h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Pre-Rupert we could talk to each other in any language (even if there were only one speaker, and they were conversing with themselves) which was quite useful for educational purposes. Is there any existing thing on here where help could be provided (all non-English comm. taking place offsite o'course) and those willing to help can be matched up with those trying to learn (like the help with spelling thing).
Could one be made if not already present? Would anyone want it?
Kind of like penfriends, but without twee stickers all over the envelopes.

Although I cannot speak languages, and have no inclination to learn tham as I know that I'd fail (I've tried. And I failed), it does seem that it could be handy. Just to have somewhere to chat in another language with a fluent or native speaker. Anwe have enough language scholars here that might be interested!

Where were you thinking of putting this? On a yahoo group or something?

Hi Mandragora! I guess it'd largely depend on what language you thought of learning. A487415 offers some German lessons by Bossel and TC and there is the somewhat dormant GerMania Connection here as well as on a Y! group.


... and while foreign language postss may be hidden during moderation, it's not against the HR to post in a foreign tounge, AFAIK.

It would be even better if the BBC licence payers were to demand the use of foreign languages being allowed on site so that they can learn something from it...

I'm currently doing languages and finding it rather difficult to find people who are willing to talk to me on a regular basis in order to improve my German.

Hopped across to the German pages but they seem pretty asleep to me.

I like the idea of somewhere to talk in ferrrrrnnn languages, whilst still being linked together through here.

As a means of learning, it's a great way to catch how the language is actually used by people, rather than by a text book. Every language has it's own nuances and funny ways, which they tend to leave out of books and most courses.

The problem I might foresee with it though is that it's harder to check what's been said in posts that aren't in English. I believe that while we had proactive moderation it would have involved employing moderators who were fluent in the other languages as well, and that's an extra expense. Perhaps now that moderation is reactive it might be more possible.

It is a great way to learn to speak another language, or at least to read/write another language. Pronunciation is a different matter.

The 'Lets Parler Franglais' thread (F19585?thread=190857&latest=1) is frequented by some looking for and some offering help with language learning

I think this is a great idea, especially if it could be used by beginners as well.

Well, pre-Rupert I was talking in Welsh to someone whose name I cannot remember. This was a great help since they are scarce here (t'which you might say, why are you learning it? ...meh. It's better than a kick in the pants.)
I thought mainly of an email-based exchange where we could just mutually decide who we want to talk to, then do so in our own time. More like a database, with an 'I speak and am willing to chat' list rather than actual onsite facilities.

I am Kat!
I speak some German I will talk katadie@hotmail dot com

Or you could talk to my lovely friend Yaz, who also talks German at happytincbh at yahoo.co.uk

That styly?

That's just the thing.

Hi MS,
You could always create an A-page - called something like 'The h2g2 off-site language exchange' or whatever - listing who speaks what and details re how to contact them

Sounds cool to me! There's literally tons of people on here talking intersting languages so they should help the poor people who aren't...very good!

So can we huh huh?

by all means, the page is at: A1144478.
At the moment it is sparse, and is called the Language Thing. I am not going to claim ownership of this, so anyone better-suited to thinking up catchy names in the night can suggest a decent one.

We do have a "French Language Help Desk" A1022310 for those who want to check something in French [though some researchers still come to me directly when in need of advice]... We do try to put some translation in English as much as possible... That helps cutting down on problems with moderation as as long there is a translation, the postings have less risks of being removed...

Could run along the Language Thing, no problem... It's not like we're rushed off our feet...



loup

First! First! First!


Good idea.... so I put my emal-addressin there...



Chili

Done.

Maybe some pics of different languages? Can I have editting privileges please because I've got a lot of time on my hands

For German I suggest taking a look at the GerMania Connection Y! group at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GerManiaConnection/

But it's not very active!

Feel free to change that...

I'm scared. There's another German thingy on Yahoo which I did join, and it's pretty active, but most of them seem really good at German and I don't understand what they are on about!