French or Spanish? - Page 3 - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**LaurieL622** · 06-30-2005, 12:40 PM

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Its so beautiful, though, I love it

one of my best friends speaks arabic, and no matter what he says to his family…it always sounds like he’s screaming obscenities. Well, most of the time he is….but the occasional “how are you mom” still sounds scary to me.

Speaking of difficult languages…anyone try to take up mandarin? All those tones!! I always say that a native speaker can point out a non native no matter how fluent he/she is because of the subtle tone differences.

**space virgin** · 06-30-2005, 12:44 PM

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Originally posted by LaurieL622@Jun 30 2005, 07:39 PM
Speaking of difficult languages…anyone try to take up mandarin?* All those tones!! I always say that a native speaker can point out a non native no matter how fluent he/she is because of the subtle tone differences.

Yep.

Magnifico · 07-25-2005, 12:09 AM

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Originally posted by wong name@Apr 22 2005, 12:56 AM
plus alot of french people wont talk french to you even your fluent in french.....

i have a friend thats fluent and was all over france trying to speak french and they only talk to her in english...

I never had a problem with the locals; I was actually complimented a number of times on my french (especially in Chartres and the region we stuck around in, sort of central-southern France). I love the language dearly, I think it's beautiful and a joy to learn, but from a practical standpoint, I really wish that I had at least taken Spanish with it.

I can converse in German, hold my own in French like a mofo, and dog-cuss a cabron in Spanish. I used to know a little Russian, Japanese, and Gaelic, but that's all gone to hell (with the exception of maybe a handful of words in Japanese).

happy travels! · 02-13-2006, 03:22 PM

You know if you have the chance I'd say LEARN THEM BOTH!!!! They are both 2 very beautiful and romantic

languages! Although everyone is right French is pretty dificult...but what language isn't??? I've been learning French for about 17 years now and it's still not perfect but I get by.
I just started learning Spanish on my own cause I'd also like to head to South America sometime this year. I'd like to go to a Spanish school somewhere down there cause the best way for me to pick it up is in a total immersion. (basically, when I'm forced to communicate or I won't get anything I want!) Does anyone know of any good schools or sites to check out?
Thanks for your help, I'll let you know if I find anything!

cheers