has anyone learned a language outside of school?

Non-Phish General
#1

I increasingly feel like I’ve really missed out on not learning a language other than English. I had classes in French and German for a few years but hardly remember any of that and couldn’t hold a conversation in either.

Me and Ian spent a week in Sweden earlier this summer and everyone could speak English, it was an awesome trip and made quite a few friends so I’m tempted to try and learn it. I’m also seeing this Swiss girl who speaks German, Swiss German, English and Serbian fluently, as well as having learnt French for the last 7 years…which makes me in awe of her as well as feeling like a dumbass for only knowing English.

If anyone here has learnt a language outside of school, what is your experience so far? What are you learning, how have you gone about it, how long have you been learning, why did you choose the language you did etc etc?

#2

Made it to French III back in high school.

My brother’s got an amazing french accent, he’s all about cooking too. I think he’s planning on making a trip to France soon.

The older you get, the more it seems like alternate languages would be useful.

#3

And the more difficult they are to learn.

Immersion is really the key. You could study a language to the point of learning it, but you have to be incredibly disciplined. Otherwise learn a fair amount of grammar and vocab and go to where said language is spoken.

#4

im taking an AP french this year as a senior in hs… god i hate the work i put into it but i can near-fluently hold my own in a bundle of situations

though its pretty much useless because im not going to france anytime soon…

#5

Rosetta stone bueno