Welcome to Gaia! ::

I downloaded last night a self-learning method of German, and though I still don't open it (it just entered my hard drive), I was thinking... those of you that have used a self-learning method, did you found them good or what?

In my case, if it doesn't turns out to be good at all, well, at least I didn't paid a s**t for that. 3nodding I also downloaded an Esperanto method, first because Esperanto is the world's easiest language, second because if you know Esperanto, you'll have an easier time learning more languages.

Well, I'm not much good at learning languages in the classroom - language lessons here don't seem to go far beyond what a tourist's phrasebook would tell you, which is fine if you just want to parrot the same phrases constantly and spend all your time in a foriegn country ordering coffee, telling people that your favourite colour is blue, and asking the way to the station.

On the other hand, if I try to learn a language grammar-first from books or web pages, I seem to make progress much more quickly. (Though I still tend to be a little lacking in vocabulary.)

So I guess I'm just the kind of person who's better at self-learning than normal learning...

guh..lucky...i usually have to be taught or hear the words and such. my grammar is so messed up i think thats my problem D:

I think it can also depend on what book you use. I don't have the option of learning French in a classroom, because I'm home schooled. But I have a very structured book and CD set. It gives you specific tasks and time limmits so it's a lot like I'm actually learning in a classroom setting. I also listen to French radio stations (rapping in French...interesting) and hope it'll help me pick it up more.

it thoroughly depends on the person.personally i learn better and retain more information if i study a language on my own.rather than in a classroom.seeing as in a classroom you have distractions and i'm usually writing notes.xD.but aside from that the classroom does nothing for me really.but self study i can go at my own pace, i know where i need to strengthen,the parts that i need to work harder at, the parts i'm really good at.etc. not to mention you can self-study anywhere at any time.which makes it a lot more fun than sitting in the same room for a year or more, surrounded by people who always sound better than you do.xD.opinion of course.but anyway.For me i learn anything better through self-study *shrugs* it's just how my mind works.

Yeah, ditto.

I like to learn, and if I'm interested, that's good motivation, but it REALLY does help to have a deadline..
"The ultimate inspiration is the deadline"
--who said that, anyway?

Hmm, the way I learn languages the most is by someone who speaks the language fluently (sp?) to me. Monkey see, monkey do! biggrin