I think this depends on the way that you learn. When I took French in school for two years...we spent SO much time on the book aspect of it-and the written words, etc. I learned how to read and interpret French well on the pages...but I had a LOT of trouble actually carrying on a conversation-I was constantly "translating" from French to English and vice versa in my head to understand what was being said, and then before speaking. Learning French in a classroom setting simply didn't work for me...

Using the Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur systems has helped me to SPEAK/UNDERSTAND spoken conversation much better. Now...I am not as effecient in WRITING Greek...but I am able to understand more, and respond more quickly when I am spoken to.

You really cannot compare these top two methods to some of the "Speak ____ in a week" and other language courses. These two are rated the best for a reason...they work. Cheaper software or cd programs simply are not as good.

aphil, I really get what you're saying. I took 3 years of Spanish in high school. We were reading novels in Spanish. But I couldn't carry on a conversation that wasn't slow and stilted.

LOL @ Techwife!!!

I know hints of Bosnian, Russian, German, French and Spanish. But the boyfriend and I are going to start taking Spanish together next semester for our school credits, and then we want to join the peace corps and hope to get stationed somewhere in south america (as he's 1/4th hispanic, and has no connections to that side of his ethnicity - and I think it's neat!)

I am from the States originally, but live in the Netherlands for the last 15 years, so I do speak Dutch. I can understand German and have studied it for a wee while, but my problem trying to speak it is that Dutch words still come out.

I studied French and Spanish in school but I do not speak these languages. The only way to really retain a language is to use it daily, practise, practise, practise - listen, read, speak and learn new words everyday. I am not 100% fluent in Dutch, though my husband would argue this. I don't think one can ever be 100% fluent unless they are truly living in that language every day.

I agree that whatever language you choose to learn...you must keep up with it. If you take a course, and then don't do anything with it (speak it, practice it, review your materials) then eventually you will lose it, except for some basic greetings, etc.

There are MANY ways that you can practice. If you have satellite tv, there are often international options where you can get channels in Spanish, Greek, and other languages. Sit and watch a game show or tv show, and over time as you study the language, it will help you to start being able to understand native speakers better.

Also, picking a language that you will actually USE helps tremendously. What point is there in learning Swahili, if you will never have the opportunity to speak it. If you have a large ethnic population in your area, are planning a trip or a move to a certain country, etc. it will motivate you more if you choose THAT language to learn. You will actually have the opportunity to use it, which is rewarding.

I get to use Greek at work and with my boyfriend's family all of the time. Even when I don't speak it, I hear it a lot-and I "listen" to it, taking note of words I understand, and ones I don't.