Language, do you speak it?

[Suu]

French sounds like ducks quacking to me. I don't hear the "language of Love" I hear the language of Quebecois trying to get a free meal in the United States.

Canadian French does have more of a blue-collar lilt to it compared to French French.  

Canadian French is what the geese honk when they fly over. French French sound like ducks.

[Jenne]

I found French slightly more difficult than Spanish, actually.  Not much, but I noticed a definite difference in learning them both.

My husband (who's sick in the head when it comes to ease of language use, btw--he knows Persian/Dari, Pushto, Urdu/Hindi, English and Spanish) says it's because Spanish is more "intuitive."  And that orthography's more true to the pronunciation.

French sounds like ducks quacking to me. I don't hear the "language of Love" I hear the language of Quebecois trying to get a free meal in the United States.

Canadian French does have more of a blue-collar lilt to it compared to French French.  

Canadian French is said to be still very close to the French of the settlers who came west, whereas the French of France has evolved much like the English of England has.  Vowel shifts, etc.

[NWC]

Right now, I'm a lit major. But I plan to do programs in history and philosphy as well.

I've been told German is easy, and I've been thinking about taking French. Latin would be a sure fire winner, but it's not offered where I'm at right now.

So, I guess it's a toss-up between French and German... But aren't the French really snooty about thier language?

Learn French and go to Belgium! They're nice to foreigners with accents, as long as they're trying.

I think French is easier than German, but that's because I was in a French-speaking country when I started learning it. Once my ear got used to picking apart the words people were saying, it because quite simple, and now it's what I speak all day (I get my English kicks on the internet).
With German, I feel like it's pretty easy to speak barbarically, but speaking correctly is a pain in the ass, what with the declension of the articles and all. It's useful for philosophy, true, but so is French.

[AFK]

Canadian French is said to be still very close to the French of the settlers who came west, whereas the French of France has evolved much like the English of England has.  Vowel shifts, etc.

I suppose the higher fiber diets helped. 

[Suu]

Learn French and go to Belgium! They're nice to foreigners with accents, as long as they're trying.

I've heard the same thing about Germany. Even at the German Club where I go to drink on Friday nights, a lot of the older folks there love that I'm studying it, and help the best that they can.

To some groups, it's a compliment to learn their language...Unless you're actually from France. They don't typically like anyone. I've been told that if I travel there, to tell people that I'm Canadian, that way they may just not spit in my food.

[Jenne]

  The French stereotype just didn't hold true for me.  I stumbled out questions in their language all the fucking time when I was over there, and they were very polite and helped me out a lot.

The Spanish, on the other had, were fucking awful.

[Suu]

  The French stereotype just didn't hold true for me.  I stumbled out questions in their language all the fucking time when I was over there, and they were very polite and helped me out a lot.

The Spanish, on the other had, were fucking awful.

Yes.

Castilians are stuck up, miserable, and the men are rude and chauvinistic.

They have a natural hatred for anyone who speaks English, because they lost so much ground to English speakers. Everyone who I've met from Spain have just generally bad attitudes.

[Jenne]

...but damn those dudes can COOK!

[Jasper]

I was able to teach myself some basic french with recorded lessons in the car during commutes.  You learn relatively fast if you're regular about it, I find, but the written language has its own unique challenges with that approach.

[Cuddlefish]

Yeah, but this is Cuddlefish we're talking about here...

Hey, I get laid! I just don't have a job...

Regardless, I think I'm leaning towards French after all this. Indonesian sounds interesting, but... I dunno. Hadn't ever even considered it...

Also, after reading a lot of the responses, it's really occured to me that I don't know the first thing about learning another language. I may be really bad at this.

[Storebrand]

Do you know what your learning style is?  Model your language training to reflect your learning style.  If you don't know what it is, find out.

Edit for link:  http://homeworktips.about.com/od/homeworkhelp/a/lstyleqz.htm

[Suu]

Yeah, but this is Cuddlefish we're talking about here...

Hey, I get laid! I just don't have a job...

Regardless, I think I'm leaning towards French after all this. Indonesian sounds interesting, but... I dunno. Hadn't ever even considered it...

Also, after reading a lot of the responses, it's really occured to me that I don't know the first thing about learning another language. I may be really bad at this.

I'm alright. I've taken Spanish, Latin, Classical Greek and German. I haven't mastered ANY of them, but I can help if you need it. At least I know I'm close enough.

I think Richter's sister Leln minored in French, but don't hold me to that, I could be confusing her with someone else.

[Precious Moments Zalgo]

Do you know what your learning style is?  Model your language training to reflect your learning style.  If you don't know what it is, find out.

Edit for link:  http://homeworktips.about.com/od/homeworkhelp/a/lstyleqz.htm

I'm visual/tactile.  No wonder listening to language tapes in the car was a complete waste of time for me. 

[Suu]

I'm visual. You can talk ad nauseam, but if I don't write it down as you talk, your words will go up in smoke.

[Jasper]

Do you know what your learning style is?  Model your language training to reflect your learning style.  If you don't know what it is, find out.

Edit for link:  http://homeworktips.about.com/od/homeworkhelp/a/lstyleqz.htm

I'm visual/tactile.  No wonder listening to language tapes in the car was a complete waste of time for me. 

I'm the same, according to that test, but I do most if not all of my extracurriculars with recorded lectures.