Andrea,

There are many language exchange sites on the web. LingQ is one, but LingQ
also has lots of language content and a vocabulary review engine built in.
That would be cheaper and more efficient and more interesting,  especially
if you already have some knowledge of the language. I  spend most of my
Russian study time listening on an Ipod  while cleaning the kitchen or
driving etc.. I occasionally join Russian conversations via Skype, but I
earn back the cost by tutoring in English, so it is a wash.

Steve
www.lingq.com

On Tue, Jan 20, 2009 at 7:30 AM, Andrea Wilder <andreawilder at comcast.net>wrote:


> Steve--Here's my problem. I had sort of adequate French years ago.  Now I

> want to upgrade without going to France.  My time is so tight--that's why I

> thought of a CD/DVD program.  Maybe also I can join a conversational group

> here.

>

> Andrea

>

> On Jan 19, 2009, at 7:27 PM, Steve Kaufmann wrote:

>

> My son used it for Japanese and found it very limited in terms of

> vocabulary covered, and annoying in terms of the exercizes. I believe the

> starter courses I mentioned are more effective and less expensive. In any

> case, they just get you started.

>

> Steve

>

> On Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 1:19 PM, Andrea Wilder <andreawilder at comcast.net>wrote:

>

>>  Steve--Have you used Rosetta Stone?

>> Andrea

>>

>> On Jan 19, 2009, at 12:32 PM, Steve Kaufmann wrote:

>>

>> You can buy a starter course for a language, or borrow one at the library.

>> Teach Yourself, Colloquial, Assimil, Pimsleur, these are just a few. To go

>> further in a language, there is an abundance of content on the web,

>> podcasts, radio stations and the like. At first you have to listen

>> repeatedly to a limit range of content, but in time, as you understand

>> better,  you do not listen as often and instead cover more and more

>> interesting content. I do not worry about how to pronounce things until I

>> have been listening for at least 6 months or more.

>>

>> For my Russian I have enjoyed audio books, and right now especially enjoy

>> a wonderful source of radio interviews complete with transcripts. both of

>> which are available for free download daily.

>>

>> Much of this kind of content is available in our language libraries at

>> LingQ, and anything that is not free of copyright can be still imported into

>> t he system for pesonal use, but cannot be shared.

>>

>> The Internet and the MP3 player have exploded the opportunities for

>> finding sound content and carrying it with you. Language labs have been made

>> obsolete.

>>

>> Steve Kaufmann

>> www.lingq.com

>>

>> On Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 6:55 AM, Andrea Wilder <andreawilder at comcast.net>wrote:

>>

>>>  Steve--"Listening to recordings," what ones are you listening to?

>>>  Programs?  Radio?

>>> Thanks!

>>>

>>> Andrea :)

>>>

>>> On Jan 18, 2009, at 7:06 PM, Steve Kaufmann wrote:

>>>

>>> Tom,

>>>

>>> Do you recommend different writing systems for each regional accent?  In

>>> French this would mean a  Quebecois writing system,a Parisian writing

>>> system, a Toulouse writing system, or in English a Texas writing system, a

>>> London writing system, a Boston writing system, a Yorkshire writing system

>>> and all the shades of difference in between.

>>>

>>> Listening to recordings is more useful. I have studied 12 languages and

>>> only rely on the sound. I never use any phonetic script. I do not trust

>>> them. I trust what I hear, and then I connect that to the script that I see.

>>>

>>> I admire your enthusiasm but I do not  understand the usefulness of

>>> truespel.

>>>

>>> Steve Kaufmann

>>> www.lingq.com

>>>

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>>>

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>>

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>>

>>

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>>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------

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> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to

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>

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------

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