Re: Let's talk about langages (Advice/Help)
From: Richard (this_at_is.invalid)
Date: 08/18/04
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Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2004 13:19:30 -0400
"Wassup its Will" <wanyikuli@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:aaf2f78c.0408132107.61c3c989@posting.google.com...
> Do most of you speak a lot of languages? How many? Why and
> how? Here is my current situation, I wonder what you guys think:
I speak three. English is my native language, French I picked up from
elementary school onwards and Spanish I started studying in university. I'm
reasonably fluent in all three, now.
> 1) Does it matter that you can't understand audio?
Would my reply to you have been affected if I didn't understand a word you
wrote? ;-)
> Should I listen to Italian radio as well?
Yes, definitely.
> 2) I'm greedy. I want to learn another language. I'm torn. Is it a
> bad idea to start learning a THIRD language while I'm at
> staggered levels of French and Italian? It won't mess me up will
> it?
> 3) Three languages. I don't know which to choose. I'm debating
> between Spanish, Russian and German. Each have their advantages
> and disadvantages.
At this point you need to sit back and consider why it is that you want to
learn so many languages.
If your goal is to be a walking phrasebook for each of the languages so
you'll be able to ask for directions to the washroom or order a beer in a
couple dozen countries but don't care to be able to have a conversation,
then by all means go for it. Following this train of thought, the answer to
#3 is simple: learn Spanish, Russian AND German. Time spent debating could
have been used to learn to say "Das Bier ist gut!"
If your goal is to be able to go to Paris and strike up a conversation with
someone at a cafe and spend the afternoon discussing philosophy or politics
in French (and be able to do the same with your other languages) then stop
right where you are. The answer to #3 is that you're already making things
more difficult than they need be by learning French and Italian
simultaneously. German, Russian, Spanish or anything else would be too much
right now. Don't spread yourself too thinly, your slow progress would
discourage you.
> I have a few Latin friends, as a soccer fan it'd be great to read the
> Spanish media like La Marca?
When you understand two romance languages, reading a third is often very
simple. That your Spanish reading material will all be about soccer would
make it much easier - spend an afternoon learning all the vocabulary that
goes along with the sport and you'd be done.
Richard
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