[quote author=chiquita link=topic=6707.msg40567#msg40567 date=1168988703]
[quote author=BellisimaJ. link=topic=6707.msg40563#msg40563 date=1168985309]
[Maybe we should learn one of them and practice on each other here? :blinkie:
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Now that would be entertaining, we could write a book.
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[quote author=thentavius link=topic=6707.msg40570#msg40570 date=1168990137]
I've also heard that just taking classes can help stave off dementia and alzheimer's--keeping the brain stimulated in the learning department. Keep your mind active, stay mentally awake.
I can read Spanish better than I can speak it, but I know a few important things. I can also read Latin OK and can speak & read some Japanese and Mandarin Chinese. I only know a few phrases in Cantonese. Having taken Latin, I can also "read" French ( can get the gist of what something says based on the Latin, Spanish, and English I know--and on the context).
I'm currently studying Mandarin in depth to get more fluent with reading and writing.
Once I've passed a few more milestones in Mandarin, I hope to learn Dutch.
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Sheesh...........compared to you, I am linguistically stupid, lol.
Seriously, I have found that because I was once forced to memorize 300 Latin root words (college English class), I can determine the meaning of many words that I wouldn't otherwise understand.
I am re-teaching myself German (most of my relatives still live there----they all speak English
)via cd's, just because I think I should. I practice on my brothers and Dad, all of whom laugh at my accent.
I do think that continually learning new things is important throughout life, and can't imagine being content to just plod along without doing so---------I would be very bored.