query

[tigriswolf]

To all my friends who speak more than one language fluently: how old were you when you learned the second, and how hard was it?

Comments

[henchgirl.livejournal.com]

um...ten? and not very. got harder when we got started with a third language at thirteen, but i think that was mainly because my french teacher sucked. and not in the good way.

[tigriswolf]

How many do you speak and which are they?

[monicawoe.livejournal.com]

I grew up bilingual. My parents are both German but I was born here in the States. The rule was we'd speak German indoors and English outside. Anyone who knew both languages had to follow that rule.
When I moved back to Germany briefly I had to take Latin as a third language, which was massively difficult. I've forgotten most of Latin, but still speak both German and English fluently. At least the little Latin I remember helps with Supernatural ; )

[tigriswolf]

Oh, I wish I'd grown up with two languages. I did take Latin, but all I can do now is read a couple words; and Spanish is kicking my ass.

[janissa11.livejournal.com]

I'm no longer as fluent as I once was, but I learned the basics of German in colleges (21 semester hours in one year, good grief), and then cemented it with a semester in Vienna, and then moving overseas (Switzerland). I heard a lot of German growing up, and I had a good singer's ear for the sound of it -- I'm pretty sure that was helpful, although nothing helps with German grammar except possibly LSD.

I'm trying to learn more Spanish now -- the hardest part, IMO, is finding someone patient enough to let you practice with them. :-/

[penandnotebook]

Butting in. Sorry. Um, I speak Spanish, grew up with it, actually. I could help you if you'd like, maybe with the written part at least? Maybe podcasting would be viable as well?

Anyway, if you're interested, I'm available :D

[tigriswolf]

For me, the hardest part of a langauge is memorizing. I have never been good at it, and my teacher(this semester, anyway) is moving so FAST.

Also, I keep trying to apply English grammar rules.

[wellew.livejournal.com]

I knew them all before I started school. Probably not very helpful, sorry.

[tigriswolf]

How many?

[penandnotebook]

I learned the first one while still very young. So did my brother. It's generally easier like that, the younger you are the easier it is to pick up certain subtleties in pronunciation that would allow to sound like a native; as you get older it seems this is the main feature that is lost, as usually is a remaining foreign accent, or at the very least some traces of.

And when it comes to the actual learning of the grammar and translation aspects, well it's also easier the younger the person is, however this also has to do with that particular person's learning capabilities, most being able to pick it up rapidly and effectively (if they really do have an interest in it, as opposed to say, just passing Spanish in High School, for example), the spoken part remaining where the problems lie, should there be problems at all.

Was that helpful?

[tigriswolf]

I'm in the process of trying to pass college Spanish. I don't think my pronunciation is that good, not to mention my vocabulary failures, or the grammar that makes no sense--*sigh*

How many do you speak and which are they?

[taniapretender.livejournal.com]

I started German at 9, at school. Took me 6 years to REALLY speak well, and I was studying HARD and making multiple trips.

Started English at 11, was ok but not fluent until 15. By then I discovered the SPN fandom. Spent EVERYDAY reading fanfics in english. In one year I was fluent.

Anyway, if you read/talk/listen to the language a bit everyday, you'll be fluent in three years top. The trick is to immerse yourself in it.

[tigriswolf]

What all do you speak?

Also, I *glee* at the thought of "Supernatural" teaching you English. *glees*

[tigremere.livejournal.com]

I learned pig latin so long ago it is just second nature to me now. Not really very useful though unless you just want to aggravate those who can't speak it. It is not taught in school so I had to work on it as a self study program.

[tigriswolf]

Ouyay areay illysay.

[cormallen.livejournal.com]

I started English relatively young -- maybe 5 or 6. But it took me years to learn to speak it well. I wouldn't say I really "knew English" until maybe 13 or 14. By "knew English" I mean not just spoke fluently, but thought in the language as a default, was able to fully appreciate humor, colloquialisms, etc. I tried to speak or read English every day once I wasn't actively studying with a teacher anymore. Before that, one of the things I did every day was tell my teacher about my day, in English.
I did French in high school, and I retained close to zero speech. I can read the news and I can understand other people talking, if they go slow, but I can't speak myself. I do attribute this to French classes being mostly focused on reading and writing and grammar and not speech.

[tigriswolf]

What's your first language?

I can't really imagine ever thinking in another language; do you speak English most of the time now, or both equally, or your first?

[jellicle.livejournal.com]

I started French when I was eleven but dropped, not because I didnt like it but because I didn't have time or money to continue. Started studying English when I was 13.

[tigriswolf]

Which do you speak more, English or your first?

[grandiose666.livejournal.com]

second language very young, at daycare and a bit at home (2 or 3ish) continued thru school. have lost fluency.
third in middle school 12ish. was pretty good for a while, have lost some fluency also.

[tigriswolf]

What are your langauages?

[layne67.livejournal.com]

It's kind of hard to say because over here English is spoken as much as our first language. It's kind of the common language here between the Malays, Chinese and Indians. Officially, I learnt it when I was seven when I started school.

[tigriswolf]

Do you find life easier, being bilingual?

[irnan.livejournal.com]

Between the ages of seven and nine, and it was made considerably easier by actually having to go to school and speak that language all day. Therefore: if you wanna be fluent, you should probably move house ;)

[tigriswolf]

I don't think I'm ever gonna move, not even to master every language in the world.

What is it?

[floranna.livejournal.com]

I started English when I was ten, ut ecame REALLY good in it when I was 15. efore that I was on the average and would've never been able to write like this in English.

[tigriswolf]

Why do you think it got easier?

[gypsy-atavari.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... I grew up bi-lingual so as far back as I can remember I was speaking both languages. But I spoke and understood English better.

I learned other languages in college-- I retained some stuff but really without practice you tend to lose it. I was in China 2 weeks ago and a minuscule amount of Mandarin came back to me.

I'm aiming to try to get back into Spanish. Maybe sometime this year. :)

[tigriswolf]

How many languages do you speak?

[smirkalot-89.livejournal.com]

My first languages were Russian and Ukrainian, I learned both from birth but only retained Russian when family moved to America.

I learned English at age 5-6, now at 19 I have no accent but I am still fluent in Russian. Learning English was really easy for me and my brother (who was 16 at the time), because we were immersed in it.

Then I learned French at age 14-18, and am fluent in Russian, English, French.

[tigriswolf]

Which do you speak the most? Do you think in all three?

[smirkalot-89.livejournal.com]

I would say it's 50/50 Russian and English. My family expects me to speak in Russian and I prefer it, it's just another way that I keep my family life private.

Russian is my language of home and comfort, if that makes any sense. If Im sick or super stressed, I switch to Russian thinking. When with my american roommates, I constantly think in English.

As far as french, I find it easier to think in Russian because the translation is way easier. Although after about a week in France or Morocco I start thinking in French when I have to speak.

[tigriswolf]

It doesn't get confusing?

[bakaness.livejournal.com]

Ten, and moderately - complete immersion helped in some ways, although actual structured lessons as well would have made it easier. The third I learned mostly through immersion, at... 15? and it was pretty easy, although it was a related language.

[tigriswolf]

Which are they?

[czarna-sosna.livejournal.com]

I guess I learned to speak fluently in second language (english) when I was 12, now I'm learning spanish although I'm not that good at it.
My native language is polish. I often think in english although I live in Poland.

[tigriswolf]

That's awesome. Why do you think you think in English? (*hee* Please ignore how awkward that sentence is.)