Multilingual Brain

[Foreigner]

Lucky children learn more than 1 language, IMO.

As we travel we're more likely to interact with others who speak languages other than ours. You're never too old to learn second or even third language. There are health benefits too:

8 Brain Benefits of Speaking Multiple Languages - SuperheroYou

 

[dmitri]

Some good points there, my wife speaks 3 languages fluently and is proficient in a 4th. She definitely fits some of those criteria in the story. My son will definitely be fluent in at least 2 languages.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I'm fluent in ........ none,

but somewhat proficient in English. I do however know a few words in French, German, Italian, American, Tok Pisin, Motu, Ipili, Engan and Huli.............but enough to get me into trouble, rather than out of such!

 

[JohnK]

I can speak 3 languages and learning a 4th language which is not easy for me. I will get there one of these days.

I took French in school and was Dux of the class but know very little now. Not easy if you do not persevere.

 

[LadyC]

I wish I spoke more than one language. I did French and German at school and am trying to relearn my French now. Finding the time is hard! A few of our friends are bilingual families but some struggle to get the kids to keep speaking the non-English language (as they are all based here in Australia).

 

[spudseamus]

I was on a flight many yrs ago where one FA ,Lufthansa, spoke 7 languages. I was amazed watching he conduct a conversation in 3 languages at once . Truly impressive

 

[drron]

I'm fluent in ........ none,

but somewhat proficient in English. I do however know a few words in French, German, Italian, American, Tok Pisin, Motu, Ipili, Engan and Huli.............but enough to get me into trouble, rather than out of such!

Very similar.When I was a qualified mail sorter I could say airmail in 60 languages.Still remember the Swahili-never know when it might come in useful.
I just don't have a brain for languages.My sister though is fluent in French,German and Polish as well as English and has passable command of about 6 more.

 

[Foreigner]

Very similar.When I was a qualified mail sorter I could say airmail in 60 languages.Still remember the Swahili-never know when it might come in useful.
I just don't have a brain for languages.My sister though is fluent in French,German and Polish as well as English and has passable command of about 6 more.

Very impressive...i suppose one needs flair for languages.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Very impressive...i suppose one needs flair for languages.

I have the greatest respect for multi-lingual speakers, simply because I fail so effectively at speaking anything other than Straylian!

I am am still trying though (my missus seems to suggest I'm more than just trying......), and hopefully I will eventually be able to speak something other!

 

[amaroo]

I wish I could sing bilingual :mrgreen:


[video=youtube;NldPFVKYmiw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NldPFVKYmiw[/video]

 

[AnnaB]

Speaking several languages has its perks, depending on the languages off course. Besides English, I am also fluent in another 2 minor European languages and I can get by in another 2, but somehow I tend to revert back to English as most people understands it. English is not my maiden tongue and where I come from we start learning English at the age of 9. Besides that we can also add other languages when we reach the age of 12 so most people I know is multilingual.

Then there is the German an Russian I studied at school but nothing seemed to get stuck

 

[harvyk]

Did French and Indonesian in High School, don't remember a single word of Indonesian, and only remember a couple of words of French. Had little interest in learning another language back then, and only did so as 2 semesters of a non-English language was a compulsory subject for us in years 7 / 8.

I am however learning Cantonese, and last night was the first night where I actually held a conversation in Cantonese with my tutor. Whilst the conversation was slow and clunky, it's a start.

 

[AnnaB]

I am however learning Cantonese, and last night was the first night where I actually held a conversation in Cantonese with my tutor. Whilst the conversation was slow and clunky, it's a start.

That is brilliant! Learning word and phrases in a language is quite different from actually being fluent. Thinking on your feet and speak at the same time as you are thinking of what to say is quite hard. Well done! Baby steps are better then no steps at all