<p>I'm currently takking spanish and I am well aware of the fact that I am behind in my language studies. In order to make myself more appealing to colleges, I, a junior, am planning to perhaps study another language ON MY OWN. Is this endeavor too arduous or is it plausible? If it is, can someone recommend to me any other useful and unique languages. Also, provide a few tips on how to study. Any books? Methods? Tools?</p>
<p>start with the basic verbs. also, watch some movies in that language- first with the subtitles and again w/o them. It also helps to read some stories in the language you're studying.</p>
<p>music is so helpful :) although you won't understand what they're saying half the time, it's still enjoyable to listen too, haha. (have you ever heard french rap? if not, you're CLEARLY missing out, lol)</p>
<p>my teacher played music by lara fabian almost everyday and it did help some</p>
<p>I have studied German through this: <a href="http://herzeleid.com%5B/url%5D">http://herzeleid.com</a> Really helpful. I repeat, REALLY. But you have to like Rammstein for that learning.</p>
<p>The hardest part about learning a new language is probably pronounciation. If you do not definitely know which language you will be self-studying, I'd recommend choosing a language that a)someone you know speaks and/or b)you can hear easily enough through movies/radio/etc. I took Spanish for years, and when I transitioned into French I figured it would be easy, because a lot of the grammar and vocabulary is similar. I can understand what is written clearly enough, but it is still difficult to speak and understand what is being said.</p>
<p>Try out Italian; it's an amazing language. Plus, you're learning spanish, so it won't be that hard. Ever since I came back from an exchange program in Italy, I've been drilling Italian verbs and vocab into my head because I realized I don't know ANYTHING. I've been using this program called Interlex, which you can download for free offline and use with ANY language, to study vocabulary and general meanings of verbs. To study the verbs and their tenses, just do a simple google search on "italian verb tenses" or "LANGUAGEYOU'RESTUDYING verb tenses" (you get the point, lol), and buy 501 Italian Verbs, it's such a lifesaver! The hardest part of learning any new language is probably verbs and their tenses, especially if it's a Romance language you're trying to learn.</p>
<p>Also, listen to music! I've been listening to Zero Assoluto, Tiziano Ferro, Luca Dirisio, Jovanotti, and a lot more Italian artists just to get a feel for the language, and to learn some of the confusing idioms I heard during my stay in Italy!</p>
<p>precocious, is it MC Solaar you listen to? When I was learning french, he's all I would listen to, lol.</p>
<p>Anyway, good luck and have fun! Learning a language is a truly rewarding experience!</p>
<p>^ LOL, it WAS MC Solaar! Oh my goodness, it's all my french teacher would play on loop in class! and then we were forced to analyze the vocabulary and translate it into english and have discussions about it ... it was interesting, to say the least ;)</p>
<p>(not the poster). Traxx, where in italy did you stay? I went 2x this year and I AM IN LOVE. I'm going to try to take Italian I next year, but its a freshman class so they aren't sure if there is room for me. I just bought a learn Italian on your own thing because I'm so in love with the country. I plan on double majoring in Italian and Art History because I want to move their after grad school.</p>
<p>Of those artists you posted, are any of them modern? I want some good Italian music to help me learn! Too bad when I was there I hardly heard any Italian music and what I did hear I wasn't a fan of. It was weird hearing kids play Maroon 5 and The BEatles (in English!) on the Spanish Steps in the wee hours.</p>
<p>precocious, MC Solaar's awesome. One of his songs (La Belle et le Bad Boy) was on the finale of Sex & the City. Lol, just thought I'd point that out. </p>
<p>elenacip, I stayed in Parabiago (small suburb-ish place of Milan, lol), but I also visited Como and Venice and a few other places. It was AMAZINGGGG!!!! I, too, fell in LOVE with the country (and the people!) I'm thinking about going back next summer to take some Italian courses with Apple Languages (look it up!! It looks like a great opportunity!). </p>
<p>The artists I posted are modern. I don't like much of the old stuff, lol. Download some of their songs; they're fun to sing along to, lol! My host family's kids would watch Phil of the Future all the time and sing along to Jesse McCartney at all hours. Then at school, everyone would ask me random questions about Christina Aguilera and a bunch of American artists. It was hilarious!</p>
<p>By the way, try to find some Italian books to read. Start out with elementary level books and work your way up. A lot of the stories are really fun and interesting to read, especially when they're English books translated into Italian. It's great to see the Italian equivalents to English idioms. Right now I'm reading Le Avventure di Pinnochio. Great read, and great spinoff to the tale we all know.</p>
<p>Good luck with your Italian! You'll love it when you can finally speak those beautiful words without tripping over yourself.</p>
<p>I think it's an excellent idea to start studying Italian. It is close enough to Spanish that you won't get confused and it will help you in your Spanish studies. I started Spanish this year after 3 years of studying Italian. Now I take both and they're both very interesting.</p>
<p>i studied german in one month on my own, but i got 560 on sat subject test. :( but im now disaponted in one month on my own i think its quite good</p>
<p>A 560 for just one month of studying?!!!!</p>
<p>That's amazing!</p>