learning new language

[OakLeaf]

When we were in Spain, we'd come back to our room sometimes and watch game shows. For the most part, the vocabulary was limited enough that between DH and me with our middle-school Spanish and, in my case, enough other European languages to give me grammar and cognates, we could understand enough to enjoy the shows and maybe pick up on a bit of the slang.

You should be able to find a slang dictionary, too - obviously there's no substitute for immersion, but for me, having spent a grand total of one day in France, my French slang dictionary is hugely helpful in reading online forums.

[malkin]

In language learning research the thing you are feeling has an official sounding name: the affective filter.

Anything you can do to reduce your affective filter could help.
(Alcohol works for some adult learners.)

[NbyNW]

I've had good luck with Pimsleur language programs, both with Italian and Spanish. I don't know how it compares vs. Rosetta Stone, but it's a pretty efficient system if you're preparing to travel somewhere and don't have a ton of time to take a conventional language course. (I've had years of formal French and Mandarin coursework, and I felt like I got comfortable with the "feel" of Italian much more quickly using the Pimsleur tapes).

The emphasis is on the vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation that you would need as a traveler, so you get drilled with greetings, how to order at a restaurant, discussing transportation, using numbers to describe things and money.

I think an advantage to using a product like Pimsleur or Rosetta is that you're not sitting in a classroom listening to your classmates struggle with pronunciation. One of the things Pimsleur emphasizes is to listen and respond to the speaker at a similar speed. Early lessons are a bit slower and simpler, but then they get progressively more complicated and speed up to a more regular pace of conversation. Two months of working with recordings and I was much more comfortable with Italian vs. seven years of French, albeit with a limited vocabulary.

Probably any system like this is no substitute for practicing conversation with native speakers, but they can help you get a good foundation with things that you would find immediately useful.

[tulip]

In language learning research the thing you are feeling has an official sounding name: the affective filter.

Anything you can do to reduce your affective filter could help.
(Alcohol works for some adult learners.)

Interesting! It's true...I'm much more talkative when I'm having a glass of wine. That's true for English, as well as French and Portuguese! I'll find out with Spanish in the spring.