Post: #1

Hey,
Yes this is my first post in this forum, I bought "Bang" the book last week, and I'm still in the early game part, my problem is that I just moved to the states (DC area) last summer; I do speak english but I can't keep a conversation intersting with it, because I'd forget words or I wouldn't know how to verbalize my thoughts, most of the time I would say something that would be lost in translation that would make me look so dumb or rude.. any advices on that?

PS: I know i have game using my mother language; i did have alot of hot looking girlfriends that I banged from where I come.. but it's just not as easy over here with the language barrier.

I'd appreciate if the answer wasn't "Go learn English" becasue I already am, but it's not gonna happen overnight to perfect this language and to be able to throw jokes around.

Thank you in advance

Post: #2

By the way I apologize if this issue was covered in previous threads, I tried searching for it but didn't come with any results.

AN

Post: #3

Watch some comedians. Check out Daniel Tosh.

Post: #4

I always watch stand up comedy!! but cab you explain what does that have to do with my issue? he's american!!
if you're saying I should use some of his jokes..he's really known and it would suck if a girl caught me taking credit for his jokes right?

Post: #5

Reference material. Comedians just boil down culture into their routines. Other than his material; voice tone, story telling etc.

"it would suck if a girl caught me taking credit for his jokes right? "
No, people reference comedians all the time.

You should specify your age in your profile.

Post: #6

I'll be 24 in a couple of months!!
anyway so not to take more of your time, but I still have the issue of remembering stuff, I'm kinda used to just going with the convs, and now it's like I have to translate what I remember from any intersting story into english and while I do that I've noticed that girls would lose interest!!
When you say reference do you mean as in I should use the Joke and tell her that is from _________? or should I just use it and continue..?

Post: #7

I think what Frank Valentine is trying to say is not that you have to watch the comedy and memorize the jokes. By watching comedy, you're exposing yourself to the peculiarities of American culture. By getting a feel for humor in English you can speed up your understanding of the English language very much by allowing you to make use of ambiguity. A sentence like "the cat sat on a mat" is not humorous, because there is no ambiguity in it. But if I say "I have a stiff neck because a Viagra got stuck in my throat" that can be funny because there's a double meaning to "stiff". Obviously this joke can be cultural as well; if you were to tell it to a starving person in Somalia, it would have no meaning to them.

As you said, you have banged hotties back home, so I assume you are comfortable around women. You can use this to your advantage since it's not so much about words as how you present yourself. Roosh mentioned in his blog how he managed to get a non English speaking Polish to his room using completely broken sentences and sign language. Maybe the language barrier makes you nervous and comes out in your body language, and the vibe that you give out. Don't let it. If you feel you are struggling, simply say "I no speak English good" or something like that. Women will be more than intrigued to figure out what you, the mysterious foreign guy, are trying to say, especially if your actions are drawing them to you.

Post: #8

Thanks MrPink.
I probably should stick with the forign accent instead of trying to master english in 5 days!!
by the way cracked me up on the stiff neck joke!!

Post: #9

Watch popular American comedies (movies and TV):

The Hangover
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Wedding Crashers
Seinfeld
Friends

Even watching something like Jersey Shore will help you understand the humor that Americans find interesting.

Post: #10

Just a suggestion-can you ask them to meet you by saying "I want to practice speaking English with you." If they are interested in your home country/culture, and you are well-dressed/at-ease - you might have the perfect setup for a first date?

Guys, could this work for the OP?

Post: #11

(08-13-2011 04:27 PM)Roosh Wrote:  Watch popular American comedies (movies and TV):

The Hangover
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Wedding Crashers
Seinfeld
Friends

Even watching something like Jersey Shore will help you understand the humor that Americans find interesting.

well, I've watched those movies and tv shows and I do understand the american humor my problem is in actually using it in a different language. my problem is in actually being able to say something sarcastic in english at right time.. you know sometimes you have to say that thing exactly at the perfect moment !! it wont be as funny if its 5 sec late ( the time that takes me to translate the whole situaution in my head from my language to English )!!
Humor aside.. I still have the "serious conversation" barrier..!!I know girls like when guys use heavy words.. it make them sound smarter!! is that true here?

Post: #12

English is not my first language and my advice to you is that you've got to get yourself to the US/UK/OZ etc (edit: so you've got that part covered, now grind it out) to really soak in the language and pick up the subtleties. I went to a year of high school in the US and it wasn't until then that I also experienced how tonality, pausing and emphasis was different.

Post: #13

(08-14-2011 12:07 AM)Vicious Wrote:  English is not my first language and my advice to you is that you've got to get yourself to the US/UK/OZ etc (edit: so you've got that part covered, now grind it out) to really soak in the language and pick up the subtleties. I went to a year of high school in the US and it wasn't until then that I also experienced how tonality, pausing and emphasis was different.

Dude your comment makes no sense to me, may you please try to explain it in a different way?

Post: #14

(08-14-2011 01:30 AM)AN87 Wrote:  

(08-14-2011 12:07 AM)Vicious Wrote:  English is not my first language and my advice to you is that you've got to get yourself to the US/UK/OZ etc (edit: so you've got that part covered, now grind it out) to really soak in the language and pick up the subtleties. I went to a year of high school in the US and it wasn't until then that I also experienced how tonality, pausing and emphasis was different.

Dude your comment makes no sense to me, may you please try to explain it in a different way?

He's saying you need to give it time and it will become easier. Rome wasn't built in a day. Immerse yourself in American culture/language and you will pick it up gradually. It won't always take 5 seconds to translate in your head.

Post: #15

well yes, as of now I'm still approaching using the totaly american accent but sometimes it fuck up" sometimes girls thinks its cute" but on the other hand sometimes girls would think you're a retard!!.. and if the venue was a lil bit easier i would try to approache using the foreign cant speak english very well way!! and it's not the most affective on white american girls.. but you can score easily with foreign girls!!..!!

Post: #16

Quote: it wont be as funny if its 5 sec late ( the time that takes me to translate the whole situaution in my head from my language to English )!!

Your problem is faced by native speakers as well. I suggest re-watching those movies and just keep practicing. It will probably take a year of gaming in a new language until you start feeling comfortable.

Like the other posters said, give it some time. I think you are being hard on yourself. You don't need to be an expert right away.

Post: #17

(08-14-2011 09:12 AM)Roosh Wrote:  

Quote: it wont be as funny if its 5 sec late ( the time that takes me to translate the whole situaution in my head from my language to English )!!

Your problem is faced by native speakers as well. I suggest re-watching those movies and just keep practicing. It will probably take a year of gaming in a new language until you start feeling comfortable.

Like the other posters said, give it some time. I think you are being hard on yourself. You don't need to be an expert right away.

Roosh, you're of Armenian descent correct? Did you even face issues alternating between your native Armenian and English?

Post: #18

Quote:Did you even face issues alternating between your native Armenian and English?

Armenian? My native language is English. My culture is American. So no.

Post: #19

(08-13-2011 05:08 PM)AN87 Wrote:  my problem is in actually using it in a different language. my problem is in actually being able to say something sarcastic in english at right time.. you know sometimes you have to say that thing exactly at the perfect moment !! it wont be as funny if its 5 sec late ( the time that takes me to translate the whole situaution in my head from my language to English )!!

It takes time, but sooner or later you'll start thinking in English when having the conversation in English. Then you'll skip the whole translation phase. Took me around four years to get there.

For the sarcastic part, think of it - is this joke unique to a specific girl/situation? Or it is something you might reuse often? If latter, you might write it down on a list, and read this list every time before you go out. This will keep the things in a short-term memory (comparing to long-term memory), and once you start using them in context, you'll remember them.

Another good exercise I suggest is movie repeating - while watching the movie, listen to every phrase spoken by the actor, pause the movie and repeat it yourself until you can do so with the same intonation and speed as it in the movie. For some phrases you might want to practice the body language as well. Do this for six months, one hour a day, and you'll improve dramatically.

Post: #20

You know what's odd? I find it easier approaching girls when talking Spanish, even though I'm far from fluent. Like I said in another thread, I asked for help with my Spanish with a Spanish chick, and she ended up asking me out. The hell? Another time I asked a hot chick out, who was English, but she spoke Spanish perfectly, and she shut me down, oh well. I think it's because I don't feel a connection with the language yet.

I almost feel like pretending English is my second language to fuck chicks. Haha.