#so pretty much all schools in this area at least have spanish french and latin

[dreamsy990]

random thing i noticed in my spanish class:

my spanish class is full of people who like. dont care about spanish in general and just took it because they knew a little already or their parents wanted them to. or they hate the teacher. or they just dont like the way we're learning it.

and like. you'd expect people to be playing games. but theyre just DOING OTHER LANGUAGES ON DUOLINGO!!!!!!!!!!!! THE GIRL NEXT TO ME IS DOING FRENCH!!!!!!!!!! SOME GUY IN THE FRONT IS DOING JAPANESE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ONE OF MY FRIENDS IS DOING YIDDISH AND HEBREW AND ANOTHER IS DOING RUSSIAN!!!!!!!!! I'M DOING GERMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i just think thats pretty interesting. not sure what its saying but its probably saying something

[ladyjaneasher-blog]

On Monday, September 8, 1953, looking scrubbed, spruced, and more than the least bit intimidated, Paul, dressed in a navy blue blazer with a green badge over the heart, short gray trousers, a green-and-black-striped tie, and redoubtable dog’s-tongue cap, stumbled off the bus from Garston and walked up Mount Street and through the wrought-iron railing that delimited the yards behind the immense school building. Like most boys who crossed the threshold, he must have been swept with thoughts of smallness. The Inny was the largest building he’d ever entered, larger even than his mother’s hospital and almost as imposing as the mammoth Liverpool Cathedral, whose unfinished sandstone friezes loomed in eerie relief across the street. Nearly a thousand boys mingled in the lower yard, a sea of bodies, many of them seventeen or eighteen—grown men!—with serious features. [...] Paul, slightly awed by it all, drew languages as his area of concentration, which seemed well suited to a boy with an ear for cadences. He began in the French stream but went on to do modern languages. “The first year, I was pretty lost,” he recalls. “But by the second year, I was learning Latin, Spanish, and German. At age twelve, which wasn’t bad.” Although spelling wasn’t a strong suit, and math even less so, he developed a particular knack for grammar and English literature, thanks in no small part to the influence of Alan Durband. Durband, known as Dusty to friends and colleagues, was somewhat of a celebrity at the Liverpool Institute, having written a short script for the BBC that was aired as a popular “morning story” on the radio. A disciple of the great literary critic F. R. Leavis, Durband brought the old rooted classics to life, beginning with Chaucer, which Paul read in its original Middle English, then trawled through Shakespeare’s plays. He responded strongly to the moral dilemmas faced by the characters, but he especially loved the way Alan Durband pared the stories down to their most basic themes, exposing the simplicity of it all. Indeed, Paul’s grasp of Durband’s lessons would be showcased in those early Beatles lyrics, deconstructing adolescent sexuality into pure sentiment (if not mere cliché): she loves you, I want to hold your hand, do you want to know a secret—small signs that what lay beyond might offer something more conceptual. Fascinating as literature was, Paul found his firmest expression in art. “He had a real talent when it came to drawing,” remembers Don Andrew, another future Remo Four member, who sat next to Paul in class. “It wasn’t something he learned from a book, he was self-taught, and so the work he produced was truly imaginative.” Paul had drawn for as long as he could remember; he was “always sketching.” Come vacation time, he recalls, “I always [made] my own Christmas cards,” decorating them with nervous pencil sketches overlaid with watercolor washes. Many years later he would linger in a Long Island barn and watch his friend Willem de Kooning “work on these massive, great canvases” that fed Paul’s own hunger to paint, but there was no such encouragement from the masters. At the institute, students never “stayed with art” throughout their school career; the meat-and-potatoes classes were so demanding that there just wasn’t enough time for it. But those boys who showed talent were given the opportunity to “stay behind on a Tuesday night” for extra art instruction. Once a week Stan Reed, the institute’s resident draftsman, conducted lessons in line and perspective drawing, as well as watercolors for a class of ten or twelve self-motivated students. Paul, who had energy, albeit conventional talent, flourished under Reed’s practical guidance. What’s more, Reed helped Paul overcome the insecurity he had in relation to “true” artistes at the art college next door—abnegating the notion “that they paint, and we don’t.” Paul took full advantage of the advice—so much so that, in time, some students actually approached him for tips and technical hints. Says Don Andrew: “I remember walking along the art room on Parents Nights, when our work was hung, and being drawn to the most outstanding piece on exhibit. It was always Paul McCartney’s—he was that good.”

bob spitz, the beatles: the biography

[ohmythatoikawaboy]

☕️ Which language do you think is the hardest to learn? I have met people who have said that English is one of the hardest languages to learn and I disagree with that, I mean yes it has a lot of vocabulary and depending on your first language the pronunciation of some words can be hard but it is not hard to learn comparing it to other languages

Ooooh, this is my area of expertise! I agree with you on that.

The thing is, there isn’t one solution to this. Depending on each person’s native language and on their capacities, they might find certain languages more difficult to learn than others.

Personally, English has been the easiest language for me to learn. I remember when I was in school and we were taught both English and French. Some people said French was easier because it is (supposedly) more similar to Spanish than English. But I had to disagree with that, at least in my own experience (but I understand why it might be easier for them).

English has tons of words of Latin origin (many of them taken from French), so it is not that different from Spanish. Plus, English grammar is one of the easiest I’ve ever learned. It has few items and you can pretty much learn it in a couple of years if you know how to do it. It is true that English has a lot of vocabulary, but you really don’t need to learn more words than in any other language to be able to communicate on a basic level.

French, on the other hand, is a mess. I guess I’d feel the same way about Spanish if it wasn’t my first language. So many conjugations! Plus, there are grammar items in French that do not match Spanish grammar at all! (The particle en, which also exists in Italian -ne-) And the vocabulary sometimes is really different from its Spanish counterpart (I mean, people forget that Spanish has a lot of words of Arabic origin, which do not exist in French or other Romance languages).

Then there’s German, which is even more difficult (RIP me). I studied it for two years and I remember having to study every single day if I wanted to keep up (unlike with English, which I understood and learned pretty quickly).

To me, Japanese is even more difficult. Probably the most difficult language I’ve studied. It’s not just about the writing system (which is complicated in itself, but effective). I just... I don’t seem to get the grammar on a basic level. I make slow progress in that sense.

But from my experience (trying to learn it and completely failing at it), the most difficult language is probably Chinese. At least the grammar is easy, or so I’ve been told ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ But my problem isn’t the writing system as much as the phonetics. Chinese places so much importance in intonation and small but meaningful changes in sound and vowel quality, and it’s just... It’s too much for me. Maybe with a good teacher I’d be able to learn it, but so far I’ve failed at it.

This answer ended up being really long, I’m sorry :’) I just get so excited about linguistics!

[halfbreed-hawkins-blog]

What country are you from?

I am from the United States of America specifically I was born in Southern California and raised in Northern California. I specify myself as NorCal girl, and I was raised in the North Bay around 30 miles from San Francisco and spend most of my days, nights and weekends in The City, Berkeley, Oakland, Hayward ect. It’s sorta important to remember that I’m Californian cause that’s mostly how I’ll be answering these questions since the United States is so large so traditions and the culture can vary from state to state, and even more specifically the divide between Northern and Southern California is very prominent even with speech patterns, slang, dialect and well... everything.

What is your first language? Do you speak any other languages?

English is my first language, I can speak a conversational amount of Spanish because it would be really difficult to not know any in California, I also know words in Tagalog because there is a large Filipino population in my town and especially at my schools, as well as the tiniest amount of Latin thanks to Catholic school.

What language would you like to learn?

Italian, Spanish, maybe learn like French or German.

What’s one movie from your country that you like (or recommend others see)?

Don’t touch me, my family is from SoCal, films are like what they live and breath, even my Dad. I grew up watching films, so I’m not going to say just one, because I’m trash okay. So let’s talk, the must see films that have been produced, directed and written in America would be; Giant (1956), Dead Poets Society (1989), Rebel Without A Cause (1955), American Graffiti (1973), The Birds (1963), The Godfather (1972), Sunset Blvd. (1950) Juno (2007), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Fargo (1996), Dances With Wolves (1990), Funny Face (1957), Citizen Kane (1941), Her (2013), All About Eve (1950), Meet Me In St. Louis (1944), Working Girl (1988), Across the Universe (2007), Sound of Music (1965), Sophie’s Choice (1982), Inglorious Bastards (2009), Birdman (2014), Pulp Fiction (1994), Life of Pi (2012), Auntie Mame (1958), Grand Budaest Hotel (2014), Spotlight (2016) Do The Right Thing (1989), Jaws (1975). This is from a really long list of films that I happen to love and just adore, like I could keep going for the next few days on the subject, but these films I would say are a great explanation for the ‘American’ film style. Plus I’m excluding all the animated films, cause this would gt really long, really fast, and it’s already pretty hefty.

Pick a song from your country (or in your language) and talk about why you like it.

Bitch, here is a list of artists, cause a single song is too much to ask, that I think are important to this country; Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Nirvana, Janis Joplin, Green Day, Pearl Jam, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Elvis Presley, Joan Jett/The Runaways, The Ramones, Talking Heads, Diana Ross/The Supremes, Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac, Carlos Santana, Tupac Shakur, Micheal Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Arthea Franklin, Selena, Lou Reed/The Velvet Underground, The Beach Boys, Little Richard. I can literally keep going, but I’m not total trash.

Pick a classic song from your country - aka one that everyone knows, one that’s representative of your country, etc.

There are a number of songs that everyone knows, they might not be fucking genius songs, but we all know them, or at least out here in Cali we do; California Love (Tupac), Yay Area (E-40), Thriller/Billie Jean/Smooth Criminal/ABC (Micheal Jackson), Sound of Music (Julie Andrews),  Smells Like Teen Spirit ( Nirvana), Wonderwall (Oasis), Barracuda (Heart), American Idiot/Blvd. Of Broken Dreams/Most of the Dookie ALBUM (Green Day), Welcome To The Black Parade (MCR). Again I can keep going and it will get ridiculous. Also the fucking Macarena.

What’s a book from your country (or in your language) that you’d recommend?

Dharma Bums (Kerouac), Coming of Age in Mississippi (Anne Moody), The Awakening (Kate Chopin), Love, Castro Street (Katherine V. Forrest), The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Anything Steinbeck tbh, Slaughterhouse 5 (Vonnegut), J A C K  L O N D O N.

What’s your favourite childhood story from your country or culture?

Bro, alright, some of my favorite childhood stories are mostly Disney Films, Pied Piper, and I would even say that Harry Potter to me is considered a childhood story though it’s British & not American.

Talk about a tradition from your country or culture that you love celebrating.

Halloween/Dio De Los Muertos is a big tradition, both culturally for my ethnicity and for generally living in America. I love the event, both sides, the religious & and commercialized stuff.

Fave food from your country/culture:

American Food: BBQ & Mac ‘n’ Cheese & Root Beer w/ Flan as a dessert, and don’t talk to me about Chile Verde. Like fucking Y U M.

Best season of the year in your country?

Summer in California is where your life should be at.

What’s one thing that you wish you could change about your country? Why?

Trump. Also the Alt. Right, because they’re Neo-Nazi Trash and IDGAF about their current ‘moniker’ because they are traitors to everything our Military fought against in WWII and the lives lost. Also the amount of sports channels we have, it’s a bit unnecessary. 

What’s one thing that you’re proud of about your country?

Freedom of Press, Freedom of Religion/Freedom FROM Religion, our goddamn Military is the world’s fucking finest, I love capitalism, I love our history of revolution, evolution, revolt & rebellion. Our love our tradition of thought, of the melting pot of cultures, I love every single equalizing movement in this country and every person’s voice even if they’re dumbasses who should be quiet, I love that they can speak. 

Name a country you’d like to visit.

Italy.

Top three cities you’d like to visit:

New York, New Orleans, Chicago.

What’s the best place in your country that you’ve ever visited?

I grew up in the Bay Area, where places like Berkeley and San Francisco are places people dream of going to, and where I go to on a whim to pick up records, or grab lunch, or go see a film. I go to school in Napa, and bitch about traffic as I pass world renowned vineyards. I go to LA alot because of my family, so driving there, walking down Hollywood & Sunset, being there is a bit of a trip but also normal. The best place I’ve visited, in this country this far, is Hearst Castle-- a monument to American extravagance, capitalism, architecture, natural beauty, California life, the Press, and equal rights. Built by William Randolph Hearst, the rival of Pulitzer, a newsman, a media conglomerate. It rests in the Heart of California, off HWY 1, North of San Luis Obisbo. It’s entire architecture, the building, the site, all of it was created by a woman named Julia Morgan, a pioneer at the time for being a female architecture, having attended in University of California Berkeley, and became an architect far before when women got the right to vote in 1920. Hearst Castle is the melting pot, and symbol of Californian dominance and a sign of things to come of how media would shape California. It’s one of my favorite places in California and I encourage everyone to visit.

Have you ever been abroad (out of your country)? If so, where did you go?

Nope. I lied, I went to Mexico for two weeks when I was like 8, totally forgot.

What are some myths or stereotypes about your country or culture that are either true or are false?

The ‘hardworking Latino/a’ is pretty true, I’ve yet to meet someone from my culture & ethnicity who doesn’t work so fucking hard.

There are way too many American stereotypes, most of which are moderately true, though not explosively wrong either. Mixing pot guys.

[i-amusemyself]

All linguasks.

I’m not convinced anyone ever reads these but thank you so much for all the asks whoever you are?!?

1: What is your native language?

English (bloody glad I havent had to learn it as an adult)2: Have you learnt any other languages? If yes, what are they?

I’m pretty fluent in Spanish and I used to know quite a bit of Danish, but I forgot it so now I’m relearning.3: Have you ever read a book in a foreign language?

Yeah I’ve read a couple in spanish including the first Harry Potter4: Did you learn any languages at school? If yes, what were they? 

Yup, just Span5: What is the prettiest language? 

Oh my gosh I don’t know too much about that many languages! Not gonna lie, I quite like french and the french accent. I also really love all the scandinavian ones.6: What is the ugliest language? 

No language is ugly! I struggle a bit with the aggression of German, but at least it makes it quite unique.7: Have you ever made up your own language? 

Not a spoken language, but when I was 10 I made up a quite intricate sign language with my friends so we could communicate across the classroom. I can only remember the sign for toilet at this point.8: What languages do your parents speak? 

Lmao, english and some broken french from school. 9: If you were granted a wish that allowed you to instantly be able to speak any language, which would it be? 

I’d really like to be able to speak Arabic but I’ve never learnt anything that doesn’t use the latin alphabet so it would be nice to just instantly know it!10: Have you ever tried to learn sign language?

I learnt the alphabet in BSL and I know the basics of ASL since I’m hard of hearing and it can help in crowded areas.11: Have you ever watched a movie with subtitles in a different language, or vice versa?

Oh my god I’ve watched so many movies in Spanish!12: Choose a Scandinavian language you’d like to learn. 

I mean, Danish lmao! But besides that Swedish would be nice to learn since then I would understand Ikea better.13. Choose a Slavic (eastern European) language you’d like to learn. 

Polish since I think it would come in the most useful14. Choose an Asian language you’d like to learn. 

Arabic, or if not that then Chinese since I once started it15. French, Spanish, Greek - which is the best? 

How on earth can you compare them?! I’ve got to say Spanish though16. German, Dutch, Italian - which is the best? 

Oh my gosh Dutch I love it!17. Have you ever been embarrassed by a native speaker of the language you are trying to learn? 

Lmao no not yet (I still get embarrassed talking to natives though).18. Name a dead language that you wish to make a come back. 

Okay so I had a long thought about this and despite the fact I once tried to write a whole book using the Old Norse alphabet as a child (yh really, I was that sad.) I’d say Ancient Egyptian. Everyone should use that. Imagine trying to write a resume and just doodling birds and snakes all over the page. Life would be more fun!19. What is your native language / homeland famous for? 

Being stupidly difficult to learn (understandable its a stupid language)/ The Queen; tea and bad teeth.20. What language is overrated? 

I don’t want to get hate?? I mean for me I’ve never understood the hype of learning Japanese when it’s only spoken by a handful of people really and it has so many alphabets?!21. What language do you think is too intimidating to learn? 

For me? Anything language from outside of western europe. I don’t feel like I’d do very well at all!22. What language should more people speak? 

Welsh since their word for microwave is popty ping. I mean, who could have a bad day if they had to use that word?23. What language uses the prettiest alphabet?

I love Arabic and Hindi in particular but honestly all of them?24. What language uses the weirdest alphabet? 

They all look weird if you can’t understand them lmao! Burmese is kind of bizzare though.25. Try to find some foreign currency in your house. Where is it from?

I have a lot of American Dollars I haven’t changed back! Also I know I have a stack of coins from Europe and some Turkish Lira (dont ask)