MacInsiders Logo

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Losing an elective :( Unregistered First-Year / Prospective Student Questions 5 08-20-2012 03:56 PM
Losing weight **jewel 03** General Discussion 89 02-14-2011 02:26 PM
Losing a respect from a girl I like. gongshow Dating & Relationships 45 08-02-2010 02:32 PM
MUSS losing emails cowpuppy Computers & Tech 14 08-02-2010 02:00 PM

How to Stop Losing a Language?

 
Old 02-17-2013 at 09:35 AM   #1
Zebedee
Resident Artist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 550

Thanked: 44 Times
Liked: 242 Times




How to Stop Losing a Language?
How can you stop yourself from losing a second language?
Are there websites you can read/post on/write on?
I'm afraid I'm losing Spanish now that I've been in univ for a while, and I'm not sure how to keep it?? ??
Old 02-17-2013 at 10:21 AM   #2
anonanon987
Power Abuser
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,170

Thanked: 246 Times
Liked: 459 Times




Well, to not forget it verbally, you can find someone to converse with.
As for reading, there are a lot of websites that are in Spanish that you can read to practice.
As for writing, write something in English, then in Spanish..?
Old 02-17-2013 at 11:13 AM   #3
starfish
Elite Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,062

Thanked: 505 Times
Liked: 572 Times




Something that I find helpful is to try to "think" in that language. Like, you know when you're thinking about what you're going to do today, or about a conversation you had with someone, etc. Try to think in spanish instead of english.

PockyWarrior, Ponyo, Zebedee like this.
Old 02-17-2013 at 12:19 PM   #4
alee90
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 146

Thanked: 17 Times
Liked: 57 Times




I'm guessing you're retaining rather than learning since you said you didn't want to 'lose' Spanish.

1) Read books and/or websites in Spanish (it'll help with grammar & vocabulary)
2) Watch TV/movies in Spanish (it'll refresh the pronunciation, and dialogue/conversation speaking)
3) Speaking with someone who knows Spanish

It also depends to what extent you're willing to know Spanish. Do you want to be able to discuss about more specific topics, such as science, technology, politics, etc? Or would you be okay with just being able to speak in conversations where you'd be using words which are fairly common and used a lot in your everyday, regular dialogues? Method 1 would need to be emphasized for the former, while methods 2 and 3 would be enough for the latter.

Good luck!
Old 02-17-2013 at 01:11 PM   #5
jim1
Elite Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1,088

Thanked: 207 Times
Liked: 360 Times




The answers in this thread are all great! If you have facebook try and join an active Spanish group and try to get involved with it as much as you can. The more you engage in Spanish conversations/discussions, the better you become at it!
__________________
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
Old 02-17-2013 at 01:29 PM   #6
rcrw88
Account Disabled by User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 9

Thanked: 2 Times
Liked: 3 Times




Hang out with the OLAS people. I'm gonna try to get involved with them to improve my Spanish, myself..
Old 02-17-2013 at 04:09 PM   #7
Ponyo
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 321

Thanked: 30 Times
Liked: 274 Times




i like Star's idea !
also you could create a group/club in Mcmaster. you and your friends, and anyone else who speaks Spanish can meet once a week at a certain place in mac and you could play games have discussions, and watch Spanish movies. you would have to be committed and have the time to create a club like this. if you don't have time for this then at home you can watch Spanish programs, and read books/magazines.
best of luck

Last edited by Ponyo : 02-17-2013 at 06:22 PM.
Old 02-17-2013 at 04:50 PM   #8
Leeoku
Moderator
MacInsiders Staff
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,998

Thanked: 276 Times
Liked: 521 Times




Keep it in use. Speak to others with it. Read/watch media
Old 02-17-2013 at 09:53 PM   #9
akikokoyoki
The Welcome Wagon
MacInsiders Staff
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 846

Thanked: 105 Times
Liked: 101 Times




The only way I could think of is to keep practicing the language. Listen to some media like TV and radio or read something tin Spanish. Also, you can find someone who speaks Spanish to converse with. (that is something that I still need to accomplish...). There is also practicing writing Spanish like writing your Facebook status (I sometimes do this).

I've learned 3 languages plus English and my native language in my lifetime (total of 5) and I can honestly say that is the best way to do it. In my part though, I switch between languages that I want to practice in, so up until now I still have knowledge in all of them.
__________________
Bachelor of Arts Geography
McMaster Alumni: 06.13.14
Old 02-17-2013 at 10:58 PM   #10
hilton
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 232

Thanked: 11 Times
Liked: 42 Times




Quote:
Originally Posted by Zebedee View Post
How can you stop yourself from losing a second language?
Are there websites you can read/post on/write on?
I'm afraid I'm losing Spanish now that I've been in univ for a while, and I'm not sure how to keep it?? ??
Keep speaking it! Don't let it escape you.
Old 02-18-2013 at 04:16 AM   #11
PockyWarrior
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 223

Thanked: 21 Times
Liked: 34 Times




So much good advice in this thread, wish I had asked for and gotten these responses back in my first year! Probably would've helped a lot...

I hope you're able to put some of these to use and retain your language through university and beyond! Having multiple languages at your disposal is such an asset these days in such a multicultural society, plus it's cool! And helps prevent Alzheimer's in old-age!
__________________
[ Honours Life Science ]
[ Dreams of a Pocky-World ]

akikokoyoki likes this.
Old 02-18-2013 at 10:52 AM   #12
starfish
Elite Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,062

Thanked: 505 Times
Liked: 572 Times




Quote:
Originally Posted by PockyWarrior View Post
So much good advice in this thread, wish I had asked for and gotten these responses back in my first year! Probably would've helped a lot...

I hope you're able to put some of these to use and retain your language through university and beyond! Having multiple languages at your disposal is such an asset these days in such a multicultural society, plus it's cool! And helps prevent Alzheimer's in old-age!
Alzheimer's is a disease, and many many people who speak multiple languages develop it.

Speaking multiple languages helps delay normal memory loss associated with aging, which is very different from the pathological process of Alzheimer's. Often people confuse the two, or use Alzheimer's as a synonym for memory loss.

Most of the studies involving long-term effects of multilingualism on memory and cognitive function in old age exclude those with any form of dementia, for this reason.

That said, there are a myriad of benefits to speaking multiple languages, and it's definitely a good idea to try to retain the ability to do so. I just wanted to clarify that point, and the difference between normal memory loss and pathological dementias.

Zebedee says thanks to starfish for this post.

Zebedee likes this.
Old 02-18-2013 at 02:42 PM   #13
ZSimon
Elite Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 469

Thanked: 36 Times
Liked: 311 Times




Felt the same about my native tongue (Persian). So I got persian keyboard stickers and slowly forced myself to use the language to read political blogs and such. worked.

starfish likes this.
Old 02-18-2013 at 04:17 PM   #14
adaptation
Elite Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 404

Thanked: 38 Times
Liked: 305 Times




Check out an app/website called Duolingo. Its a free app designed by the same team that made Captcha and Recaptcha and a very good learning tool. The reason that they can keep it free is the sentences that you will be translating are sections of wikipedia and other places on the internet that they are trying to translate. Your answer gets put into a pool of other answers and they put the "average" translation as the actual translation!

I know there is a really fun/user fiendly iphone app if you dont feel like using their website, no android app as far i know.

akikokoyoki, Zebedee like this.
Old 02-20-2013 at 10:14 AM   #15
Afzal
Android Dev
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,604

Thanked: 114 Times
Liked: 414 Times




Change your computer's language to Spanish.
__________________
Afzal Najam - Honours Computer Science grad

anonanon987 likes this.



Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



McMaster University News and Information, Student-run Community, with topics ranging from Student Life, Advice, News, Events, and General Help.
Notice: The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the student(s) who authored the content. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by McMaster University or the MSU (McMaster Students Union). Being a student-run community, all articles and discussion posts on MacInsiders are unofficial and it is therefore always recommended that you visit the official McMaster website for the most accurate up-to-date information.

Copyright © MacInsiders.com All Rights Reserved. No content can be re-used or re-published without permission. MacInsiders is a service of Fullerton Media Inc. | Created by Chad
Originally Powered by vBulletin®, Copyright © 2019 MH Sub I, LLC dba vBulletin. All rights reserved. | Privacy | Terms