[Stupid Boy]

Here's an idea I have:

It takes me about 30 minutes to walk home from school, which is about the length of a Pimsleur lesson. I can get an iPod Shuffle to play the Pimsleur lessons on my way home from school. There's a problem:

How weird would it be to see a person listening to an iPod and saying words and parts of words in a foreign language? It would be pretty weird if you didn't understand me, but it would also be weird if you did, especially if you heard me say something incorrectly.

How can I make myself not look crazy when I do this?

[sandman001]

Originally Posted by Stupid Boy

Here's an idea I have:

It takes me about 30 minutes to walk home from school, which is about the length of a Pimsleur lesson. I can get an iPod Shuffle to play the Pimsleur lessons on my way home from school. There's a problem:

How weird would it be to see a person listening to an iPod and saying words and parts of words in a foreign language? It would be pretty weird if you didn't understand me, but it would also be weird if you did, especially if you heard me say something incorrectly.

How can I make myself not look crazy when I do this?

Wear a hockey mask, and it won't matter what you say.

[jack222]

Or put a brown paper bag over your head.

[>HyperlogiK<]

sod what most people think, I tried (and after much effort succeded in) giving up caring a long time ago, I just try to be Dave (shock horror! my real name!) cos it's the thing i'm best at

[Malpine Walis]

Well, gee dude, I would love to help you if I knew how. Unfortunately I have the habit of running Pimsleur cassettes while I walk to work. So the best that I can tell you is to stop worrying and just do it. Heck, nobody ever bothered me so how weird are you going to look?

[Cerberus2k7]

Just look evil when youre walking around so they think youre going to curse them.

[Aslan]

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. If someone gives you a wierd look, just give them one back and move on, but as Malpine Walis said, I doubt anyone will bother you.

[Timdog]

So what if people give you wierd looks? Chances are you'll never meet them, so why worry?

[CrystalMethod]

Originally Posted by Stupid Boy

How can I make myself not look crazy when I do this?

Ever seen someone on a hands free cell phone in an argument with someone they're on the phone with? I wouldn't worry too much about looking crazy...

[squasher]

Yeah, its just like having a hands free cell phone, I always think they are talking to themselves.
If you know the person they might find out you are listening to tapes, and if you don't, who cares?
But you could tape a sign to you that says "I am learning a language"

[techun]

learn enough to yell at them in said language

[tom10167]

What the hell is Pimselur??

I wouldn't give a crap anyways.

[whooping_a_panda]

Originally Posted by CrystalMethod

Ever seen someone on a hands free cell phone in an argument with someone they're on the phone with? I wouldn't worry too much about looking crazy...

in all the sci fi movies i used to watch as a kid that portreyed cool inventions like hover cars and holographs, I never once saw anyone talking to themselves... did you?

[hibner]

Don't worry. If someone sees you speaking to yourself in tounges, they will quickly run away from you. ...probably going to get a priest

btw, what language are you learning?

[Malpine Walis]

Originally Posted by tom10167

What the hell is Pimselur??

I wouldn't give a crap anyways.

Well since you ask, I assume that you do give a crap at least on some level. Paul Pimsluer is a guy who markets foreign language tapes/Cds. Any decent book store will have the intro courses (two hours) for about $20. If you get good enough with those, you can buy more lessons from the same publisher.

Supposedly, people take the Pimsleur lessons before being assigned to various embassies around the world. I don't know how accurate that is but my impression is that you get enough of a background in any given language that you will not embarrass your self trying to order dinner.

Also, speaking of looking odd, I thought of something else of note. At work (remember that I work with psych patients), I have one guy who does talk to himself. Since it has become common enough to do the hands free cell phone thing, he got himself a cheap walkie-talkie ar radio shack for when he needs to "let go". Then when he needs to he has the radio at his ear.

I don't know how much other people worry about the matter but it does make him feel better about what he just can't control.

Seriously dude, just go for it and stop worrying about how you look. And if someone does say **** to you, then answer hin in whatever the language is. If it is something fairly common like spanish, you might have to work at it but if you are learning German/Russian/Chinese/whatever, just say some stuff and let that person feel bad for accosting someone who can't understand the lingua Franca.