If you could take a year off...

southsiderosie

If you could take a year off to focus on learning a new language, including travelling to and living in that place for a full 'immersion' experience, where would you go and what would you try to learn?

From a long-term practical perspective, I guess it would make sense to go to China to try to learn some Mandarin. But to be honest, I would love to spend a year in the Spanish Basque Country trying to learn Euskera, the Basque language. I doubt I would be very good at it after only a year, but I would love to try, especially since the language itself is a bit of a mystery. Not to mention the fact that the food is great, Basque villages have all kinds of crazy festivals year-round, and I could go hiking or surfing every weekend.

What language would you try to learn, and where would you go to do it?

Biggins

Tough one

Choice of three.

Japan (Japanese more)
Peru/Andes (not sure what language)
Egypt. (Arabic)

cosmicfart

Cork.

sparks24

connemara

---

irish, the only way to learn it

phasers

French

Kylo Ren

Antartica to learn Penguin.

Ficheall

southsiderosie wrote: »

If you could take a year off to focus on learning a new language, including travelling to and living in that place for a full 'immersion' experience, where would you go and what would you try to learn?

From a long-term practical perspective, I guess it would make sense to go to China to try to learn some Mandarin. But to be honest, I would love to spend a year in the Spanish Basque Country trying to learn Euskera, the Basque language. I doubt I would be very good at it after only a year, but I would love to try, especially since the language itself is a bit of a mystery. Not to mention the fact that the food is great, Basque villages have all kinds of crazy festivals year-round, and I could go hiking or surfing every weekend.

What language would you try to learn, and where would you go to do it?

I was planning to take this year off to do just that and play music, but it looks like the maths phd won't be finished 'til the middle of winter at this rate, which robs a few months from me
I wouldn't leave Ireland though, I'll stay here and try to learn a few languages rather than be fluent in one. I really like the sound of the Scandinavian languages, so will probably go for those.
Granted, the attractive women may have something to do with it...
And the snow.

"Culture" can go jump though.

cosmicfart

Id actually love to live in Germany for a year, there is something appealing about their manager, language and resilience.

southsiderosie

sparks24 wrote: »

connemara

---

irish, the only way to learn it

That is another one I would be interested in although, again, it would be totally impractical - I love Hiberno-English and Irish literature, and I know that the Irish language has been very influential in those areas.

That said, lord knows I love Ireland...but...my god the food in the Basque Country is good! Plus the Basque Country technically encompasses both Spain and France, so you get double the gastronomical pleasure.

Jess16

Paris, to learn the language of lurve.
It's nothing to do with those wonderful patisseries they have at all

southsiderosie

phasers wrote: »

French

Where?

Ficheall wrote: »

"Culture" can go jump though.

Really? I think learning about the culture is one of the best parts about learning a new language.

policarp

A Spanish person told me that the devil spent a long time sdudying euskera and only learnt two words, yes and no, but he couldn't tell which was which.

mattjack

Keno 92 wrote: »

Antartica to learn Penguin.

its Peguinese.....

joshrogan

French in Provence, France or one of them french speaking islands in the pacific.

Cat Melodeon

Russia/Russian. I've got Russian friends, love Russian literature, the melancholy and the dark sense of humour. You could give your life exploring the place it's so vast. You'd also be at an advantage in many of the former Soviet states where Russian is still widely used. I got to spend a month with a friend of mine from Kazakhstan a few years ago and it was amazing. Didn't get to learn much Russian then (and no one he knew spoke Kazakh), but I did have mad conversations with his family and friends in various mixes of English, German and French. It would be amazing to spend a year in the place and really get to grips with the language.

Ficheall

southsiderosie wrote: »

Really? I think learning about the culture is one of the best parts about learning a new language.

Depends, I suppose. I just don't feel that they need to be linked.
I just like learning languages.

FionnBarr

To Thailand to learn Thai

Agricola

Last time I was in Rome, I was sitting in a little Pizzeria when this guy in a sharp suit comes in and orders at the counter. He seemed to know the owner very well and proceeded to have a very animated conversation with him about the Italian soccer team (this was during last year's World Cup)
His command of Italian, his gesticulating, his whole swagger was so natural, I just assumed he was a Italian. So I was abit surprised when an hour later he walks into the Irish pub and orders a pint of lager in an english accent and starts talking to the Aussie barman about Rooney and co!

I knew then Id like a piece of that life :cool:

(minus the english team / Rooney supporting bit obviously)

catbear

Interesting topic that's pertinent for me right now as the opportunity to take a year off has suddenly appeared. I'm kinda flummoxed as to what to do with it, I have cash for an RTW but with such short notice I'm really don't know what I want to do. I think I better find a sunny beach on which to think this over for a few months first.

holystungun9

cosmicfart wrote: »

Id actually love to live in Germany for a year, there is something appealing about their manager, language and resilience.

Plus German birds are KinnnngKey!!!!

"....so darling, I want you to dress up as the Cookie Monster, shove this tennis racket up my @ss, push me around on a skateboard and throw tennis balls at me. In between the pushing me and the throwing of balls I would like you to whip me in time to 'The Robots' by Kraftwerk. How bout it??

Irish girl: You big crazy freak! Why the f*ck did I ever think you were going to change! I knew getting back with you would be a mistake, I knew you wouldn't change! You're such a lying pr1ck!

German girl: Ha, you crazy Irish! OK, but we're not using my tennis racket. Do you want to do it outside? Might be more fun no?

This ↑, plus the manager, langauge, resilience you already mentioned.

pickarooney

Probably Argentina or possibly Iceland although I'd probably have enough of the latter after about a month and I'd most likely be fluent by then so I'd have 11 months to waste.

Bevvie

I'd love to go to these:

Japan (Japanese)
India (hindi)
China (mandarin)

i think learning about culture helps with learning a new language, as you pick up new words and phrases to go with it.
Also it would be a very idk empty, boring(?) experience to have if you didn't participate in any cultural thing, if it was something as simple as visiting a shrine in Japan to participating in Diwali!

arybvtcw0eolkf

If I could I'd go to Israel, joined the Israeli Defence Forces for 3 years and learn Hebrew properly, then I'd stay and make a career in the IDF.

This is what I wanted to do in 1989 but came home, got married, bought a house etc etc etc.

ascanbe

Agricola wrote: »

Last time I was in Rome, I was sitting in a little Pizzeria when this guy in a sharp suit comes in and orders at the counter. He seemed to know the owner very well and proceeded to have a very animated conversation with him about the Italian soccer team (this was during last year's World Cup)
His command of Italian, his gesticulating, his whole swagger was so natural, I just assumed he was a Italian. So I was abit surprised when an hour later he walks into the Irish pub and orders a pint of lager in an english accent and starts talking to the Aussie barman about Rooney and co!

I knew then Id like a piece of that life :cool:

(minus the english team / Rooney supporting bit obviously)

He obviously felt obliged to adhere to the old maxim.

robman60

France for French!

I plan on studying it anyway, perhaps going there on an arasmus year if I get the opportunity.

cosmicfart

holystungun9 wrote: »

Plus German birds are KinnnngKey!!!!

"....so darling, I want you to dress up as the Cookie Monster, shove this tennis racket up my @ss, push me around on a skateboard and throw tennis balls at me. In between the pushing me and the throwing of balls I would like you to whip me in time to 'The Robots' by Kraftwerk. How bout it??

Irish girl: You big crazy freak! Why the f*ck did I ever think you were going to change! I knew getting back with you would be a mistake, I knew you wouldn't change! You're such a lying pr1ck!

German girl: Ha, you crazy Irish! OK, but we're not using my tennis racket. Do you want to do it outside? Might be more fun no?

This ↑, plus the manager, langauge, resilience you already mentioned.

Hitlers Germany was long, LONG LONG ago man :rolleyes:

Scuid Mhór

montreal for the underground indie band scene like a champ.

starbelgrade

Scuid Mhór wrote: »

montreal for the underground indie band scene like a champ.

Do they speak Scenester there?

Angron

Hmm.. Either Japan, Russia or Norway.

randylonghorn

Greek islands and learn Greek would probably be my first preference.

Though finding a nice spot in Spain and bringing my Spanish up to a good standard would probably be more sensible / practical, given that I have a good, if mainly forgotten, foundation in the language already, and only about 5 words of Greek.

southsiderosie

catbear wrote: »

Interesting topic that's pertinent for me right now as the opportunity to take a year off has suddenly appeared. I'm kinda flummoxed as to what to do with it, I have cash for an RTW but with such short notice I'm really don't know what I want to do. I think I better find a sunny beach on which to think this over for a few months first.

I learned Spanish in a beach town in Central America. My room was $4/night, the rum & cokes were $1, there was great surfing nearby, and I had one of the best dinners of my life there for $3.50. I was very sorry to leave, especially since I've heard that it is now turning into a fancy, expensive beach getaway for wealthy Americans.

If I could do it all over again, I'd probably go to Colombia or Argentina. I have yet to meet a Colombian I didn't like, and you can live very well in Buenos Aires for not a lot of money. Plus steak and wine > rice and beans.