New/Improved Longest Thread

[rumsfald]

In before new camera thread.

http://youtu.be/bEwUnENlc9M

[Surf314]

I'm thinking about about buying a Rosetta Stone because I want to learn spanish this summer. The reasons to learn it just tipped the scale and I need to stop putting it off. But I'm not sure Rosetta Stone is the best way to go. I have a native speaker in the house to practice with, I just need the vocab and everything. Should I buy a book instead? Teaching myself a language is not something I'm comfortable with.

[at0m]

I'm thinking about about buying a Rosetta Stone because I want to learn spanish this summer. The reasons to learn it just tipped the scale and I need to stop putting it off. But I'm not sure Rosetta Stone is the best way to go. I have a native speaker in the house to practice with, I just need the vocab and everything. Should I buy a book instead? Teaching myself a language is not something I'm comfortable with.

The Rosetta stone programs walk you though it. If you're willing to pay the iron price, you can try them out first, then get made fun of by your wife for your terrible accent once you get some of the vocab down.

[Didzo]

I'm thinking about about buying a Rosetta Stone because I want to learn spanish this summer. The reasons to learn it just tipped the scale and I need to stop putting it off. But I'm not sure Rosetta Stone is the best way to go. I have a native speaker in the house to practice with, I just need the vocab and everything. Should I buy a book instead? Teaching myself a language is not something I'm comfortable with.

Have said native speaker to only talk to you in in Spanish.

Not really a serious suggestion, but you'll probably learn quicker than with any book or software.

[Dr. Zaius]

[quote author=Surf314 link=topic=2632.msg246646#msg246646 date=1338777481]
I'm thinking about about buying a Rosetta Stone because I want to learn spanish this summer. The reasons to learn it just tipped the scale and I need to stop putting it off. But I'm not sure Rosetta Stone is the best way to go. I have a native speaker in the house to practice with, I just need the vocab and everything. Should I buy a book instead? Teaching myself a language is not something I'm comfortable with.

The Rosetta stone programs walk you though it. If you're willing to pay the iron price, you can try them out first, then get made fun of by your wife for your terrible accent once you get some of the vocab down.
[/quote]

I've seen pirate versions of RS and it looks pretty user friendly. Having a native speaker around will help wonders too.

That said, I've never actually used the programs to learn languages myself. I do have half a mind to pirate the German RS so I can catch up on a year of not taking German, though.

[Greatbacon]

[quote author=at0m link=topic=2632.msg246650#msg246650 date=1338777916]
[quote author=Surf314 link=topic=2632.msg246646#msg246646 date=1338777481]
I'm thinking about about buying a Rosetta Stone because I want to learn spanish this summer. The reasons to learn it just tipped the scale and I need to stop putting it off. But I'm not sure Rosetta Stone is the best way to go. I have a native speaker in the house to practice with, I just need the vocab and everything. Should I buy a book instead? Teaching myself a language is not something I'm comfortable with.

The Rosetta stone programs walk you though it. If you're willing to pay the iron price, you can try them out first, then get made fun of by your wife for your terrible accent once you get some of the vocab down.
[/quote]

I've seen pirate versions of RS and it looks pretty user friendly. Having a native speaker around will help wonders too.

That said, I've never actually used the programs to learn languages myself. I do have half a mind to pirate the German RS so I can catch up on a year of not taking German, though.
[/quote]

I dinked around with a torrented French Rosetta Stone.  As far as teaching you vocab goes, I think it will do alright.  They ease you into things pretty quickly, and it is set up in a pretty straightforward, regimented exercises program.  If you make yourself do X of these exercises per day, then talk them over with your native speaker, you'll probably do alright.

I did take a Study of Language class last year though, and the topic of Rosetta Stone came up.  What my professor had to say was that while it can help (especially with building up a basic vocabulary and grammar sense) it isn't a magical curall and it will really only take you to a basic level of competence, and that in order to get yourself to a level fluency will involve lots of conversations with native speakers and some actual study of the grammar and such.

[matter11]

[quote author=Dr. Zaius link=topic=2632.msg246654#msg246654 date=1338780186]
[quote author=at0m link=topic=2632.msg246650#msg246650 date=1338777916]
[quote author=Surf314 link=topic=2632.msg246646#msg246646 date=1338777481]
I'm thinking about about buying a Rosetta Stone because I want to learn spanish this summer. The reasons to learn it just tipped the scale and I need to stop putting it off. But I'm not sure Rosetta Stone is the best way to go. I have a native speaker in the house to practice with, I just need the vocab and everything. Should I buy a book instead? Teaching myself a language is not something I'm comfortable with.

The Rosetta stone programs walk you though it. If you're willing to pay the iron price, you can try them out first, then get made fun of by your wife for your terrible accent once you get some of the vocab down.
[/quote]

I've seen pirate versions of RS and it looks pretty user friendly. Having a native speaker around will help wonders too.

That said, I've never actually used the programs to learn languages myself. I do have half a mind to pirate the German RS so I can catch up on a year of not taking German, though.
[/quote]

I dinked around with a torrented French Rosetta Stone.  As far as teaching you vocab goes, I think it will do alright.  They ease you into things pretty quickly, and it is set up in a pretty straightforward, regimented exercises program.  If you make yourself do X of these exercises per day, then talk them over with your native speaker, you'll probably do alright.

I did take a Study of Language class last year though, and the topic of Rosetta Stone came up.  What my professor had to say was that while it can help (especially with building up a basic vocabulary and grammar sense) it isn't a magical curall and it will really only take you to a basic level of competence, and that in order to get yourself to a level fluency will involve lots of conversations with native speakers and some actual study of the grammar and such.
[/quote]



I'd also suggest trying to find some older edition spanish textbooks for cheap.

[kaese]

I like Matter's suggestion of buying old textbooks. I personally like the format of textbooks more than a computer software such as Rosetta Stone (I've looked at the one for German) because you are encouraged to write in the language for the exercises, which really helps with remembering the material. You can look up what books universities use for their intro Spanish class and pick the one you like the most. Pronunciation would be the only drawback to learning from textbooks as you won't have a teacher there to correct your mistakes (but I guess you have a native speaker friend?). Also buy a Spanish-English dictionary!

~

I've been thinking about renting an alto sax and self-teach myself for a month or two since I've wanted to try the instrument for over a year now. If there are any sax players here, lend me some tips? I've been playing classical music for 15 years but playing jazz styles is completely foreign to me.

[Saxxy]

I've been thinking about renting an alto sax and self-teach myself for a month or two since I've wanted to try the instrument for over a year now. If there are any sax players here, lend me some tips? I've been playing classical music for 15 years but playing jazz styles is completely foreign to me.

I stopped playing after high school, but...

If you want to play jazz, I suggest renting a tenor sax.  The alto is smaller and cheaper, but simply doesn't sound as good, and its higher range is basically useless unless you want to play the solo in Tank!
Tank! Cowboy Bebop (Full version)

[Versus]

s1kc t1p: the native speaker in his house is his wife

[Dtrain323i]

I like Matter's suggestion of buying old textbooks. I personally like the format of textbooks more than a computer software such as Rosetta Stone (I've looked at the one for German) because you are encouraged to write in the language for the exercises, which really helps with remembering the material. You can look up what books universities use for their intro Spanish class and pick the one you like the most. Pronunciation would be the only drawback to learning from textbooks as you won't have a teacher there to correct your mistakes (but I guess you have a native speaker friend?). Also buy a Spanish-English dictionary!

~

I've been thinking about renting an alto sax and self-teach myself for a month or two since I've wanted to try the instrument for over a year now. If there are any sax players here, lend me some tips? I've been playing classical music for 15 years but playing jazz styles is completely foreign to me.

I played Alto Sax from 3rd grade until 8th. Can't remember a thing about it. I think the sax itself is still sitting in my parents crawlspace.

[Neptune]

[quote author=Käse link=topic=2632.msg246683#msg246683 date=1338838391]
I like Matter's suggestion of buying old textbooks. I personally like the format of textbooks more than a computer software such as Rosetta Stone (I've looked at the one for German) because you are encouraged to write in the language for the exercises, which really helps with remembering the material. You can look up what books universities use for their intro Spanish class and pick the one you like the most. Pronunciation would be the only drawback to learning from textbooks as you won't have a teacher there to correct your mistakes (but I guess you have a native speaker friend?). Also buy a Spanish-English dictionary!

~

I've been thinking about renting an alto sax and self-teach myself for a month or two since I've wanted to try the instrument for over a year now. If there are any sax players here, lend me some tips? I've been playing classical music for 15 years but playing jazz styles is completely foreign to me.

I played Alto Sax from 3rd grade until 8th. Can't remember a thing about it. I think the sax itself is still sitting in my parents crawlspace.
[/quote]

I used to play alto sax 4th - 12th grade.  Last time I used my sax was a few years ago for a Cowboy Bepop cosplay.  Tips, though?  It's hard to give tips for learning an instrument.  Don't puff out your cheeks, I guess.  That's a good way to blow out those muscles.

[k0ala]

RIP Edouard Khil (Edward Hill) a.k.a. Trololo Guy.

http://en.ria.ru/world/20120604/173831212.html

[kaese]

[quote author=Dtrain323i link=topic=2632.msg246696#msg246696 date=1338844821]
[quote author=Käse link=topic=2632.msg246683#msg246683 date=1338838391]
I like Matter's suggestion of buying old textbooks. I personally like the format of textbooks more than a computer software such as Rosetta Stone (I've looked at the one for German) because you are encouraged to write in the language for the exercises, which really helps with remembering the material. You can look up what books universities use for their intro Spanish class and pick the one you like the most. Pronunciation would be the only drawback to learning from textbooks as you won't have a teacher there to correct your mistakes (but I guess you have a native speaker friend?). Also buy a Spanish-English dictionary!

~

I've been thinking about renting an alto sax and self-teach myself for a month or two since I've wanted to try the instrument for over a year now. If there are any sax players here, lend me some tips? I've been playing classical music for 15 years but playing jazz styles is completely foreign to me.

I played Alto Sax from 3rd grade until 8th. Can't remember a thing about it. I think the sax itself is still sitting in my parents crawlspace.
[/quote]

It's hard to give tips for learning an instrument. 
[/quote]
On the contrary, I can give beginners many violin tips if they want. It's the little useful things that I learned through years of playing that I think beginners might benefit from knowing right away (such as what kind of weight distribution when gripping the bow to reduce fatigue).

I might rent an alto for a month and a tenor for a month then.

[matter11]

[quote author=Neptune link=topic=2632.msg246698#msg246698 date=1338846898]
[quote author=Dtrain323i link=topic=2632.msg246696#msg246696 date=1338844821]
[quote author=Käse link=topic=2632.msg246683#msg246683 date=1338838391]
I like Matter's suggestion of buying old textbooks. I personally like the format of textbooks more than a computer software such as Rosetta Stone (I've looked at the one for German) because you are encouraged to write in the language for the exercises, which really helps with remembering the material. You can look up what books universities use for their intro Spanish class and pick the one you like the most. Pronunciation would be the only drawback to learning from textbooks as you won't have a teacher there to correct your mistakes (but I guess you have a native speaker friend?). Also buy a Spanish-English dictionary!

~

I've been thinking about renting an alto sax and self-teach myself for a month or two since I've wanted to try the instrument for over a year now. If there are any sax players here, lend me some tips? I've been playing classical music for 15 years but playing jazz styles is completely foreign to me.

I played Alto Sax from 3rd grade until 8th. Can't remember a thing about it. I think the sax itself is still sitting in my parents crawlspace.
[/quote]

It's hard to give tips for learning an instrument. 
[/quote]
On the contrary, I can give beginners many violin tips if they want. It's the little useful things that I learned through years of playing that I think beginners might benefit from knowing right away (such as what kind of weight distribution when gripping the bow to reduce fatigue).

I might rent an alto for a month and a tenor for a month then.
[/quote]

take a look at real books kase.

Also while we're on the subject of learning Spanish I'd like to chastise Saxxy for not learning it despite living in Tayhoss

[Versus]

pretty sure you don't need to know spanish to function in downtown austin

[K2]

I've been thinking about renting an alto sax and self-teach myself for a month or two since I've wanted to try the instrument for over a year now. If there are any sax players here, lend me some tips? I've been playing classical music for 15 years but playing jazz styles is completely foreign to me.

Screw Saxxy, alto's awesome (though I do think tenor does sound better). If you haven't played a reed instrument before, your lower lip is definitely going to hurt for your first week or so of playing. Make sure you get a reed that's at a comfortable strength for you; if it's too high, you'll pop a lung trying to produce a sound. In terms of jazz, the biggest thing to get used to is the swing rhythm. Listen to some recordings (and try playing along with them if you can) to get a feel for it, and don't try too hard to keep everything perfectly on beat. An important thing to note is that the swing actually comes more from just accenting the offbeat than from delaying it.

Also make sure you use a neck strap, even when sitting down. You can't really play if you're spending half your energy just holding the thing up.

[Saxxy]

pretty sure you don't need to know spanish to function in downtown austin

[rumsfald]

http://youtu.be/FQMO6vjmkyI

[A. Crow]

I got a job offer for a decent paying IT position starting next month and continuing through early next year, kinda "we need extra people for a rollout, but afterward probably not."  I can't seem to be excited about this.