Have you learned your host country's language?

I've learned Icelandic to the point that I'm able to function in society with it. Wasn't the easiest language to learn but it's fun to know one with such a small number of speakers.

I can count and order food in Chinese.  I'm the last person anyone should use as a resource for learning any language.

I have lived in Denmark for 45 years and am so fluent, that Danes often don't catch my minimal accent! I have never gone to any kind of class - just picked it up by ear and have made an effort to perfect it along the way. Since then, I have helped others who are struggling with grammar and pronunciation. I still remember what I went through and have some funny stories on my blog:

life-in-dk.blogspot.com/

Oops - I've neglected my blog for awhile - sorry - but an interview might get me writing again!

Hope to hear from you...

Yea,some of the basic words and numbers,, for easy communication with local people..! It's fun to learn another language,right!

I make a point of learning some of the language of whichever country I am working in so that I can communicate. I have lived and worked in 11 countries.

I'm currently living in Paris and have been feverishly trying to learn the language for the past few months. I've taken some French classes but the bulk of my learning has been on my own using different types of language books, a very handy IPhone application, French television and my best teacher-- my boyfriend. I now have a basic level of French but am still continuing to learn. It's a very difficult language and completely different from the sentence structure of English but I am determined to learn it. If you have any questions about my experiences with this let me know. Good luck to everyone learning a new language!

I been apart from my man for 2 years and still can't talk urdu. someone wanted to teach me but wanted £25 and hour:blink: wanted to teach me twice a week. but i can pick up be ear.
Went to arabic classes and just could not learn language and i have to know it to read the quran and pray as its in arabic language.

I had studied the Portugese language and reached an intermediate level of fluency before I came to Brazil over ten years ago. Since that time I have progressed to the point where it is truly my second language, I am completely fluent, do translations and also teach the language to other English speaking foreigners.

In the written language, documents, chat rooms, etc., people think I am a Brazilian because I have even picked up all of their coloquial language. Once I actually start speaking there's no doubting that I'm a "gringo" because I will never lose my accent.

I can speak a little bit Arabic, I understand more than I can say.
In september I start with the Arabic course.

Primadona
I went to arabic class. I was the only one in the class that really needed t learn it. after 18 weeks i still had not a clue how to write it down or read it.
was the only one.

O, I'am sorry to hear that.
In the Netherlands I started, before we left, a course and I was also the only one that NEED to speek and write and read Arabic.
There was one but: the tutor was from Morocco, the books where written in Egyptian Arabic and he could not give proper class.
But after a half year I was able to read easy sentences but I don't understand always.

So this time I go to the university which is the best in the country and the lessons are intensive: 20 hours a week, 4 hours each day, 5 days in a week. In the beginning I shall have a head start but after that it will be hard.
After I finshed I will have finally a university degree

Good luck

I have learned just enough of Korean to be able to ask for things, order food, count, and general pleasantries. Really only essential language.

Im in UAE n still trying to learn Arabic... im able read and comprehend a lil bt still unable to catch the spoken Arabic

though Urdu is very close to Arabic yet im feeling it hard to grab... the best thing is that both Arabic and Urdu have the same Arabic scripting...

@haggishunter and Primadonna: Best of Luck with ur learning... i can give u tip for learning Arabic Urdu... u can write urdu/arabic sentences in english script e.g.

English:   How are you?
Urdu:      Kia Haal Hain
Arabic:    Kaifa Haalu ka

hope it helps

I just learned how to say something really horrible in Chinese.

told hubby when he finaly gets home, he to speak to me in urdu some times
me thinks me in big doo doo

@HaileyinHongKong: u should share that wid us...

@haggishunter: Lolz... it must be a funny situation

Asad_theleo wrote:

Im in UAE n still trying to learn Arabic... im able read and comprehend a lil bt still unable to catch the spoken Arabic

though Urdu is very close to Arabic yet im feeling it hard to grab... the best thing is that both Arabic and Urdu have the same Arabic scripting...

@haggishunter and Primadonna: Best of Luck with ur learning... i can give u tip for learning Arabic Urdu... u can write urdu/arabic sentences in english script e.g.

English:   How are you?
Urdu:      Kia Haal Hain
Arabic:    Kaifa Haalu ka

hope it helps

This week I started with the course standard Arabic.
To me it is easy, for now, but sometimes I am confused because some words are different in the standard (= foussah) and in the local. And how you are doning now?

[Moderated]

@Primadonna: Wow... thats gr8 to know u've started proper language course... wish u best of luck..

yeah thats true for almost all languages... like some words are used in American English but not in British...

and im doing good thanks... but my Arabic learning is almost stopped now as im quite busy in my office routine...

That is sad to hear it, I hope that you can pick it up as soon as possible.
And thanks for your nice words

going to get hubby to teach me urdu

It is always good to have a private tutor.
Good luck for you too!

@ haggishunter: "going to get hubby to teach me urdu" r u going to Pak to get him??

@ Primadonna: "It is always good to have a private tutor" Lolz.. v true

hubby is now here with me in uk:D

Wow thats awesome

Yes,
I am learning Danish. It is difficult language to learn but it would be worse if we can not communicate with local people by host country's language.
I go to school every day, and now after 1 year I can speak Danish, and my life is also better.
So why not learn you host country's language? Language is key

that awkward moment when you try to speak to the locals in their native language but they reply in english.

Hericles wrote:

that awkward moment when you try to speak to the locals in their native language but they reply in english.

AIYAH! The reason I quit studying Cantonese (I also secretly hate the language anyway ... laaa )

my new years promise.........
To learn urdu
If i dont hubby will kill me lol

Asad_theleo wrote:

English:   How are you?
Urdu:      Kia Haal Hain
Arabic:    Kaifa Haalu ka

hope it helps

Wait a minute ! doesn't arabic look like this : غريب اللغة ?

Euh Hericles:

this is arabic what you copied but do you khow what it says?
The Persian language use the same letters but have different meanings.

And if Asad wrote it in the original language, 99% would't able to read what it was written.

Yes Hericles ur rite! Arabic script is the same u've written, and rightly said by Primadonna tht if i would have written this in arabic 99% people wouldnt understand that...

And URDU, ARABIC and PERSIAN share the same writing script... even they share few words bt having different meanings like this u mentioned is "Gareeb ul Lughat"

غريب in Urdu = Poor
غريب in Arbic = Strange

and beleive me Arabic isn't a strange language at all

By the way... in our country we use to chat and SMS in URDU with english script...

like "Salaam o Allykum" means Greetings (Peace on you)

I know the greetings and some urdu. I just want to learn it so i can talk to my father in law and for when i go visit Pakistan again.
Also if i have a argument with hubby

"Also if i have a argument with hubby"

-- lolz... for that u should be good in Urdu... u can take my services... though helpin in fights n arguments is not a good idea

haggishunter wrote:

Also if i have a argument with hubby

if all fails, revert to basic sign language

I'm learning how to say "yao wo" in Chinese.

HaileyinHongKong wrote:

I'm learning how to say "yao wo" in Chinese.

I was going to ask what does it mean, but changed my mind after reading ur post on "when men shed tears..." thinking it can also b x-rated