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What does "basic fluency" really mean? | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : General discussion |  | |
| lady_skywalker Triglot Senior Member Netherlands aspiringpolyglotblog Joined 6889 days ago 909 posts - 942 votes  Speaks: Spanish, English*, Mandarin Studies: Japanese, French, Dutch, Italian | Message 89 of 106 02 October 2006 at 5:19pm | IP Logged | |||||
Quite a pointless statement on my behalf but...I have a BA degree in Chinese Studies and yet my Mandarin is terrible! So not even formal qualifications can perfectly determine your language level (the HSK exams for Mandarin proficiency would certainly be a more reliable guide). Besides, as Patuco points out, we don't all learn languages for employment benefits. I'm learning Japanese for the sheer fun of it and wouldn't even consider putting it on my CV as I'm not seeking a Japanese-language job anyway. These days there seems to be too much focus on learning something only if it's profitable with regards to work and money rather than for cultural and personal interest. I guess I'm just idealistic... 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| alexptrans Pentaglot Senior Member Israel Joined 6764 days ago 208 posts - 236 votes Speaks: English, Modern Hebrew, Russian*, French, Arabic (Written) Studies: Icelandic | Message 90 of 106 02 October 2006 at 5:24pm | IP Logged | |||||
That's very true. I enjoy learning languages so much. Several years ago, I started thinking that it would be nice to make some money out of my hobby and became a translator. And even in this language-oriented field, I was never asked for credentials. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Captlemuel Groupie United States Joined 6721 days ago 58 posts - 60 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Russian, Mandarin | Message 91 of 106 02 October 2006 at 5:31pm | IP Logged | |||||
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The quote in Hencke's post was not written by me. It was, as you probably all know, written by Charlie. Read it thus: 'Charlie wrote:' not 'Captlemuel wrote:'. Edited by Captlemuel on 02 October 2006 at 5:43pm 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Captlemuel Groupie United States Joined 6721 days ago 58 posts - 60 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Russian, Mandarin | Message 92 of 106 02 October 2006 at 5:34pm | IP Logged | |||||
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I just read your 'edit', Hencke. I haven't tried to figure out how to do certain things yet. Edited by Captlemuel on 02 October 2006 at 6:24pm 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Captlemuel Groupie United States Joined 6721 days ago 58 posts - 60 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Russian, Mandarin | Message 93 of 106 02 October 2006 at 6:18pm | IP Logged | |||||
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Charlie, the question that I asked you was a rhetorical one. I think you should consider seriously what the other members have said in response to reading your posts. They are making a great deal of sense. And besides, it is only through consideration of what other people think that one can arrive at a right understanding of his relationship with them.
Hear this echo: many people study and use their second languages only for pleasure. Edited by Captlemuel on 03 October 2006 at 1:03am 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| SamD Triglot Senior Member United States Joined 6658 days ago 823 posts - 987 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, French Studies: Portuguese, Norwegian | Message 94 of 106 03 October 2006 at 7:54am | IP Logged | |||||
I agree with Captlemuel wholeheartedly on this. My job doesn't really require any second language ability, and I'm not looking for a language-oriented job at the moment. Taking a standard test that would measure my language ability would require a considerable amount of travel. I don't begrudge other people the option of taking such tests. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Andy E Triglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 7102 days ago 1651 posts - 1939 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, French | Message 95 of 106 04 October 2006 at 2:02am | IP Logged | |||||
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On a related note, I have worked on a large number of occasions with foreign co-workers who had excellent qualifications in English - they could read and write it to an extremely high standard.
However, their speaking and aural comprehension skills were, quite frankly, terrible and in order for projects to function correctly *all* communication with them had to be in writing. Andy. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| SamD Triglot Senior Member United States Joined 6658 days ago 823 posts - 987 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, French Studies: Portuguese, Norwegian | Message 96 of 106 04 October 2006 at 7:40am | IP Logged | |||||
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Interestingly enough, I used to teach English as a second language in a university program. We worked with students whose scores on the TOEFL were too low for them to be admitted to other classes. They tended to have much higher scores on the listening and speaking component of the TOEFL than on grammar or reading and writing. I guess it takes all kinds of people to make a world.
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