Because of my family I’m fluent in Italian Polish and French
I was actually born in Warsaw but just usually say in Dallas because of being only there for a year. English isn’t my first language as I learned it in esl school programs, and thats how i learned english obviously with just living here. My god parents spoke Spanish at home and I had a ton of Latino friends as a kid so I picked up Spanish from that to a point most people assume I’m native with a few accent problems here and there. I spoke polish and Italian at home ( both my parents are fluent in English too but we didn’t speak it at home) and French with my grandad. English and spanish with my friends.
In school I took German and I would go on Skype to practice with language exchange programs, and I’m trying to learn Chinese on my own.
In all of them I can read as well, though in various levels, except Spanish
Right now I’m trying to improve my Spanish reading along with learning the Chinese I previous mentioned. Both are getting fucked though by university stuff.
Anyone else have a similar multilingual story or just interested in learning langauges?
Don’t have the background like you, but I’m practically fluent in Hindi just from living w/ Indians for a long time… Picked up some Maori, but it’s pretty much gone. I knew enough Fijian to have a laid back 10 minute conversation, but it’s essentially gone now. Taught myself enough Mandarin to get by in China for a couple months. Also know enough Spanish from highschool to at least get by in a bind.
Next is Kapampangan, a filipino dialect. You’d think I just focus on 1 and have more meaningful conversations.
I speak fluent French and degree level Spanish. Only spoke English until the age of 22 so I’m proof that it’s never too late!
I’ve tried my hand at Russian and Arabic, with nothing to show for it except a familiarity with Cyrillic script, and I know a smattering of German.
Would love to spend some time in Germany to pick up the language as I love those Krazy Krauts and their superb beer.
I’d like to learn an Eastern European language too.
Pretty Euro-centric I suppose but no real interest in learning Chinese and not passionate enough about the culture to invest sufficient time in Arabic. Have never felt so ridiculous as when trying to pronounce Arabic syllables!
I love languages. I used to be fluent in Spanish but I’ve dropped out of practice and can only read it now. I want to learn French and German. Any one know of good self study programs or techniques? ( Beside investing in Rosetta Stone)
[quote]theBeth wrote:
I love languages. I used to be fluent in Spanish but I’ve dropped out of practice and can only read it now. I want to learn French and German. Any one know of good self study programs or techniques? ( Beside investing in Rosetta Stone)[/quote]
Why not take a community college or adult ed course? I think it would be kind of fun. Maybe I should do so! lol
[quote]theBeth wrote:
I love languages. I used to be fluent in Spanish but I’ve dropped out of practice and can only read it now. I want to learn French and German. Any one know of good self study programs or techniques? ( Beside investing in Rosetta Stone)[/quote]
Why not take a community college or adult ed course? I think it would be kind of fun. Maybe I should do so! lol[/quote]
I’d like to but I’m already doing the nursing school thing, working full time, and rockin the single parent gig. I’m lucky if i can squeeze in time to get to the gym, shiiiiit.
I really don’t have as an impressive list of languages. I am currently learning spanish, and have to pass spanish by the International baccalaureate standards to get my full diploma.
[quote]theBeth wrote:
I love languages. I used to be fluent in Spanish but I’ve dropped out of practice and can only read it now. I want to learn French and German. Any one know of good self study programs or techniques? ( Beside investing in Rosetta Stone)[/quote]
Why not take a community college or adult ed course? I think it would be kind of fun. Maybe I should do so! lol[/quote]
I’d like to but I’m already doing the nursing school thing, working full time, and rockin the single parent gig. I’m lucky if i can squeeze in time to get to the gym, shiiiiit. [/quote]
Oh yeah, life. I forgot about that.
I tried doing French in the car when I had a long commute, but it didn’t work. It all sounded like “jwah jwah jwah” after we finished the basics and went to sentences.
Learning Hindi, my teacher says I’m at a 7 year olds reading comprehension in 6 weeks. So that means in a year or so, I’ll be at a 380 year-old person’s level.
Used to speak German to a reasonable level, but a little rusty on it at the moment. Would love to learn Spanish at some point, thinking maybe starting with self study then try and go from there. I have a few Spanish and Mexican friends as well as the fact a lot of my Greek friends seem to speak Spanish so may try and get to a conversational level then try and speak it more around them.
Learning new languages genuinely opens new worlds… I have lived in China the last 18 years so I speak fluent Mandarin - some Shanghai dialect, Danish, Swedish, German (albeit rusty) and English. I’m 40 at this point and I definitely find it harder to pick up new stuff… so I would recommend cramming in as much as possible in a young age.
I have been living in Taiwan 11 years and my Mandarin is a haphazard melange. I can understand a lot, speak a bit, read a little (I mean signs and some newspaper headlines…no books) but write nothing. I mean, it’s Chinese for fuck’s sakes.
For example, I can say “My dogs’ tooth enamel is wearing thin,” but can’t remember how to ask what time it is. That’s mostly because I always have a watch.
So I can have some long, detailed conversations if the right questions are asked, but can be stymied just as quickly.
By the way I have never taken one class. Just picked it up over time.
I knew a 4 year old who spoke 4 or so languages it was insane He spoke somali, french, arabic and english still remember him being fluent in all of them. If you want to learn french I would suggest reading it, get an English to french dictionary and find a way to speak it. In our schools they taught us the verbs aller and etre every year it wasn’t great because you don’t learn the vocab. Reading latin is cool I suck at it but thees alot of resources to translate and understand it. I understand some spanish as I have a few spanish friends. I can’t think in their language so that is the hardest part I find is thinking in your native language vocab is essential with the basic ways of stating verbs.
Also physically writing out word charts if your a visual learner helps but getting immersed in the culture is important. I have a rudimentary command of English and I have spoken it my whole life. languages are constantly evolving or they die. Go to areas where they speak the languages you want to learn. I here syping with others is just as good as studying it or taking courses.
if you guys really want to learn one go to howtolearnanylanguage.com
its the best forum for it by far and using the advice there for programs etc for german chinese and reading spanish
For those in China this website is pretty cool for learning the characters. They’ve tried to use the same principles that keep people cliking on Farmville to teach languages. The idea is that you go on for a few minutes at a time, learn a tidbit, then go away and come back later.
In the tutorial you learn to read “beef noodles” in Chinese characters and it really does sink in. I tried it ages ago and I can still recognise the characters.
