Comments on: 7 steps to slinging the bat https://www.501places.com/2011/02/7-steps-to-slinging-the-bat/ Sharing the world with you Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:55:55 +0000 hourly 1 By: james willcox https://www.501places.com/2011/02/7-steps-to-slinging-the-bat/#comment-56308 james willcox Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:22:39 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4663#comment-56308 Abi, I disagree that it is a waste of time to learn - "i don't speak xxxxxx" and "do you speak xxxxxx?" It allows you to learn: basic sentance structure and word order how to change a statement into a question how to conjugate verbs for "i" and "you" and possibly the plural "you" how to use negatives You can use it all the time to build a little bit of confidence and then once you learn the verbs "like", "want", "be", "go" and the question "what" and you sudenly can order food, give opinions, ask for directions, ask about peoples jobs etc... Of course you are right that it is not actually useful in telling someone something they don't know. Abi,

I disagree that it is a waste of time to learn – “i don’t speak xxxxxx” and “do you speak xxxxxx?”
It allows you to learn:
basic sentance structure and word order
how to change a statement into a question
how to conjugate verbs for “i” and “you” and possibly the plural “you”
how to use negatives

You can use it all the time to build a little bit of confidence and then once you learn the verbs “like”, “want”, “be”, “go” and the question “what” and you sudenly can order food, give opinions, ask for directions, ask about peoples jobs etc…

Of course you are right that it is not actually useful in telling someone something they don’t know.

]]> By: Colleen Setchell https://www.501places.com/2011/02/7-steps-to-slinging-the-bat/#comment-33707 Colleen Setchell Sat, 28 May 2011 07:21:45 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4663#comment-33707 Hey, these tips are really great. I am about to start travelling around the world so they will come in really handy. I have always learnt a few words of the people that I deal with at work (Polish, Czech and Hungarian) but travelling will expose me to a whole lot more. Thanks for sharing! Hey, these tips are really great. I am about to start travelling around the world so they will come in really handy.
I have always learnt a few words of the people that I deal with at work (Polish, Czech and Hungarian) but travelling will expose me to a whole lot more.
Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Dawn McNary https://www.501places.com/2011/02/7-steps-to-slinging-the-bat/#comment-32391 Dawn McNary Sun, 01 May 2011 22:26:22 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4663#comment-32391 What a great article!!! Especially about get some ale into the evening....It just makes you more willing to speak- and try out all those words- you lose the fear of sounding 'funny'. Working with au pairs and their willingness to just keep trying new words and phrases makes you see how important it is to just keep trying! And face it, truth is we all have accents- so just say what you can, be patient, use a smile and if you trust in yourself the language will come....only through use and practice- so just get out there and do it! Great article! What a great article!!! Especially about get some ale into the evening….It just makes you more willing to speak- and try out all those words- you lose the fear of sounding ‘funny’. Working with au pairs and their willingness to just keep trying new words and phrases makes you see how important it is to just keep trying! And face it, truth is we all have accents- so just say what you can, be patient, use a smile and if you trust in yourself the language will come….only through use and practice- so just get out there and do it! Great article!

]]> By: Abi https://www.501places.com/2011/02/7-steps-to-slinging-the-bat/#comment-32074 Abi Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:50:09 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4663#comment-32074 Love "learn half the adjectives..." Also, ditch the plurals, only learn the "polite" way of saying things if there are several different versions and don't, whatever you do, waste time learning how to say "I don't know how to speak x language." It will already be obvious... Love “learn half the adjectives…” Also, ditch the plurals, only learn the “polite” way of saying things if there are several different versions and don’t, whatever you do, waste time learning how to say “I don’t know how to speak x language.” It will already be obvious…

]]> By: Elle https://www.501places.com/2011/02/7-steps-to-slinging-the-bat/#comment-31872 Elle Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:26:01 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4663#comment-31872 I absolutely love this list. The idea of learning only 1/2 the adjectives is hilarious but so true. I absolutely love this list. The idea of learning only 1/2 the adjectives is hilarious but so true.

]]> By: james willcox https://www.501places.com/2011/02/7-steps-to-slinging-the-bat/#comment-30953 james willcox Sun, 20 Feb 2011 21:12:06 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4663#comment-30953 Thanks for the kind words. Learning half the adjectives is something that i genuinely do. I need to, on a single 2 week trip in Northern Pakistan alone i can pass through areas and meet friends who speak Pashtu, Hinko, Khowar, Kalash, Shina, Balti, Punjabi and Urdu. Whilst i can't profess to speak more than a few words in more than two of the above languages i need all the help i can get in trying to ensure i can remember greetings to old friends in the rest. Thanks for the kind words.
Learning half the adjectives is something that i genuinely do.
I need to, on a single 2 week trip in Northern Pakistan alone i can pass through areas and meet friends who speak Pashtu, Hinko, Khowar, Kalash, Shina, Balti, Punjabi and Urdu. Whilst i can’t profess to speak more than a few words in more than two of the above languages i need all the help i can get in trying to ensure i can remember greetings to old friends in the rest.

]]> By: Iain Mallory https://www.501places.com/2011/02/7-steps-to-slinging-the-bat/#comment-30880 Iain Mallory Thu, 17 Feb 2011 14:29:11 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4663#comment-30880 Great piece, witty, informative and just the right level, thorougly enjoyed it, now about the existential problems of the human condition? Great piece, witty, informative and just the right level, thorougly enjoyed it, now about the existential problems of the human condition?

]]> By: Melvin https://www.501places.com/2011/02/7-steps-to-slinging-the-bat/#comment-30879 Melvin Thu, 17 Feb 2011 13:56:36 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4663#comment-30879 The article is really good & I'm enjoying reading it. But the photo of the hand is even better! Andy, is that your hand? I haven't noticed the last time I've seen you. Now I know why you are such a great writer... You can type much faster like that! Unfair! ;-) The article is really good & I’m enjoying reading it. But the photo of the hand is even better! Andy, is that your hand? I haven’t noticed the last time I’ve seen you. Now I know why you are such a great writer… You can type much faster like that! Unfair! ;-)

]]> By: Jools Stone https://www.501places.com/2011/02/7-steps-to-slinging-the-bat/#comment-30812 Jools Stone Wed, 16 Feb 2011 23:05:39 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4663#comment-30812 Haha, 'Learn half the adjectives!' Truly inspired! Haha, ‘Learn half the adjectives!’ Truly inspired!

]]> By: Linguist-in-Waiting https://www.501places.com/2011/02/7-steps-to-slinging-the-bat/#comment-30754 Linguist-in-Waiting Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:00:36 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4663#comment-30754 This is an awesome post, and I totally agree with the pointers here. Having both lived and traveled in countries where I don't know the language, the whole travel experience becomes more fun and enjoyable when one has a functional command of the language. Obviously, what is functional depends on whether one is there for just 10 days or 10 years. It's a little frustrating at first, but knowing that one will make mistakes and come into embarrassing moments that can just be hidden by smiles is way better than simply not even attempting to learn the language. I find it that an attempt to learn the local language opens doors and paves way for better treatment. This is an awesome post, and I totally agree with the pointers here. Having both lived and traveled in countries where I don’t know the language, the whole travel experience becomes more fun and enjoyable when one has a functional command of the language. Obviously, what is functional depends on whether one is there for just 10 days or 10 years. It’s a little frustrating at first, but knowing that one will make mistakes and come into embarrassing moments that can just be hidden by smiles is way better than simply not even attempting to learn the language. I find it that an attempt to learn the local language opens doors and paves way for better treatment.

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