Language courses? Options & ideas?
Language courses? Options & ideas?
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off_again

Original Poster:

13,917 posts

264 months

Sunday 23rd November 2008
quotequote all
At the moment my job takes me all over Europe, including the new EU states, quite regularly. I can get around places such as France, Germany and even Italy without too much issue - with my broken language skills - but places like the Czech Republic are way beyond my current abilities.

What I want to do is learn some new languages to help with my work. Nothing serious and it could be a real mixture. I am keen to get the basics and at least have enough knowledge to get by without too much of a problem. I heard that the Rosetta Stone computer based courses were excellent, but since they cost 100+ quid EACH, I cannot really afford to do that.

A local college course would probably be good, but I cannot guarantee that I am around enough to do this, so some sort of home-based course that I can use (listen or read) and learn the basics of various languages would be good.

Anyone got any good ideas or suggestions? Is the computer based stuff worth bothering with? What about just using phrase book stuff? Does it stick?

As a consumate Brit, language is for shouting and pointing - which aint really good enough any more.

p1esk

4,914 posts

226 months

Sunday 23rd November 2008
quotequote all
<thinks: I wonder if they do English courses in the Keswick area?> rofl

....but no, that ist very unkind....und I haven't a clue about German. frown

To be fair she does extremely well, even if it is a bit wild and rambly.yes

Best wishes all,
Dave.

Jasandjules

72,602 posts

259 months

Sunday 23rd November 2008
quotequote all
Well the Open University does a lot of distance learning, but I don't know what languages, might be worth a look?

judas

6,237 posts

289 months

Sunday 23rd November 2008
quotequote all
If it's work-related can't you get them to pay something towards the costs, if not the whole cost?

Plotloss

67,280 posts

300 months

Sunday 23rd November 2008
quotequote all
Michele Thomas (or however you spell it)

£30 or so a course and by all accounts the best by a mile.

The Ben

1,623 posts

247 months

Sunday 23rd November 2008
quotequote all
my mate is learning portugese at an alarming rate actually using these people...
http://www.rosettastone.co.uk/offer/language1?s_kwcid=rosetta%20language


apparently it takes you back to basics with learning a language, like as if you are a kid... or something like that... but anyway, he said it is the best one he has ever tried....

shadowninja

80,065 posts

312 months

Sunday 23rd November 2008
quotequote all
Plotloss said:
Michele Thomas (or however you spell it)

£30 or so a course and by all accounts the best by a mile.
Yes, he is very good (although he slurps a lot). You will THINK the language not translate it in your head.