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In reply to the discussion: Does anyone have any tips about learning a new language? [View all]NCjack
(10,279 posts)a Swede, and a Finn. I asked them to recommend a language for me to learn to improve my interactions with them. I got a very pointed response. "No -- don't do it! We like conversing in English. If you try to learn one of our languages, you will want to practice it with us. We are not going to do that. We did not learn English to give you practice in our language." Then they drifted off to discuss a friend of theirs who had just written a great chemistry book, but he published it in Norwegian. "He made a mistake" said one of them, "that made the book much too expensive. I like the scope of the book, but I'm not investing my time and money in a Norwegian science book." Another said "I talked with the author last week about that, and he said the English translation will be out in six months and at 50% the cost of the Norwegian version." All agreed that they would wait for the English version. We closed the discussion with them telling me (again): "We are not going to practice any language with you -- forget it." OK, not a practical idea, and I dropped it.
So, before you undertake this language study, be sure there is someone to help you practice.