Where did you learn English ?

**Atlas** · 12-25-2008, 02:44 PM

I've noticed a lot of non-english or american posters who can speak a very decent English, so my question would be for scandinavian, central European, south Europeans etc, where did you learn English ?

**Loki** · 12-25-2008, 03:27 PM

English is my second language (Afrikaans being the first). I mostly learnt it at school from the age of 7, but I liked the language and read many books at home in English. Also by watching English and American TV-programmes or movies.

**Absinthe** · 12-25-2008, 10:32 PM

By listening to heavy metal music, mostly

Of course I took classes, and my mom is also american, but what *really* motivated me to learn fast was the burning desire to understand the lyrics.

**Arrow Cross** · 12-25-2008, 11:25 PM

Books at the start, but then I aquired a CPU... which is English... and well. I got an aquittal from going to English lessons in the last one and a half year of school, because I took an official, state-sponsored language exam.

Loved it. My classmates were all like: "Wtf? Him??..."

**~~TheGreatest~~** · 12-25-2008, 11:33 PM

In the Crib

(No... I don't mean a Club)

**HawkR** · 12-26-2008, 12:03 AM

I learned the basics from school, everything else from TV, friends, internett and so on.

**Hrolf Kraki** · 12-26-2008, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by Absinthe

By listening to heavy metal music, mostly

That´s how I began to learn some Finnish!

I wish foreign language programs could be viewed on American TV. Never will any network air a program that isn´t in English. Once the channel Bravo aired Lola Rennt with English subtitles, but that´s about it. We have the Spanish channel, but it´s a damn joke.

Few Americans know a second language, but it´s nearly impossible to learn one unless you really apply yourself. Outside high school and college, there are virtually no opportunities to learn a new language. Foreign language isn´t even taught until middle school.

What´s really funny is the lack of basic language skills by most people here. Few can adequately spell English words and can´t even begin to decipher the most basic foreign phrases. I could ask 10 people on the street what they thought "Hav en god dag!" meant and only 1 or 2 would know.

Leave it to the native speaker to derail the thread. Sorry, back to the specific topic.

I learned German in school and by talking to friends online. Reading grammar books helps me the most with grammar and reading news articles assists with vocabulary.