I just don't think I could live in America
Though Portland appeals.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 12:34, 2 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

My criteria is English speaking
since I have a mental block when it comes to languages, and therefore couldn't live somewhere lovely like Italy
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 12:38, Reply)

You'd be surprised how much easier it is to learn a language when you live in the country concerned.

(lkjshaglkasjdhglkhjz lkcvl; g;aodh;owih, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 12:41, Reply)

I'm not so sure
it caused severe anxiety and stress even learning at GCSE level (I'm not just irredeemably stupid)
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 12:42, Reply)

I was useless at learning anything in a classroom (particularly languages) but my french got ok when I moved to Paris for work a few years ago

(lkjshaglkasjdhglkhjz lkcvl; g;aodh;owih, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 12:45, Reply)

You would be a retiree remember
this entitles you to do that 'if you speak louder they'll get it' thing to all non-English speakers.
(Zoz prayed for twink on, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 12:43, Reply)

I can barely speak English
Having to speak and listen to another language would kill me.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 13:09, Reply)

Hang on...aren't you both learning Ancient Latin and Greek?

(LongJohnBaldry, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 13:23, Reply)

Yes.
Read my post carefully- I make no reference to to LEARNING another language, just speaking and listening to it. I can understand written French fairly well, but my stammer gets very bad when I try to speak it.
The easiest thing about Latin/Greek is you don't have to do speaking or listening: it's all written, which is how I do shit best.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 13:26, Reply)

This is true. And I am, as usual, just being facetious
Trying to listen to a Forrin talking Forrin at you is, I've always found, the hardest part of learning Forrin. I certainly come away with the impression that my French is a lot better when it's written down and I have time to read it, re-read it, re-re-read it, find a dictionary, re-re-re-read it and hazard a guess before throwing the dictionary at a passing Frenchman in frustration.
(LongJohnBaldry, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 13:29, Reply)

Don't make me smack you in the head again.
(as demonstrated by BobWhatEverHisNameIs, I obviously can't tell when people are being facetious)

The best thing about reading is you can run the word through your mental database and see what matches with other words you know and the meaning of them, then hazard a guess. And there's always the possibility that if you're deaf as a post you mishear and end up confused.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 13:32, Reply)

If in any doubt, assume I am being facetious
'Deaf as a post' is an excuse I use a lot myself, and that's just while having conversations in English.
(LongJohnBaldry, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 13:37, Reply)

Pardon?

( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 13:47, Reply)

Portland?
Out of all the places in America, you choose Portland?
( Lisette von Falcon, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 13:20, Reply)

My arch-enemy has a house there
maybe I shouldn't.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 13:26, Reply)

Oregon or Maine?

(berk, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 13:27, Reply)

Oregon.
Her father's a musician. Rather famous one, actually.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 13:28, Reply)

I've been there
it's rather nice, actually. Admittedly I only have Washington DC to contrast it with, but the west coast seems much more laid back.
(berk, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 13:33, Reply)

I liked DC
But I've mainly been to Cali- lived in LA when 5, visited San Fran when 9, skiied in Tahoe when 14. I enjoyed DC, but that's probably becasue I remember much more of it, seeing as I went about 2 years ago.
( Lampito rise with the moon, go to bed with the sun, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 13:36, Reply)

I liked DC too
but I'd rather live in Portland, I think. Assuming it was just a choice between the two! Although I'd love to go back and finish looking at the Smithsonian museums - I only got an hour.
/grumble, mutter etc.
(berk, Mon 20 Sep 2010, 13:40, Reply)