Do you speak multiple languages?
Are you currently learning a new one? How has that knowledge expanded your world? Do you speak, read or write in more than one language? Has knowing multiple languages helped you understand words better — their meanings, associations, pronunciations or spellings? Have you ever relied on your multilingualism to help you solve word games? The article you’re about to read refers to a New York Times game called Spelling Bee. The object of that game is to form as many words as you can using only a specific set of seven letters. Have you ever played? If you haven’t, give it a try. Do you think knowing multiple languages might benefit a player in this game? How important do you think it is for young people to learn a language other than English? How can language-learning be beneficial beyond playing word games? Do you think there are disadvantages or challenges to being multilingual? Have you experienced any?
What languages can you speak, read or otherwise understand? How did you learn those languages? Was it at home, at school or from friends? How did it feel learning a new language? Did you struggle or resist? If so, how or why? If you speak only one language, have you ever wanted to learn a second one? Why or why not?
In her final paragraph, Ms. Vo writes, “In an increasingly connected world, it shows that even if we lead individual lives, the cultures and words within them do mingle with our own.” Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Redditors who can speak 3 or more languages, what are some advantages and disadvantages people don't know about? People who learned multiple languages, how exactly did you approach that?
Most often I would come across people on this sub that know multiple foreign languages. How many years did it take you to become fluent in multiple languages? How exactly did you approach that problem ? Did you learn one completely and then started another? I often see interpreters that know 4 or 5 european languages. How long does it take to achieve that? How many different languages do you speak on a daily basis? Those who speak multiple languages, when someone speaks in a different language is there a quick process in your head where you associate the foreign word(s) with the word in your native tongue, or is it automatic? How many languages do you think someone can REALLY be fluent in?
I’m sure we’ve all seen the hyper-polyglots and drooled in admiration. But we’ve also seen plenty of people who claim to know a languages well, and turn out to be....less than conversational. Is there really a set number the brain can learn? I hear it gets easier to learn languages once you’ve learned one- but does your memory not grow tired? How many languages can one learn and maintain at native level?
Especially for regular 9-5 working people, realistically speaking. I want to be able to know 4 or 5 languages at native level at most throughout my life and just maintain that. Understanding classic literature, being able to write fairly well(blog posts, creative writing, etc), understanding most of the things you hear and being able to speak as well as a native. I currently only know English and Swedish and a bit of French. I know it’s not a particularly good idea(albeit tempting) to jump into another language already or even thinking about it and I won’t jump into anything until I’m fluent in French. I’m considering learning Dutch and Italian later. Is it feasible to learn and maintain these languages in the way in which I described? Do you reckon I’ll mess up and mix up the languages a lot? Are there any other complications I may encounter? Is it attractive when a guy can speak multiple languages?
It seems like something I've picked up on, but I'm not sure if it's just been a coincidence with the girls I've met or if it's a general thing. How realistic is being fluent in more than just three or four languages?
I've heard a lot of talk about polyglots who can supposedly speak 10 or more languages, all fluently. Now I understand being familiar with this many languages, but fluency in all of them? It seems a bit too ambitious. I speak two other languages fluently and another at a functional level, but as I go on to my fifth now I'm starting to wonder whether it might be overkill. Is it realistic to just go on stacking them up or will stuff get pushed out? How many languages do you speak? Is being multillingual a normal thing in your country? If yes, which languages are most popular? Do you prefer to study multiple languages at lower levels or fewer languages to higher levels? Why?
What languages can you speak, read or otherwise understand? How did you learn those languages? Was it at home, at school or from friends? How did it feel learning a new language? Did you struggle or resist? If so, how or why? If you speak only one language, have you ever wanted to learn a second one? Why or why not?
In her final paragraph, Ms. Vo writes, “In an increasingly connected world, it shows that even if we lead individual lives, the cultures and words within them do mingle with our own.” Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Redditors who can speak 3 or more languages, what are some advantages and disadvantages people don't know about? People who learned multiple languages, how exactly did you approach that?
Most often I would come across people on this sub that know multiple foreign languages. How many years did it take you to become fluent in multiple languages? How exactly did you approach that problem ? Did you learn one completely and then started another? I often see interpreters that know 4 or 5 european languages. How long does it take to achieve that? How many different languages do you speak on a daily basis? Those who speak multiple languages, when someone speaks in a different language is there a quick process in your head where you associate the foreign word(s) with the word in your native tongue, or is it automatic? How many languages do you think someone can REALLY be fluent in?
I’m sure we’ve all seen the hyper-polyglots and drooled in admiration. But we’ve also seen plenty of people who claim to know a languages well, and turn out to be....less than conversational. Is there really a set number the brain can learn? I hear it gets easier to learn languages once you’ve learned one- but does your memory not grow tired? How many languages can one learn and maintain at native level?
Especially for regular 9-5 working people, realistically speaking. I want to be able to know 4 or 5 languages at native level at most throughout my life and just maintain that. Understanding classic literature, being able to write fairly well(blog posts, creative writing, etc), understanding most of the things you hear and being able to speak as well as a native. I currently only know English and Swedish and a bit of French. I know it’s not a particularly good idea(albeit tempting) to jump into another language already or even thinking about it and I won’t jump into anything until I’m fluent in French. I’m considering learning Dutch and Italian later. Is it feasible to learn and maintain these languages in the way in which I described? Do you reckon I’ll mess up and mix up the languages a lot? Are there any other complications I may encounter? Is it attractive when a guy can speak multiple languages?
It seems like something I've picked up on, but I'm not sure if it's just been a coincidence with the girls I've met or if it's a general thing. How realistic is being fluent in more than just three or four languages?
I've heard a lot of talk about polyglots who can supposedly speak 10 or more languages, all fluently. Now I understand being familiar with this many languages, but fluency in all of them? It seems a bit too ambitious. I speak two other languages fluently and another at a functional level, but as I go on to my fifth now I'm starting to wonder whether it might be overkill. Is it realistic to just go on stacking them up or will stuff get pushed out? How many languages do you speak? Is being multillingual a normal thing in your country? If yes, which languages are most popular? Do you prefer to study multiple languages at lower levels or fewer languages to higher levels? Why?
