do mistakes or not understanding something.
I get sick a lot, and when I'm sick I can't study very well. I could try but again, I never actually start my studies, and that sucks.
And at last, I'm a person who gets demotivated, sad and depressed a lot.
So really, if you can help me with anything, please reply. I really want to learn languages, but I don't know how to learn them.
I don't know if I should add something else, but I guess it already explaines at least a bit.
Thanks in advice,
Chris.
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04:03
May 23, 2012
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I see you already know both German and English. German would be the language that I usually suggest for English speakers.
First off, do your best to relax if you can, performance anxiety is going to kill your ability to learn a language more quickly than just about anything else you can do.
Learning a language shouldn't be unpleasant or particularly difficult. At least not for the basics. You'll probably find yourself becoming more motivated if you feel you're mastering and independent you'll probably keep at it.
I personally love sentence frames as they convey a significant amount of utility very quickly without having to do much work. And they allow you to have some fluency before you would normally. Basically rather than memorizing "I want to go to the store. You would learn something like "NOUN want to go PLACE" or something similar. You take sentences that are in your phrase book or that you want to know and make them as general as possible.
They serve a similar purpose as Benny's conversational connectors, but IMHO they're more useful as they can be used anywhere and native speakers use them all the time for similar reason. If you listen to yourself or read your posts you'll doubtless find that the same turns of phrase show up regularly. They give you a thinking pause without having to um, er or uh.
Lastly, remember that it's normal to have a silent period when you start studying a language, but the shorter you can make it the better. The anxiety unfortunately won't go away and will almost certainly get worse the longer you wait. Most native speakers I've ever met will be forgiving for those that are trying to learn their language.
EDIT: check out voxopop.com it's probably exactly what you need if you're having that kind of trouble with shyness.
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16:33
December 14, 2011
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Hello hedwards, thanks for answering!
I'll try to relax more, especially now since I'm not calm at all (and it isn't good for me too, not only for language learning).
Right now I'm trying to focus on Spanish wth duolingo, I find it really helpful for now. And I want to spend the whole summer break for French, but first I need to find the resources. Slowly I'm also starting to learn Japanese, so I'm trying to make things slow and calm, everyday, even if I'm a bad mood I'll just force myself to learn at least a word.
Thanks again, I'll check out that website :3
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17:02
May 27, 2012
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Hello Chris,
I don't understand why you put so much pressure on you about learning languages.
You already know much more that a lot of people (at least me)
Anyway, for French, I can help you if you want 
Fabrice
17:24
December 14, 2011
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Hello Fabrice,
I only speak Italian, German and English, really. xD Just because I'm learning French, Spanish and Esperanto doesn't mean that I can actually speak in that languages, since I consider myself just a beginner, because I've never been serious about it. Or well, whenever I tried to, I failed everytime.
I'll consider making a post on here for the languages I'm learning when I'll start studying seriously, the next month. Thanks for the help anyway! I appreciate it :3
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04:23
May 27, 2012
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"only"…
I only speak French, and English quite well since a few month (after several years of study … ).
Personnaly, i'm quite proud to know English better and better everyday,
compared to people in general in France, not all people know several languages.
But maybe in France we are arrogant, thinking that knowing only French is enough
Good luck to succeed in achieving your goals.
See you
Fabrice
12:10
July 8, 2011
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Hi Chris
I have some problems also therefore sometimes duirng some weeks or months I don't study. It's not possible to study when you're sick, it's a pity but it's life.
This time, I don't study since about 10 months, eveyr week I hope that it will be soon when i can begin. They have said that I can't go to the uni now, maybe in the future but better to avoid stress…. stress can trigger that you would become sick.
I havne't depression like you, but nevertheless someitmes it's completely impossible to focus or concentrate.But I always have my languages in my thoughts, for example put some conversations in a particular language.
You better not fear the mistakes, they are normal, all the world make mistakes. I'm perfectionnist, generally, but not more, I mean I have changed. Now, I find that if I can understand they can undertsnad me, I'm satisfied. I can't travel, not in my own country as well -it's not allowed to travel in the train alone or nothing. But, nothing will prevent me from think in the languages and read them, have the mulitlingual conversations and correspond etc
I can't give some more advices, but you're not alone with some problems, not all the world can study, travel etc mostly the successful ones are more evident, and we the useless ones feel so bad, but it's not a competition. If they will have a competition I havne't interest in that at all.
kuikentje
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06:02
December 14, 2011
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frenchlearn31 said
"only"…I only speak French, and English quite well since a few month (after several years of study …
Personnaly, i'm quite proud to know English better and better everyday,
compared to people in general in France, not all people know several languages.
But maybe in France we are arrogant, thinking that knowing only French is enough
Good luck to succeed in achieving your goals.
See you
Fabrice
I say "Only" because, you know, I speak Italian and German as a motherspeaker, so Engish is the only other language I learnt, at school too xºº
kuikentje Jar-ptitsa said
Hi Chris
I have some problems also therefore sometimes duirng some weeks or months I don't study. It's not possible to study when you're sick, it's a pity but it's life.
This time, I don't study since about 10 months, eveyr week I hope that it will be soon when i can begin. They have said that I can't go to the uni now, maybe in the future but better to avoid stress…. stress can trigger that you would become sick.
I havne't depression like you, but nevertheless someitmes it's completely impossible to focus or concentrate.But I always have my languages in my thoughts, for example put some conversations in a particular language.
You better not fear the mistakes, they are normal, all the world make mistakes. I'm perfectionnist, generally, but not more, I mean I have changed. Now, I find that if I can understand they can undertsnad me, I'm satisfied. I can't travel, not in my own country as well -it's not allowed to travel in the train alone or nothing. But, nothing will prevent me from think in the languages and read them, have the mulitlingual conversations and correspond etc
I can't give some more advices, but you're not alone with some problems, not all the world can study, travel etc mostly the successful ones are more evident, and we the useless ones feel so bad, but it's not a competition. If they will have a competition I havne't interest in that at all.
kuikentje
Hello kuikentje,
I know, it's such a pain I'm starting to learn a bit of Spanish, but again, I'm usually not in the mood, depressed and stuff like that, and the stress doesn't help at all…
Thanks for your advices, I appreciate it! I'm trying to get over my fear, but it's really really hard, being the perfectionist I am and shy at the same time.
Again, thanks!
Chris
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16:39
July 8, 2011
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I've some friends [about 3] with whom I correspond [emails] and I practise my languages at the same time. The advantages are that when you're sick or tired etc you don't write, it's ok, and also shyness isn't a problem. my friends don't make corrections, but you can request this. I find that it's nice practice and also I correspond only with people who I like, not the nasty ones.
It seems that you need a break now, maybe don't study during some weeks and see if you feel that it would be possible in August?
Greetings,
kuikentje
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05:41
December 14, 2011
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Oh, I would really like to talk with others via email, but I'm not the one who usually starts it… I talk to my gf in Spanish when she starts speaking it Lol. Usually we talk in Italian. xºº I guess I need to change some habits of mine and take the courage to find someone. If I knew how to find them of course.
Actually I don't study for months now, and since today was the last day of school, I wanted to start again, maybe on monday or something like that xD because now I have a huge headache, it's difficult for me to even write in English.
I'll try to anyway, thanks~
Chris.
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