Which (natural) language should I learn?

[theymos]

... so now theymos? What is your decision?

Not totally sure yet. Probably I'll make an impulse decision about it at the last moment. I'm leaning toward French, though.

I'll post here when I've made a final decision.

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[Phinnaeus Gage]

... so now theymos? What is your decision?

Not totally sure yet. Probably I'll make an impulse decision about it at the last moment. I'm leaning toward French, though.

I'll post here when I've made a final decision.

French school: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_E-MST5yvg

[Brunic]

... so now theymos? What is your decision?

Not totally sure yet. Probably I'll make an impulse decision about it at the last moment. I'm leaning toward French, though.

I'll post here when I've made a final decision.

I'm from Quebec, Canada, my native language is french.

I would say that french and spanish are really similar, and when you know one, it's easy to learn the other. I've followed spanish courses a couple of years ago, and even if I've forgot almost everything of it and didn't practice it, I can still understand basic spanish. A lot of words are similar and sentences are written almost the same way. Sure, it's not the exact same thing, but going from english to french to spanish or english to spanish to french is going to be a lot easier than going from english to mandarin.

I don't know how many languages you want to learn, but tell yourself that if you learn french, you already know somes bases of spanish (or vice-versa).

Best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in a country that speaks it. And since Québec is awesome, you should come here. We'll teach you hockey, beer and sacrer (because Tabarnak is the best word ever ).

[Sukrim]

Well, if you meet someone about your age that is native in german, there are very high chances (s)he'll be better in english than you in german...
I never got why anyone would learn italian, after all it's only spoken in 1 country, this leaves french, spanish and chinese.

It might be helpful to know if you speak any other languages besides english (and which level)... chinese might be really interesting but is probably a pain in the ass to learn outside of China. between french and spanish it really boils down to what you consider more interesting - just learning a language for the sake of it has no real point in my opinion, so plan a nice trip to Canada/France/Haiti or the southern part of North America and below/Spain asap or at least hang out with some exchange students.

[organofcorti]

Well, if you meet someone about your age that is native in german, there are very high chances (s)he'll be better in english than you in german...

Actually, the chances are that she'll speak better English than you speak English.

[PatrickHarnett]

At the age of 40-something, I started learning Japanese.  I know enough to get me around the place and scare the locals.  I also learn kanji and can read enough, but still enjoy the slow progress I'm making.  If you're wanting to learn that later in life, starting now makes some sense.

I could have learnt Chinese, as may more people speak it, and in the future (a few decades) they will be a major international influence, however, my interest was in Japan, not China),  While in Kyoto recently we met a student from Shanghai - amongst her amazing traits was fluent english, chinese and japanese and could simultaneously translate between the three.  She was very smart - doing law.

[theymos]

It might be helpful to know if you speak any other languages besides english (and which level)...

I don't speak any other languages.

[Stardust]

Most people that don't speak English as second language, usually speak German or French, but most likely German. Regardless which language you choose, learn Japanese as your third, for good fun and mental exercise.

[Sukrim]

Most people that don't speak English as second language, usually speak German or French, but most likely German. Regardless which language you choose, learn Japanese as your third, for good fun and mental exercise.

The only places I can imagine where people would speak german but not english (besides old people in Germany/Austria/Switzerland that have already forgotten english or never learnt it properly) would maybe be some rural areas in the neighbouring countries of the native german ones...

As you said you don't know any other natural language so far, I'd really recommend you to watch a few movies you already know (or you don't know) in both french and spanish (maybe subtitled so you also see how it's written). Then choose the one that you like most. "I have to learn a language for college but actually want to learn japanese" is not a very strong motivator in my opinon and you'l need a LOT of motivation to learn a language from scratch.

[Ean]

I love French wine, like I love the French language. I have sampled every language, French is my favorite. Fantastic language. Especially to curse with. Nom de dieu de putain de bordel de merde de saloperie de connard d'enculer ta mère. It's like wiping your arse with silk. I love it.

[JennyHill]

I think the first language most Yanks should learn to speak, read and write fluently is English. 

[rjk]

I think the first language most Yanks should learn to speak, read and write fluently is English. 

+1, although I don't think Theymos has any outstanding issues in this department.

[JennyHill]

I think the first language most Yanks should learn to speak, read and write fluently is English.  

+1, although I don't think Theymos has any outstanding issues in this department.

The odd bit is if you speak only one language in most of the EU you are severely handicapped.

[Kettenmonster]

... I'm leaning toward French, though. ...

Très magnifique bien sûr! Alors on y va.

A long time ago I stopped a 5 years attempt to avoid learning french. 
Skipped it for chemistry, made life easier in those days.

Is there something like this for translating english to french and vice versa?

[organofcorti]

... I'm leaning toward French, though. ...

Très magnifique bien sûr! Alors on y va.

A long time ago I stopped a 5 years attempt to avoid learning french. 
Skipped it for chemistry, made life easier in those days.

Is there something like this for translating english to french and vice versa?

Who would use a dictionary nowadays

translate.google.com

But what happens immediately post WWIII when you want to be able to impress a French exchange student on the outskirts of the ruined glassy radioactive wasteland that used to be your city? You'll need a book then. I say be prepared.

(same goes for a zombie apocalypse and a French exchange student. A living one, I mean).

[Raoul Duke]

But what happens immediately post WWIII when you want to be able to impress a French exchange student on the outskirts of the ruined glassy radioactive wasteland that used to be your city? You'll need a book then. I say be prepared.

(same goes for a zombie apocalypse and a French exchange student. A living one, I mean).

I would stay away from french girls if I was you, wether they are dead or alive...
French kiss and stuff... yuck! 

[Phinnaeus Gage]

But what happens immediately post WWIII when you want to be able to impress a French exchange student on the outskirts of the ruined glassy radioactive wasteland that used to be your city? You'll need a book then. I say be prepared.

(same goes for a zombie apocalypse and a French exchange student. A living one, I mean).

I would stay away from french girls if I was you, wether they are dead or alive...
French kiss and stuff... yuck! 

Have you ever wondered if Bruce and Ed French kiss in bed? Now that you (the reader) have read that sentence, try getting the image out of your mind.

~Cackling Bear~

[Raoul Duke]

But what happens immediately post WWIII when you want to be able to impress a French exchange student on the outskirts of the ruined glassy radioactive wasteland that used to be your city? You'll need a book then. I say be prepared.

(same goes for a zombie apocalypse and a French exchange student. A living one, I mean).

I would stay away from french girls if I was you, wether they are dead or alive...
French kiss and stuff... yuck! 

Have you ever wondered if Bruce and Ed French kiss in bed? Now that you (the reader) have read that sentence, try getting the image out of your mind.

~Cackling Bear~

I hate you!

[Phinnaeus Gage]

But what happens immediately post WWIII when you want to be able to impress a French exchange student on the outskirts of the ruined glassy radioactive wasteland that used to be your city? You'll need a book then. I say be prepared.

(same goes for a zombie apocalypse and a French exchange student. A living one, I mean).

I would stay away from french girls if I was you, wether they are dead or alive...
French kiss and stuff... yuck! 

Have you ever wondered if Bruce and Ed French kiss in bed? Now that you (the reader) have read that sentence, try getting the image out of your mind.

~Cackling Bear~

I hate you!

What? 


Premier jour dans la classe française.

ç

[organofcorti]

Premier jour dans la classe française.

In case you don't speak French, he wrote "The Premier took Frank's dance classes". Not sure which Premier he means though.