I have to say the all inclusive method is the best approach. Take what you can get and realize there is no easy way to learn a language. With my kids we have narrowed many languages down to the 100 most common verbs, nouns and adjectives. Memorizing these will give you a vocabulary that is large enough to read at an elementary level in many languages. Its the Tim Ferris approach 80/20 and work really hard on the 20%.
Sure, there's an easy way! My ffriend's child is having no trouble at all learning Spanish. But then, he's only two, his dad is a Spanish teacher, and the parents try to speak Spanish with him at home almost as much as they do English! It's kinda funny, because I was listening to him the other day. He's at the stage where he has plenty to say, but isn't alway clear. His mom was up stairs, and I wasn't sure what he was saying. She said it's further complicated with him switching between the two languages! (And no, they are NOT Hispanic!) So that's the easy way to learn. Unfortunately, it's not an option for about 95% of us!
Yes Rosetta Stone excels above the rest. The only reason I wouldn't buy it is if I couldn't afford it. And yes, it cannot be resold. But the child needs to be very self motivated to use it. Power Glide is a cheaper option that used to be very popular. I would check your local community college as a language is much easier to learn with others. Actually I have a Spanish Power Glide that is missing one disc. I tried to sell it, but no one wants to buy it. Would anyone here like it free for the cost of shipping? Send me a personal message if you are interested.
Thank you so much for this!! My library did offer it and it is just what we were looking for. Thank you thank you thank you!!!
We actually started with Power Glide. It worked well for a while, but.... Then we went to Rosetta Stone. As I said earlier, it was a TOTAL waste of money!!! They were given phrases that really weren't related to anything, without any foundation to build on. (If anyone wants Power Glide French...the younger version...with tapes instead of CD's...?) So finally I put Rachael in SOS, and that was OK.
I think it's just very difficult to learn a language on your own. I think you need a group to learn with. If you are just wanting to pass a class then a computer based learning tool is what you need, but if you want to learn to speak a language, I would try and find others who are teaching it.
Reading things in another language that are already familiar in English to you can be good. For example, if an English newspaper also has a foreign language edition. Or a Bible passage that is already known in English, is easier to follow in another language.
I LOVED having a French Bible!!! But then I tried to read Les Miserable in French and English at the same time. Trouble was, both books were abridged...at different places, lol! Also, finding familiar children's books in a foreign language works well!
Yes, a passage such as John's Gospel, chapter one, is in clear, simple language and, if you are already familiar with it, the passage in French is more easily absorbed. It's a good way of familiarizing oneself with another language.
