Fluency in a foreign language

http://www.lingq.com/

How long does it take to become fluent in a language? Steve Kaufmann of LingQ.com answers the question.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• foreign language
• polyglot
• hyperpolyglot
• multilingual
• grammar
• pimsleur
• rosetta stone
• tower of babel
• langues
• learn English online
• learn French
• learn Spanish online
• learn Chinese online

[27069614]

Hi Steve, so what are your opinions on learning more than one language, because i really want to learn Dutch but i also want to learn Italian and do not know what to choose. So i thought that i maybe would learn both at the same time but obviously it would be alot harder. I just wanted an opinion on someone who is fluent in multiple languages

[lingosteve]

@27069614 It is harder for me to start two languages at the same time. I would focus 80% on one and 20% on the other for 6 months and then switch. Follow your interests and instincts.

[1DeepThinker]

I understand Spanish (My dad is Chilean) and I can read it easily but I don't speak a word of it.

[lingosteve]

If you wanted to it would not take you long.

[1DeepThinker]

I really want to speak but I'm way too embarrassed and I always think I'm going to pronounce everything wrong.

[lingosteve]

Do not worry about your pronunciation. It will get better as you use the language. You know how to speak. IN the brain it is the same parts of the brain, and the same networks that are involved. You are primed to speak. Just let yourself go and start communicating.

[CubeBikez]

I find this topic very interesting. I've always loved different languages, ever since I learned english.

There is just one thing that I hate. I have told some people, that I have learned english fluently, by the age of 13, and my native language is Danish. They won't believe it at all, and keeps denying it.

There is one problem though. I am fluent when speaking danish, but not 100% fluent when I write in danish. It is opposite with english. I don't have to think, when writing in english.

[myassin2009]

@lingosteve Yeah I agree with your points but then how is it that some people(native speakers) speak well in the language but are unable to read or write it?

[Armand2Maupertuis]

@reyositos

There is a big problem with the english language (at least for beginners :) : it's *not* a phonetic language! you cannot pronunce a word just by reading it. In that sense, the comment written by iareanthony is, imho, wrong (because german *is* phonetic).

Use the audio on online dictionnary, and look @ the IPA transcription (pronunciation *and* word stress, also totally irregular in english). And of course, try to have contact with the language, as much as possible. hasta luego :)

[MazleyD]

@27069614 Haha that's interesting! I'm also learning dutch!

[daarkside]

i also have noticed that THINKING in the given language helps alot, because u can do it anytime and everywhere

[iAREanthonyyy]

I think my problem was that I learned and got REALLY good at German syntax and grammar, but i have a really small vocabulary which prevents me from being able to say what I want :-/ So I'm working on my vocab now.

[iAREanthonyyy]

@reyositos Listen to a lot of English songs and watch shows in English. Over time (especially with music) you will catch new words and it helps with distinguishing words apart. When I first started learning German, songs would sound like "gibmirdie Hand, ichbauedireinSchlossaus Sand" and things just sound like one long word. But over time and with a lot of practice you can distinguish words apart to create a sentence "gib mir die Hand, ich bau dir ein Schloss aus Sand..." etc.

goes for any lang

[al7alem111]

thanks for the ''novel'' tip ! but can you give three exciting novels to buy !

[reyositos]

I can understand everything written in English but I can not understand when they talk about what I can do?

[anthonyholland12]

would u request learning via Rosetta Stone..?