What is the best way to learn a foreign language and foreign culture?

What is the best way to learn a foreign language and foreign culture?
Aug 8, 2008 02:12
guestdaniel	I am an English learner. I am interested in western culture. Do you think what is the best way to learn foreign language and culture? One of my teachers says that the best way to learn foreign language is to immerse oneself in the target country whose language and culture you aim to acquire. In other words, if I want to better learn English and western culture, the best way for me is to go to America or Britain. At present, going abroad is impossible for me. I can’t afford the expenses. My teacher says the other way to learn foreign culture is to watch the foreign movies and sitcoms. I did watch foreign movies, but I found it is not a good way to learn decent English. The movies and sitcoms are infested with ‘rude slangs’ and ‘dirty words’. For example, when I watched the American soup opera ‘Friends’, Monica’s words impressed me: "You bet your ass I'm going to fire you." It was not decent words. Some language teachers said when we learn a new foreign language; we learnt the “dirty words” first. Some expressions are too idiomatic. Here, I have a couple of such expressions I noted down on my notebooks when I watched the western movies. Could anyone please kindly help me? 1.“You bet” This phrase is frequently used. What does it exactly mean? 2.“There you go” & “Here you go” Do these two sentences have the same meaning? I heard them in several movies. 3.“Holy cow” Holy shit (S+H+I+T)” I know they are exclamations. Do they have more positive senses? Holy cow means “ a sacred cow”?Do western people worship “some kinds of cow”? 4. “ Oh, my God” “ Oh, Boy” Do you often say “Oh, Girl” as well? 5.The use of “ Hit” “Are you hitting on me?” “Hit a shower”. I guess the meaning from the context of a movie: the female protagonist is questioning the hero if he is trying to seduce her. Am I right about the meaning? English expressions are so wonderful. I love it. What is the best way to learn a foreign language and culture?

Aug 8, 2008 02:12

guestdaniel

I am an English learner. I am interested in western culture. Do you think what is the best way to learn foreign language and culture? One of my teachers says that the best way to learn foreign language is to immerse oneself in the target country whose language and culture you aim to acquire. In other words, if I want to better learn English and western culture, the best way for me is to go to America or Britain. At present, going abroad is impossible for me. I can’t afford the expenses. My teacher says the other way to learn foreign culture is to watch the foreign movies and sitcoms. I did watch foreign movies, but I found it is not a good way to learn decent English. The movies and sitcoms are infested with ‘rude slangs’ and ‘dirty words’. For example, when I watched the American soup opera ‘Friends’, Monica’s words impressed me: "You bet your ass I'm going to fire you." It was not decent words. Some language teachers said when we learn a new foreign language; we learnt the “dirty words” first. Some expressions are too idiomatic. Here, I have a couple of such expressions I noted down on my notebooks when I watched the western movies. Could anyone please kindly help me?

1.“You bet”
This phrase is frequently used. What does it exactly mean?

2.“There you go” & “Here you go”
Do these two sentences have the same meaning? I heard them in several movies.

3.“Holy cow” Holy shit (S+H+I+T)”
I know they are exclamations. Do they have more positive senses? Holy cow means “ a sacred cow”?Do western people worship “some kinds of cow”?

4. “ Oh, my God” “ Oh, Boy”
Do you often say “Oh, Girl” as well?

5.The use of “ Hit”
“Are you hitting on me?” “Hit a shower”.
I guess the meaning from the context of a movie: the female protagonist is questioning the hero if he is trying to seduce her. Am I right about the meaning? English expressions are so wonderful. I love it.

What is the best way to learn a foreign language and culture?

Aug 9, 2008 22:57	#1
SHESGOTTOBE Points: Join Date: Nov 23, 2007 Status: Offline	Well, if going to another country is out of the question.... and I agree watching movies is kinda not a good way. I think the best way is to have conversations in whatever language you want. Try to have foreign friends and chat up with them. There are a lot of native English speakers here.

Aug 10, 2008 22:08	#2
ICEBLUE Points: Join Date: Aug 30, 2007 Status: Offline	3.“Holy cow” Holy shit (S+H+I+T)” I know they are exclamations. Do they have more positive senses? Holy cow means “ a sacred cow”?Do western people worship “some kinds of cow”? Interesting questions! I think Shegottobe can answer your question. Shesgottobe has used the phrases for many times in the forum.

Aug 11, 2008 04:49

AL32
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Join Date: Sep 11, 2007
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I will give a shot at explaining those expressions you've stated above:
1.“You bet” ---> this is just to show a quick and real approuval just like "for sure" or "no doubt (abou it)". From a gambling perspective, it's like you would say "yes, for sure, you could put your money on this; this is the truth"; so you can bet on this because it's definatly the case

2.“There you go” & “Here you go” --> almost the same thing: if one has proved is own case or brought is own justification, you can say "there you go; you proved your point" here you go has the same meaning but can also be used to demonstrate that some one is doing something again: "here you go, making that thing again.."

3.“Holy cow” Holy shit (S+H+I+T)” / cow --> you are right, these just expressions showing a surprise. I can't really tell you their origin but you could use any world: holy macaroni, holy dumpling!! hehe and it would make as much sense... these as just plain expression without realmeaning. People use them as they feel and there is no need to search for what the sacred cow as to do with the use of the expression.
I know they are exclamations. Do they have more positive senses? Holy cow means “ a sacred cow”?Do western people worship “some kinds of cow”?

4. “ Oh, my God” “ Oh, Boy” --> pretty much like #3: just like saying "wow!!" ; the "Oh girl!!" could sometimes be used, but I'd say that most guys would not use that as it might make them sound gay... If a guy say "here you go girl" to another guy, that would definately sound bad and people will look at both of them in a strange way.. ;-P

5.The use of “ Hit” --> this could also have some sort of gambling dialect roots: when you play BlackJack (21) at the casino, you can ask to get another card from the dealer by saying "hit me"... it could also have a similar meaning as "to try", "to give a shot at", "to go to", "to take" and "to do". I'll hit a shower, we hit a cab and then we can hit the restaurant...

I hope this helps. And although it's not the best way, movies and TV shows are great to help you get used to listening to English. Another way I would recommend is to buy a novel and highlight and use you dictionary to trnslate any word you don't know. Write them down right above the word in the book. I will be tedious and a lot of work at first, but you will realize after a few chapters that the words repeat and you will know them and realize what you've learn. I tell you, after half the book, you will barely not use the dictionary anymore!! Good luck!!

Aug 11, 2008 20:45

SHESGOTTOBE
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Join Date: Nov 23, 2007
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Looks like Al already answered. I was hoping the native English speakers would answer the questions since English is not my first language.

Holy cow is an expression of surprise or disbelief. Some variations are holy shit!, holy crap!, holy smokes! Usually, they are used in a positive or neutral way but in casual conversations. Americans have more colorful words for expressing negative emotions. LOL!

Aug 12, 2008 00:18

DODGER
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Join Date: Jul 15, 2007
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Holly cow refers to when Moses came down the mountain after picking up the 10 commandments and found everyone worshipping a golden calve.
I met a young bloke the other day who had learnt most of his English from watching English films. His accent( which was Scottish !!) and the way that he used idioms in context was excellent.
If you travel to England, as an example and do not have an understanding of idioms the words will not make any sense, because when someone says to you "keep it under your hat" will you, you might think that they are a little mad.
There are lots of sites that you can google on idioms that will give you an explanation of their meaning and how they came about. All are from a culture of a region or a certain group.
Cheers, Dodger.

Aug 13, 2008 04:58	#6
GUEST1032	When we learn a new language, it is "the dirty words" that we learn first. An English teacher taught Chinese students the word ' F U C K" at first class. She said: " read after me loudly, " F UCK"

Aug 13, 2008 05:39	#7
DODGER Points: Join Date: Jul 15, 2007 Status: Offline	I suggest that you change teachers Guest1032. Dodger.

Aug 13, 2008 20:53	#8
LEONARDO Points: Join Date: May 21, 2007 Status: Offline	IMO, it is a good way to learn a foreign culture through watching foreign movies, in particular, some surreal movies. Guest, it is somewhat true. "Dirty words" seem to be easy to remember.

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