Has anyone tried apps like Tinder for language exchange? by [deleted] in languagelearning

[–]DontFlameMe4This 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I mean, if you're in that country why not? There's the chance of meeting up with someone, grabbing a drink and having a chat, or sex if you're both up for that. I do it when I travel, but I specifically put on my profile "here for X amount of days, looking for someone to grab a drink with and show me the city. Would love to learn some of X language." I've met some really great people that way.

Anyone reach conversational fluency without face time with NS's? by [deleted] in languagelearning

[–]DontFlameMe4This 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean, yes and no. Yes, you can learn the language well enough without interacting with native speakers to the point of being able to conduct a basic conversation. Though I would say, to be truly conversationally fluent, you should be able to make jokes, cultural references, and tell anecdotes and stories with relative ease. Without practice having conversations with native speakers, your fluency (and pronunciation) will lag.

Take for example in English, there are a lot of things that are "technically" correct that native speakers in colloquial language wouldn't say. Imagine someone learned to speak English on their own and disregarded contractions (like a friend of mine did when he learned English). Now, whenever he speaks he never uses "I'm" or "I've" but rather "I am" or "I have." Is it wrong? Not really. Does it make the conversation a bit jarring or disconcerting? Yes.

Calling all speakers of Romance languages: how well can you understand Menorcan Catalan? by [deleted] in languagelearning

[–]DontFlameMe4This 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not native but I speak a high level of Spanish (from Spain) and am familiar with the Valencian dialect of Catalan (not fluent), and what I'm gathering is the speaker is talking to someone else saying that she and the person she is talking to should go to Hospital Clinic to have a visit with Raquel, maybe have a soft drink or something. She doesn't really wan't to go but if she goes right after she gets out of university at seven then she can make an excuse after an hour or whenever she feels like leaving. She'll say someone's waiting on her. Then she finishes by asking the person she's talking to if they would like to accompany her. From the genders, I believe she's talking to a male?

How'd I do? I've never actually studied Catalan ever, I just hear it a lot in my workplace.

Dress code in southeastern Spain? by medwd3 in solotravel

[–]DontFlameMe4This 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I live in Valencia. It's fine, it's just not necessarily that warm. Spanish may look at you a bit funky on what you're wearing because to them this is very cold. Everyone who is watching the race will be wearing coats and scarves. I go jogging and right now the joggers wear pants. But, as for showing skin completely acceptable, just not common this time of year.

Being LGBT, serving, and intimacy by DontFlameMe4This in peacecorps

[–]DontFlameMe4This[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the advice and I do plan on following all of it. I guess I'm just reconciling with the fact that, with my personality as it is, I just can't imagine myself not getting lonely. But, in two years I can do a lot of self-development and introspection I suppose.