Jump to content

Polyglots???


Pars123
 Share

Recommended Posts

English & Spanish fluently. Mildly conversant in German. Some French and Italian. A natural at accents and phonics, so I can read many languages fluently despite a lack of comprehension.
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I also speak English and Spanish fluently. German level is high. Plus many more languages I have studied/concersational. Great! Good to know there's fellow language learners here!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

English and conversational Espanol. I took 5 years of Spanish in school, and married a Hispanic woman. Her mom speaks little English, so I brushed up on my Spanish to at least communicate with her.
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I try, I really do, but I'm just too stupid. I took 2 years of high school french and can read simple phrases and parts of sentences, especially if there are lots of cognates, and I've made several attempts to learn Spanish, but I simply can't remember what I'm trying to learn. I also made a token attempt at learning a little German, but, again, I didn't go far. I tried to learn the Russian alphabet once.

 

I'm glad I tried to learn Spanish, because I used to be one of those people who said "why can't they learn English." Trying to learn Spanish definitely taught me to have empathy.

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I try, I really do, but I'm just too stupid. I took 2 years of high school french and can read simple phrases and parts of sentences, especially if there are lots of cognates, and I've made several attempts to learn Spanish, but I simply can't remember what I'm trying to learn. I also made a token attempt at learning a little German, but, again, I didn't go far. I tried to learn the Russian alphabet once.

 

I'm glad I tried to learn Spanish, because I used to be one of those people who said "why can't they learn English." Trying to learn Spanish definitely taught me to have empathy.

What I find strange is my wife works with a Polish doc. She has lots of Polish speaking patients that speak little/no English. My wife has picked up conversational Polish in a couple years. My MIL has been in the US for well over 30 years and still can barely speak English. I think that has to almost be actively participating in not learning the language.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The problem with learning a second language is that it's a huge test to your ego: you speak poorly, make silly mistakes and are mocked by native speakers for a long time until you've learned a language properly.
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I try, I really do, but I'm just too stupid. I took 2 years of high school french and can read simple phrases and parts of sentences, especially if there are lots of cognates, and I've made several attempts to learn Spanish, but I simply can't remember what I'm trying to learn. I also made a token attempt at learning a little German, but, again, I didn't go far. I tried to learn the Russian alphabet once.

 

I'm glad I tried to learn Spanish, because I used to be one of those people who said "why can't they learn English." Trying to learn Spanish definitely taught me to have empathy.

I love speaking different languages, and the issue is that you seem to be giving up to easy! It takes time, lots of mistakes and practice to get good at speaking and understanding any language. Maybe if you have time, try learning another language maybe. Go for an easier one like Spanish, or Portuguese. French has difficult pronunciation and German has lots of grammar rules and things called "Declensions". Or go for the easiest language to learn, Esperanto.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The problem with learning a second language is that it's a huge test to your ego: you speak poorly, make silly mistakes and are mocked by native speakers for a long time until you've learned a language properly.

I agree 100%. But most of the time, unless you're in France ;) just kidding... The natives usually love to hear people try to speak their language! They will usually help you too! I live in an area with lots and lots and lots of Serbs, they all help me out if I make a mistake!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My serious answer: took Spanish for 3 years in high school (the 4th year had scheduling conflicts with band, so I had to drop). Forgot just about everything I learned during that 4th year. I can still conjugate like a boss.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My serious answer: took Spanish for 3 years in high school (the 4th year had scheduling conflicts with band, so I had to drop). Forgot just about everything I learned during that 4th year. I can still conjugate like a boss.

If your interested, you should try to learn again!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been obsessed with languages since I was little, and I earn my keep through them. Besides doing some Czech-English and Slovak-English translation, I'm a private, online teacher for the most part.

 

For example, here are this afternoon's classes:

 

1. Advanced conversational French

2. Latin IV (reading Virgil's Aeneid)

3. Conversational Modern Greek

4. Latin II (reading Caesar's De Bello Gallico)

 

 

I teach other languages, and read novels in others for my personal enjoyment. I've been writing an intermediate Irish Gaelic reader for some time now, but I have no clue how or if I'll be able to publish it.

 

I'm not well-rounded; my skills are intensely focused in this single area. Ask me to produce something in the kitchen besides a bowl of cereal? Deer in the headlights. Ask me to work a hammer or a screwdriver? Clueless.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I try, I really do, but I'm just too stupid. I took 2 years of high school french and can read simple phrases and parts of sentences, especially if there are lots of cognates, and I've made several attempts to learn Spanish, but I simply can't remember what I'm trying to learn. I also made a token attempt at learning a little German, but, again, I didn't go far. I tried to learn the Russian alphabet once.

 

I'm glad I tried to learn Spanish, because I used to be one of those people who said "why can't they learn English." Trying to learn Spanish definitely taught me to have empathy.

I am with you AR. I am stupid enough but I am more lazy than anything. Something really, really has to interest me or I am not going to bother with it. Reading also is something I hate to do so learning a language would be a problem. Truth is I really don't care enough to learn a language to even attempt it at this point. I did take Spanish in high school and have used it in the workplace in the past (hotel business) but I am miles from fluent. I can understand quite a bit but have a hard time carrying on a conversation.....
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

English and Chinese. And I can read Latin and a little ancient Greek.

Is dumbass a language? You sure got that one down pat in order to respond to some of the posts in SOCN.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My dog understands what I'm saying, well most of the time. Does that count?

I'm trying to improve my English here on this fine forum but it's harder to write in a foreign language than to speak.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...