I am a native English speaker, and I'd like to study another language (a "real" one, please -- not Elvish or Klingon or Esperanto). Can you recommend one?
121143
Spanish is a very worldly language.
124635
babelfish.altavista.com\n\nEnjoy!
641803
Japanese.  I know from personal experience.  English-speakers usually think that learning a language closely related to their own is easier, but in fact it is more difficult and confusing.  After two years of college-level Japanese, I am 10 times as fluent in it as the 2nd-year Spanish students are in Spanish.  The other thing about Japanese is that the spelling is phonetic--meaning, words are spelled *exactly* like they sound.  Much easier.\n\nPlus, if you learn Japanese, you can watch anime without subtitles ^^
481909
Scot, Welsh, and English mixed with native American.  I speak  English mixed  with some Spanish.  How can one pick what's best?
118163
I would go for Dutch but that is my own preference. I studied it for one year and gave it up though. The grammar and words are very close to German (it is a Germanic language afterwall) and so many words look like those in English. Bear in mind though that the prononciation is very, very difficult so if you are up to a challenge..It looks like German....but it does not sound like German.\n\nI know French so won't comment. But it would certainly help if I had to choose Spanish which is also a Romance (latin, not something romantic) language. But this is not a language which holds my interest so I would be useless.\n\nIf your maternal language is English, I think you are kind of lucky. Although English is considered a Germanic language, it has integrated much of the Romance languages via the French (1066).\n\nIf I were you, I would not go blind and find out too late that you just made the wrong decision.\n\nGo to a library, borrow some books and tapes, browse and listen to the sounds to see if you are attracted to one language more than any other. If you have a look-see first, I bet you will narrow your choice fairly quickly.\n\nWithout real motivation, a language is difficult to learn and you have - like somebody above said - follow your heart. Sooner or later, grammar will have you stumped and you will need your love of the language to maintain your interest.\n\nGood luck. Only you can make the choice you know.
278712
If yur in the UK id recommend French, as next to Britian it did the most exploration/colinisations etc thus many countries speak similar dialects of the language. \n\nIf yur in the US probably Spanish, for pretty much the same reasons as above. Mexican is a 'modern' for of ancient spanish, or so I believe.\n\nLast in the ranking is German, I would only learn this if you were planning on visiting/working/interacting with that part of Europe.\n\nIn the UK, high schools more traditionally offer French, Italian and Spanish. French being  the more popular choice.
210152
Here is one site that has a free translater & there is another site that you can actually listen to the translation in Irish Gaelic.  The other site has words in Irish Gaelic & gives you the definition of that word.
507109
I've tried the 30 day trial. For people who learn visually it is good, at least to start with. I have trouble imagining that it would be quick to become fluent with their methods.\n\nThere are debates in the linguistic community whether it's better to use a completely "natural" method, meaning the way kids learn their first language, or better to use a common language to explain the complexities of the language you are learning.\n\nI personally think that the Rosetta "natural" method is a good way to start learning vocabulary, then gradually introduce other activities using a common language.\n\nI've tried several different types of learning materials.  I think learning should be fun.  The learning tool I like best is the "Muzzy in Gandoland" cartoon course by the BBC.  (no, I gain nothing from recommending this product).  It's more expensive, but I think it's worth it.\n\nMy 2 cents.
218929
Learn the language.  This is a repeat question.
522716
I don't recommend you go into translating.  You first have to be able to speak English to translate to English.
660758
ASL is a great language, but it is not universal.  I tried to learn French and Spanish, but just could not pick it up.  I had so much more luck with ASL.  I think it all depends on your learning style.
611240
There is a web called www.teachspanish.com, maybe it can be useful.
289843
Most of the foreign language students who come to my parents' language centre say that English is in fact one of the EASIEST languages they have ever learnt (and many have studied several languages in the course of their study). This is because English has significantly fewer *rules* to learn than other languages (Danish for example follows grammatical rules almost completely unswervingly). The students speak according to what they have heard said before, and learn through doing rather than learning long and complex tables of grammar.\n\nAtop that, English is based almost entirely on words that have come from other cultures. It has very few words that are entirely unique (if any). Words like 'frost,' 'candle,'\n'stand' (and I'm just choosing words more or less at random here) can be linked to common words in other languages - 'frorst' in Icelandic, 'candelabra' from Latin, 'stand' from 'standen' in German. Even the word for 'man' can be linked to Eastern Sanskrit.\n\nI would argue that the Eastern languages are the hardest for a westerner to learn, as they are so completely different from the languages to which we are accustomed. The script is different, the grammar is *completely* different and there are hardly any cognates (words that are similar to English words, such as the French words 'cinema' and 'hotel').\n\nSo I'd go with Korean, or Chinese. Both are very difficult for Westerners to get to grips with (very few ever become fluent), and even the most proficient students struggle with pronunciation.
627927
hej pa dig !\n\njag kan svenska !  Hur gammal ar du? Var bor du?\n\nyou can buy a cheap "learn swedish" program on ebay !\n\nhoppas detta hjalp dig?\n\nhej da, \nBernadette
33590
I'd say hang around people at school who speak that language. You can also take classes. Like Irish said, the older you are, the harder it is to learn.
511713
Sounds great but how do you plan to study cultural difference without learning their language? You would be better off studying in an english speaking country other than your own. Sure there are some good english speakers in Japan but don't you think that they would be influenced by their experiences with english speakers and the english language and thus not necessarily representative of the broader society? I would give this a miss unless you are bilingual.
21013
Consider Rosetta Stone.