What is your native language and how did you learn English? Please share. I am from Russia, but I do not know any foreign language. I want to learn English so that I can go to another country and read books in English. Is it possible to learn English to this level without a teacher?
Un-
I'm a failure. An absolute waste. A LOSEr.
- Apr 6, 2021
- 652
I'm in South Africa, and I'm black.. My mother's tongue is Setswana, but.. I don't know what happened to me but English is my first language. In my entire family, I can't speak an African language. I speak a bit of afrikaans. I don't regret it. I'm grateful, rather... English is becoming a necessity.. And people treat you differently based on your accent, and how fluent you sound.
But if you're coming from a language like Russian.. If I remember correctly, it'll take around 1000 hours. Lemme find the chart.
www.state.gov
Scroll to the bottom and you'll see tables.
It is possible, but because you're older and because Russian is so dissimilar to English, it's gonna take a while.
Yeah it is. I forgot the intricacies, but if you make concentrated efforts, consistently, you'll pick up English. It'll take a long time though. If you're coming from a language that uses the same Latin alphabet as English, it'll take around 500 hours to learn (and vice versa). So learning English if you're French, or afrikaans, or whatever would take 500 hours.
But if you're coming from a language like Russian.. If I remember correctly, it'll take around 1000 hours. Lemme find the chart.
Foreign Language Training - United States Department of State
The School of Language Studies (SLS) provides language and culture training to U.S. government employees with job-related needs. It addresses all aspects of language training, from classroom instruction and distance learning, to learning consultation services and testing. Student Orientation Are...
www.state.gov
Scroll to the bottom and you'll see tables.
It is possible, but because you're older and because Russian is so dissimilar to English, it's gonna take a while.
Dead Ghost
Mestre del Temps
- May 6, 2022
- 1,342
My mother tongue is Catalan (and on my father's side Spanish). And I haven't learned English, but what I find most useful, and I'm learning a lot, is when it comes to trying to square the texts I write in the threads, as I know more and more English (but not so much as to follow my own answers in English... for the moment).
//
La meva llengua materna és el català (i per part de pare el castellà). I no he aprés anglés, però el que em resulta més útil i estic aprenent molt és alhora d'intentar quadrar els textos que escric als fils, doncs cada cop se més anglés (però no tant com per seguir les meves própies respostes en anglés... de moment).
//
La meva llengua materna és el català (i per part de pare el castellà). I no he aprés anglés, però el que em resulta més útil i estic aprenent molt és alhora d'intentar quadrar els textos que escric als fils, doncs cada cop se més anglés (però no tant com per seguir les meves própies respostes en anglés... de moment).
Shivali
Mage
- Jun 9, 2022
- 560
German. I' ve learnd english at school a little bit. But it is 45 years ago ... thats why my messages here are very shorts. 
lofticries
obedear
- Feb 27, 2021
- 1,470
I'm really jealous of ppl who speak more than one language. Just wanted to say that.
Jarni
Love is a toothache in the heart. H.Heine
- Dec 12, 2020
- 377
I'm bilingual from Russian, with French :-) I love French language so much. My English is intermidiate because I don't need it at all in my life (only internet readings). I only need French...I'm in South Africa, and I'm black.. My mother's tongue is Setswana, but.. I don't know what happened to me but English is my first language. In my entire family, I can't speak an African language. I speak a bit of afrikaans. I don't regret it. I'm grateful, rather... English is becoming a necessity.. And people treat you differently based on your accent, and how fluent you sound.
Yeah it is. I forgot the intricacies, but if you make concentrated efforts, consistently, you'll pick up English. It'll take a long time though. If you're coming from a language that uses the same Latin alphabet as English, it'll take around 500 hours to learn (and vice versa). So learning English if you're French, or afrikaans, or whatever would take 500 hours.
But if you're coming from a language like Russian.. If I remember correctly, it'll take around 1000 hours. Lemme find the chart.
Foreign Language Training - United States Department of State
The School of Language Studies (SLS) provides language and culture training to U.S. government employees with job-related needs. It addresses all aspects of language training, from classroom instruction and distance learning, to learning consultation services and testing. Student Orientation Are...
Scroll to the bottom and you'll see tables.
It is possible, but because you're older and because Russian is so dissimilar to English, it's gonna take a while.
wait.what
no really, what?
- Aug 14, 2020
- 985
tary
Experienced
- Jul 3, 2022
- 247
My first language is Finnish.
I think I've learned English throughout my life, picking stuff up from media since childhood and then learning it properly at school from age 9.
I think I've learned English throughout my life, picking stuff up from media since childhood and then learning it properly at school from age 9.
Wasabi
Member
- Sep 9, 2022
- 54
theboy
Illuminated
- Jul 15, 2022
- 3,019
W3akCr3atur3
Empty and hollow
- Aug 3, 2020
- 358
Russian.
I learnt English through school, English courses and actually probably the most of it through the Internet.
I learnt English through school, English courses and actually probably the most of it through the Internet.
Blondi
Iš Lietuvos
- Feb 2, 2021
- 168
My first language is lituanian, I have learned
english from the school, books & internet, I wish I was a native english speaker, instead of speaking some obscure language & conversing in a very mediocre english.
english from the school, books & internet, I wish I was a native english speaker, instead of speaking some obscure language & conversing in a very mediocre english.
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whatevs
Mining for copium in the weirdest places.
- Jan 15, 2022
- 2,914
I'm Spanish and I learned to an almost native reading and comprehension level thanks to literally watching conspiracy videos/reading Illuminati symbolism blogs every other day for 10 years.
Please don't ask me why they highlight one eye. I learned some things but not that. Strange.
Please don't ask me why they highlight one eye. I learned some things but not that. Strange.
Rocinante
My name is Lucifer, please take my hand
- Aug 26, 2022
- 1,462
bubo
Member
- Jul 14, 2022
- 99
My first language is Indonesian. I use the internet a lot cuz' i don't like leaving the house so most of my time all year is spent on either the internet, work, or sleep. Thusly i see a lot of English internet posts, English is the main language of the world much like how French used to be so to use the internet more and understand more of the internet i learned English. Naturally, my English is still not as good as i'd like and i have to use a translator for words i forget often and my English is quite robotic and formal as other's have told me.
katara
tired all the time
- Mar 17, 2022
- 158
That's a very cool first language to speak because most people think Russian accents are very pretty. I always wanted to know Russian because I think it sounds cool, but it wasn't offered at my school. I always think I can learn something online but in my mental state everything feels like a struggle + it's difficult to find motivation.
W3akCr3atur3
Empty and hollow
- Aug 3, 2020
- 358
I do love how Russian sounds, but I find Russian accent to be cringe most of the times and I do struggle with it myself xD
If you'll ever need somebody to help you with learning Russian feel free to ask!
novem
Experienced
- May 9, 2022
- 273
Just here to watch how people spell the past tense of learn and from what country they learn it.
