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Learning multiple languages at once | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Advice Center |  | |
| Vincenzio Newbie Netherlands Joined 3775 days ago 1 posts - 1 votes Speaks: English | Message 1 of 6 15 July 2014 at 11:17pm | IP Logged | ||
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Hello everyone.
Since January this year i started learning Spanish, which i (still!) really like. I used Pimsleur audio while cycling, each day. I also used a little bit of Duolingo. I haven't mastered Spanish yet. It is starting to get boring, so i thought: Why not learn two languages at once? So, here i am. - I am Dutch - I speak English and Spanish - I would like to start learning German or Swedish, as a variation of learning Spanish. How do you people think about this? 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Serpent Octoglot Senior Member Russian Federation serpent-849.livejour Joined 6587 days ago 9753 posts - 15779 votes  4 sounds Speaks: Russian*, English, FinnishC1, Latin, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese Studies: Danish, Romanian, Polish, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Slovenian, Catalan, Czech, Galician, Dutch, Swedish | Message 2 of 6 16 July 2014 at 1:48am | IP Logged | ||
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In general I think that learning several languages at once is very effective, but I suspect you just need to start using native materials in Spanish (try GLOSS and lyricstraining).
Tell us more about your reasons to learn the languages you mentioned. Is it useful to you? "potentially useful"? If you just picked it randomly, maybe you should start learning what you like more. But I challenge you to come up with 3 reasons why you won't find yourself in the same situation in a few more months :) (whether with Spanish, your new language or both) If you can think of convincing reasons, go for it. 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| napoleon Tetraglot Senior Member India Joined 5006 days ago 543 posts - 874 votes Speaks: Bengali*, English, Hindi, Urdu Studies: French, Arabic (Written) | Message 3 of 6 16 July 2014 at 4:58am | IP Logged | ||
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Hello.
You say(in your profile for English) you could probably work on your grammar. Now, your current skills in English are great. And if you don't want to work on grammar, that's fine, as well. Like you, I learnt English at school. I've been learning English for the better part of two decades and I still make mistakes. Learning a language to any degree of proficiency takes time. I would be doing you a disservice if I told you otherwise. Also, you say you can "speak" Spanish. Sure you can. But how much would you understand if it were spoken back at you? I see you've done some Pimsleur. Great. You're on the right track. Most people here choose Assimil Spanish or the FSI Basic Course as a follow up. Like Serpent says, you could try native materials to break the monotony. So, should you perfect your Spanish before you start another language? It's a choice you'll have to make yourself. :) Welcome to the forum and I wish you much success. Edited by napoleon on 16 July 2014 at 5:24am 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Serpent Octoglot Senior Member Russian Federation serpent-849.livejour Joined 6587 days ago 9753 posts - 15779 votes 4 sounds Speaks: Russian*, English, FinnishC1, Latin, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese Studies: Danish, Romanian, Polish, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Slovenian, Catalan, Czech, Galician, Dutch, Swedish | Message 4 of 6 16 July 2014 at 10:12am | IP Logged | ||
That's a legitimate question if someone loves many languages (ahem) and is willing to make the time to learn them all, at least passively. But the OP's case appears to be the opposite. As of now, the motivation to learn Spanish is too low, and it seems like another language will be more fun. But will it remain fun when the "honeymoon effect" wears off? IMO, right now the strategy only makes sense if you don't like Spanish but need it for business/travel/family etc. Basically, would you consider adding a different language if you were massively enjoying Spanish? 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| BaronBill Triglot Senior Member United States HowToLanguages.comRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 4679 days ago 335 posts - 594 votes Speaks: English*, French, German Studies: Spanish, Mandarin, Persian | Message 5 of 6 16 July 2014 at 6:46pm | IP Logged | ||
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This post sums up my thoughts on learning multiple languages at once.
1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| tristano Tetraglot Senior Member Netherlands Joined 4037 days ago 905 posts - 1262 votes Speaks: Italian*, Spanish, French, English Studies: Dutch | Message 6 of 6 04 August 2014 at 11:37pm | IP Logged | ||
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Hi.
Adding languages because studying one is becoming boring. I know this. I suspect it is becoming boring because you don't see immediate results. I mean: you started Pimsleur, you maybe finished it (I was not able, it was just too boring for me) and when it comes to discuss about the last Ajax vs $SpanishTeam you were lost because it wasn't in the Pimsleur program. Then you started Duolingo and from that moment you were expert in expressing that the children eat the read apple while the women read the newspaper :) There is one immensely important thing you seem to miss: to actually use the language. Pimsleur help but by themselves they don't teach you the language. Plus if you do only them is boring as hell. My advice is to find funnier and more rewarding activities. But before to stop what you're doing, I suggest you to go through them until the end. If you're doing only Duolingo now, adding Assimil (or Teach Yourself, Colloquial, Living Language, the one you like the most) can be a much more effective thing (but Duolingo is a very good resource! only don't you use it exclusively). But the most rewarding thing is to use (ad different degrees, when you're ready to do it) native resources (books, movies, podcasts, radio casts, blogs, news etc). And talking to people. Swedish and German are two beautiful languages; but there is something the you have to consider: - if you add another language you will have less time to improve your Spanish. Trust me, my experience talks for me in this moment. Edited by tristano on 04 August 2014 at 11:40pm 1 person has voted this message useful |
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