Languages, Fluency, Where You Learnt Them?
By ailema4ever
@ailema4ever (2668)
Finland
September 23, 2007 6:08am CST
How many languages do you know and how fluent are you in those languages? Plus, where or how do you learn those languages? At school? Or did you take some courses? Or did you go to that country specifically to study the language in one of the language schools there? Or did you move abroad for some reason so that you had to learn the language? Or did you learn the language by yourself?
Unfortunately I only know Indonesian and English. I speak both of them fluently. I'm currently learning Finnish 'coz I live in Finland (my hubby's Finnish). My Finnish is still very very bad he he he...I've just started taking a basic Finnish course.
I'm always fascinated by people who speak so many different languages (either fluently or semi-fluently). I wonder how on earth their brains can manage to absorb all the different kinds of grammar rules and vocabulary. I guess they're born with linguistic talents, eh? So, how about you?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@piatos03 (393)
• Philippines
7 Jan 08
I speak four languages and two dialects here in the Philippines. My mother language was supposed to be the dialect here called Ilonggo. But then again, I was never drawn to it. I consider English to be my primary language. I learned it through watching too much cartoons on tv.
My parents enrolled me to a Chinese school since I was 4. I stayed there till I was about 16, so I'm pretty fluent in Mandarin. I even went to China for a month and a half to practice. The last language I know is French. My dad enrolled me in the Institute of Foreign Language and bought me some self-taught CDs. Not that fluent in it...yet.
I love learning lots of different languages. But sometimes I just get lost in translation and end up mixing them all together. My friends love to make fun and we just all have a good laugh about it.
@ailema4ever (2668)
• Finland
7 Jan 08
Hi, piatos!
WOW!!! You're pretty fluent in Mandarin, one of the hardest languages in the world? That's GREAT! I bet it's going to be a HUGE advantage for you in life! And you also know some French? WOW!!! BRAVO for you! You must be talented in languages and yes, it's good to learn different types of languages...but I also understand the problem of mixing up languages together HA HA HA HA...
HAPPY New Year to you and may this year be better for you! ;-D
@delladidit (466)
• United States
4 Jan 08
...Hello, gf!
...English is my first language. I used to write in German and in Script to my grandfather when I was in college. So I had a good understanding and working vocabulary. It has been years since I used it. I enrolled on a German TEP program and have been picking some of it back up as the web site is in both German and English.
...When I graduated college, I went to Japan, so I picked up some of the language there. My sister-in-law is Japanese and my brother speaks it. I also learned a lot from reading James Clevell's SHOGUN and TIAPAN. I read KING RAT, but I remember the nightmare it gave me more than the language used.
...Good thread, gf! May you be blessed with health, wealth and happiness. 2008 is going to be great!
...PBWY =(^;^)= Della
1 person likes this
@ailema4ever (2668)
• Finland
7 Jan 08
Hi, della!
WOW...you can speak German and some Japan, too? Interesting!!! THX for sharing!!! Yeah, HAPPY New Year to you too and may this year be better for you!!! ;-D
@nadezna (203)
• Philippines
8 Oct 07
i only know 2 languages Tagalog and English because when i started schooling that 2 languages are the basic languages you have to learned and it's absolutely mandatory. In my country English language are the basic tool to have a job if you dont know how to speak and understand your not qualified to have a good job..But i also know how to understand nihonggo and mandarin but i cannot speak them i dont know how to do basic phrases on how to interact but what is important is that i understand them i know that they dont like me at all hheheheeheh....
@ailema4ever (2668)
• Finland
9 Oct 07
Hi, nadezna. THANKS for sharing!!!
HE HE HE HE HE...yeah, the most important thing is that you can understand Nihonggo and Mandarin. At least you'll know when someone's talking about you in those languages ha ha ha...
Yeah, these days if you don't speak English, then it's gonna be a disadvantage for you. :-)))
@ailema4ever (2668)
• Finland
7 Jan 08
Hi, neknek!
GOOD LUCK in learning nihonggo he he he he...and THX for sharing! HAPPY NEW YEAR to you as well! ;-D
