Anyone speak more than one language?

[jellyfish10]

Despite 4 years of Spanish, the combination of a poor student and a poor teacher (RIP in peace Marge) led to zero learning.

Given my job and the good fortune of having a friend that is a professor dealing largely with ESL, I have decided to being to learn, or attempt to learn, Spanish. Over the last few weeks I have been at two functions where everyone was bilingual and met a gentleman last night that is fluent in 7. My friend and her brilliant students have been a great motivator for me.

I curious if anyone here speaks more than one language and if so what? I’m guessing @FSUTribe76 speaks at least a dozen.

 

[HawkMachine]

Sea.

 

[bcherod]

I speak Spanish, French, Portuguese, enough Japanese, German and Italian.

 

[The Tradition]

 

[jellyfish10]

Sea.

Well played!

 

[jellyfish10]

I speak Spanish, French, Portuguese, enough Japanese, German and Italian.

Can you expand on that? What was the impetus for learning 6 other languages? Quite impressive I’m just curious.

 

[EasyHawk]

I speak the language of love.

 

[tarheelbybirth]

Hell, I barely speak English. I let my fists speak for me.

wait for it...

 

[LBoogie28]

Everyone in my house speaks English, Mandarin, and Spanish.

 

[MitchLL]

Que pasa?

 

[Kinnick 4 Prez]

un poquito

 

[jellyfish10]

I speak the language of love.

Same dude although I don’t seem to get much credit for it.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

I mean I still remember some French from my high school classes about 25 years ago.

Ugg reminding myself that high school was 25 years ago. I'm so old.

 

[jellyfish10]

Everyone in my house speaks English, Mandarin, and Spanish.

Very impressive.

 

[jellyfish10]

I mean I still remember some French from my high school classes about 25 years ago.

Ugg reminding myself that high school was 25 years ago. I'm so old.

Next year is 30 for me.

 

[bcherod]

Can you expand on that? What was the impetus for learning 6 other languages? Quite impressive I’m just curious.

I always studied French. I grew up in Japan, (AF Brat), my mother insisted we learn, plus, we had mandatory Japanese culture class.

Married a Brazilian tennis player and ran off to Brazil for a few years, while there, I decided to study German. I had a German tutor.

When I came back to the states, I went to NY. I worked for VARIG in NY for 17 years. I had to speak languages daily. Ironically, I learned Spanish in NY.

I wish I studied Greek and a Slavic language, but, one can’t do everything.

 

[pepsicock]

Pig Latin?

 

[jellyfish10]

I always studied French. I grew up in Japan, (AF Brat), my mother insisted we learn, plus, we had mandatory Japanese culture class.

Married a Brazilian tennis player and ran off to Brazil for a few years, while there, I decided to study German. I had a German tutor.

When I came back to the states, I went to NY. I worked for VARIG in NY for 17 years. I had to speak languages daily. Ironically, I learned Spanish in NY.

I wish I studied Greek and a Slavic language, but, one can’t do everything.

Very cool. Thank you for sharing. The guy I met last that is fluent in 7 is only in his late 20’s and from Nigeria. The rest of the crowd assured me that he is the exception in that foreign languages come naturally to him. Talk about feeling dumb.

 

[bcherod]

Pig Latin?

It certainly served a purpose during WW2

 

[bcherod]

Very cool. Thank you for sharing. The guy I met last that is fluent in 7 is only in his late 20’s and from Nigeria. The rest of the crowd assured me that he is the exception in that foreign languages come naturally to him. Talk about feeling dumb.

Well, he also grew up with rhythmic music. Plus, he’s probably a well to do Nigerian and had a good education.

There is a definite correlation between music, math and language.

 

[jellyfish10]

Well, he also grew up with rhythmic music. Plus, he’s probably a well to do Nigerian and had a good education.

There is a definite correlation between music, math and language.

I don’t know his back story but talk about a fascinating group. The party last night for an Egyptian student that grew up in Cairo. Very interesting to hear her story and how vastly different our upbringing was.

 

[SeaPA]

Sea.

What?

 

[bcherod]

I don’t know his back story but talk about a fascinating group. The party last night for an Egyptian student that grew up in Cairo. Very interesting to hear her story and how vastly different our upbringing was.

That’s what learning is all about. An open mind, willing to listen to other’s stories.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

What?

Nani?

 

[LBoogie28]

Very impressive.

Social pressure in wanting to know when family is talking sh*t about you. Get kids started early enough and it’s a breeze for them.

 

[ButtersHawk]

American sign, and just enough Spanish to make my way around a Mexican grocery store

 

[InsaneHawkJJP]

Great topic OP.
A couple I know have a 6 and 3 yo that they have been teaching French. The 6 yo is pretty fluent and the 3 yo isn’t bad either. The mom is from France and still has family there they visit a couple times a year.
I wish I would have done that with my kids at a young age.
I really want to learn a second language also, maybe 25 is the year I do it.

 

[SeaPA]

I had a good friend (she passed away a few years ago) who made her living as a translator. I don't remember exactly what all she spoke, but she indicated that with the combination she could communicate with virtually anyone, anywhere. She worked at times with the government (had pictures with several PotUS, VP, heads of other countries, and other high-ranking officials), but also did contract work with tv networks and various large events. She went to a number of the Olympic Games, World Cups, funerals of heads of state & celebrities, and a bunch of incredibly cool things like that.

 

[bcherod]

Way back in the ‘80’s, an old bf went with me for drinks with my colleagues. We were speaking English but mixing with Spanish Portuguese and French. We didn’t even realize it the bf asked if we always talked like that.

But we spoke that way all day long at work. Everyone was at least bi-lingual.

When the word is better in another language we always just use it without thinking.

There are drawbacks though. Like the nights you dream in different languages. It’s weird.

 

[SeaPA]

Personally, I do not. I know enough Spanish to be able to order off a menu & know what I'm getting, but I typically point at it instead of butchering the pronunciation.

 

[jellyfish10]

Great topic OP.
A couple I know have a 6 and 3 yo that they have been teaching French. The 6 yo is pretty fluent and the 3 yo isn’t bad either. The mom is from France and still has family there they visit a couple times a year.
I wish I would have done that with my kids at a young age.
I really want to learn a second language also, maybe 25 is the year I do it.

The friend I referenced has 5 year old twins that are half Nigerian. She uses English, Spanish, whatever dialect their dad speaks. It is really cool.

I’m enjoying it far more than I would have. I mean I was a terrible student and who would have thought that at almost 49, I’ve discovered that me gusta alprendor!

 

[InsaneHawkJJP]

The friend I referenced has 5 year old twins that are half Nigerian. She uses English, Spanish, whatever dialect their dad speaks. It is really cool.

I’m enjoying it far more than I would have. I mean I was a terrible student and who would have thought that at almost 49, I’ve discovered that me gusta alprendor!

Are you just taking classes or do you use teaching aides like Rosetta Stone or something similar?

 

[THE_DEVIL]

Only when I drink

 

[jellyfish10]

Are you just taking classes or do you use teaching aides like Rosetta Stone or something similar?

She is nice enough to meet with me and prepare material for me. That is the best way for me to learn. The rest of the group, from 10 countries all over the globe, have all suggested podcasts, movies, and music in a foreign language as a big help to them.

 

[Fan In Black]

no

 

[Hbotus Dichotomous]

Only other I’m very fluent in is the language of love. All of Hbot’s moms understand.

 

[bcherod]

The friend I referenced has 5 year old twins that are half Nigerian. She uses English, Spanish, whatever dialect their dad speaks. It is really cool.

I’m enjoying it far more than I would have. I mean I was a terrible student and who would have thought that at almost 49, I’ve discovered that me gusta alprendor!

Aprender. 😻

 

[bcherod]

She is nice enough to meet with me and prepare material for me. That is the best way for me to learn. The rest of the group, from 10 countries all over the globe, have all suggested podcasts, movies, and music in a foreign language as a big help to them.

I read comic books and newspapers and watched the news and novelas.

 

[jellyfish10]

Aprender. 😻

Proof that I am very much in the infancy stages. The goal is to apply it to real life. I work around Spanish speaking people frequently and I’m not of the opinion that they should speak English. I want to meet them in the middle.

 

[InsaneHawkJJP]

She is nice enough to meet with me and prepare material for me. That is the best way for me to learn. The rest of the group, from 10 countries all over the globe, have all suggested podcasts, movies, and music in a foreign language as a big help to them.

I’ve heard of people learning from movies and TV, so music and podcasts makes perfect sense.