11042 Fear and loathing of languages - Fear no more!

I suffered for many years struggling with books, cd's and an Italian partner with zero tolerance when attempting to teach me (if I used the incorrect form when trying to speak a simple sentence, I'd get all the verbs, past, present, future & distant future and then io, tu, lui/lei, noi, voi & loro, all thrown at me in a fit of rage!). After many months, possibly years of this linguistic stangulation, I became mute - too afraid to say a word! All very stupid I know, but think in terms of learning to drive with a husband or wife or father or mother as an instructor - it always seems to end in lots of shouting and humilaition. Learning a language it seems is not so different, although a lot more vocal

Anyway, last year I plucked up enough courage to contact someone for 1 to 1 to one tuition, in the hope that I could be coaxed out of my mute like state. It took her 6 months to get me to actually start speaking (in Italian of course) without fear and during this time ( I call it my quiet phase) she taught me how to structure sentences correctly and in a manner that made so much more sense than trying to learn from a book, cd's or an intolerant other half.

I was always pretty rubbish at languages, having left school with a D in German O Level (which I think equated to being able to say my name, age and where I lived) and a U in French. As the years advance so the brain is less receptive to learning languages, particulary if you have little or no foundation from an early age and I had almost resigned myself to the fact that I would never be able to master Italian.

Well, I'm delighted to say that I was wrong. I've had to work hard at it, but everything is now coming together and whilst I am not fluent or perfect (and never will be), my fear of speaking has almost gone, as the words now form naturally and for the most part correctly. If I get it wrong, I always think of Eric Morecombe and the Andre Preview (Previn) sketch.... [I]I'm playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order (Eric)[/I]:laughs:

So, if there is anyone in London who is as frustrated as I was, I know of a wonderfully patient tutor, who I'm sure could help you, as she has me. If you are interested, please send me a Private Message and I will provide you with her contact details. She really is a great teacher and she also has a fantastic sense of humour, which make the lessons so much more enjoyable.

I did think about also posting this in Italian, but then thought better of it!

Ciao a tutti!

Category

Che significa? - Italian Language Queries

A good teacher can make a big difference to the learning process. I used to be a very popular teacher of foreign languages for many years and I had quite a large number of students who were more like a "fan club" according to some of my colleagues; however, I had great difficulties trying to teach languages to either my husband or my children..... Oh, well, nobody is perfect!!!

Absolutely right about finding the right teacher.
My OH is now in the third year at night school with an Italian woman who, like Gala, is adored as she is a wonderful tutor and her pupils come back each term, each year.
It's great because I get free grammer lessons at home now after each class.
Mind you, being from Northern Ireland I could probably do with grammer lessons in English as well. :bigergrin:

[quote=IRITALIA;104136]Mind you, I could probably do with grammer lessons in English as well. :bigergrin:[/quote]

Seems to me your grammar is spot on, it's the spelling you need help with! :bigergrin::bigergrin::bigergrin:

[quote=Russ;104131], my fear of speaking has almost gone, [/quote]

Ah! The secret of language learning. You are not alone, and it's one of the first things I address with any of my new students of English. Getting the balance right between not correcting and correcting every word (which may possibly be necessary!) is one thing you learn as a teacher.

My recommendation is have another glass of wine and go for it!

Along these lines does anyone know of a good teacher in the Ascoli Piceno or Fermo area. My Italians ok but feel I am now at the point where help is needed with grammar & I would love to be able to communicate with my aerobics class in words of more than 2 syllables!

HelenMW,
PM me and I will send you details of someone in Amandola if you are interested. I am going to go to her when I get a second. I am in the same position as you. My Italian is fine but I really need some help with my verbs.

Why not come along to our Italian/English evening (see Le Marche forum) on 9th December. It's just a bit of fun rather than lessons of any sort. The idea is you will be corrected, which I find is very difficult to find - someone who is prepared to correct your Italian errors even when they are small.

[quote=Charles Phillips;104138]Seems to me your grammar is spot on, it's the spelling you need help with! :bigergrin:[/quote]

Why, oh why do these forums not have a built in spellcheck? :embarrassed::goofy::laughs:

Acksherly, there is a spellchecker available. It works by pressing the little ABC with a tick underneath (in the top right hand corner of the 'advanced' message compilation window).

As far as I recall, if you press on this and haven't got a tiny little utility prog called iespell installed, you will be prompted to install it, and a few seconds later Bob's your uncle! :smile:

[quote=Charles Phillips;104188]Acksherly, there is a spellchecker available. It works by pressing the little ABC with a tick underneath (in the top right hand corner of the 'advanced' message compilation window).

As far as I recall, if you press on this and haven't got a tiny little utility prog called iespell installed, you will be prompted to install it, and a few seconds later Bob's your uncle! :smile:[/quote]
I'll really miss some people's bad smelling, it's often hilarious!!!
:eerr:

I don't get no "ABC". :no:Perhaps you have to have the iespell installed first?

Pip pip

I did try this before Charles and again just now but the link to download the UK English version only says the site does not exist anymore. :veryconfused:
It seems the last version was in 2006 and no longer available! :frown:

[quote=IRITALIA;104198]I did try this before Charles and again just now but the link to download the UK English version only says the site does not exist anymore. :veryconfused:
It seems the last version was in 2006 and no longer available! :frown:[/quote]

I did find a few versions available on the Internet to download but the reason I don't see it is I don't use IE! and it is an IE specific program.

Bak two badd spellinge four mee

Pip pip

[quote=chrisnotton;104219]I did find a few versions available on the Internet to download but the reason I don't see it is I don't use IE! and it is an IE specific program.

Bak two badd spellinge four mee

Pip pip[/quote]

The ownly alternatif is to right evrythink in WORD, du a spelcheque and then payst it hear! :winki::bigergrin:

Yaw awl mad - if evryfink ear woz sphelt wright we woodunt bee abl two reed it and den wot wud wee doo? Weed haff two get Sally two translayt everyfink. :bigergrin:

If you get the 'Google Toolbar' - it has a spillchucker built in

I [nearly] always use it when posting.
[It even wants to change 'spillchucker' to 'spell checker' for some reason!]

You can download iespell from [url=http://www.download.com/ieSpell/3000-12512_4-10208550.html?part=dl-ieSpell&subj=uo&tag=button&cdlPid=10603528]ieSpell - Reviews and free ieSpell downloads at Download.com[/url] (A CNET site and absolutely reliable). It does only work with IE.

I keep forgetting this forum exists!!

I lived and worked in France for a year in the 80's, near Bois de Vincennes just outside Paris. It took me 6 months to utter a word for fear of ridicule but one day my boss was away and I was on my own in the workshop and a call came in, I didn't know who it was but had to speak something - so I did. When I got back to the team I was staying with they were all ecstatic and said it was one of the team leaders who'd called and my French was near perfect! I was utterly embarrassed (but secretly chuffed!) but it still took another 2 months of cajoling and encouragement.

I'm the same with Italian. My wife (and our eldest) are both pretty good with languages, but I'm rubbish. We have the Michael Thomas CDs - she's gone straight through them all, out the other side and onto the advanced ones. I'm still trying to get the first track on CD1 right - over 3 years later!! However - it balances out. She absolutely refuses to drive in Italy. I - on the other hand, can drive Italian almost fluently. I just have yet to master some of the more complicated gestures.... and driving 2" (5cm in eurospeak) off the bumper of the guy in front with half of your car in the on-comming lane! :eerr:

Hoping we can afford our usual Italian excursion this year.

11042 Fear and loathing of languages - Fear no more!

Spellcheck