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Language Envy | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Cultural Experiences in Foreign Languages |  | |
| stout Senior Member Ireland Joined 5371 days ago 108 posts - 140 votes  Speaks: English* Studies: French | Message 9 of 19 22 June 2010 at 4:52pm | IP Logged | |||||
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We should not be envious or resentful of those people who grew up bilingually
by those who grew up monolingually.It just comes down to the circumstances of those people who grew up either bilingually or monolingually. People like me who grew up monolingually just have to work harder at aquiring foreign language skills than those who were raised bilingually.I must admit when I visited the Netherlands I was impressed in how speak Dutch people can speak their mother tongue then switch to English and back to Dutch to pretty little effort. Like I said before it comes down to the circumstances of the people who grew up. Edited by stout on 22 June 2010 at 4:56pm 2 persons have voted this message useful | ||||||
| qklilx Moderator United States Joined 6186 days ago 459 posts - 477 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Korean Personal Language Map | Message 10 of 19 23 June 2010 at 7:52am | IP Logged | |||||
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I used to be envious of anyone who knew anything about a foreign language, even if it was a small amount. These days I'm only envious of skilled Japanese speakers but that's because I'm regretting not studying it more than I did all these years.
I am, however, envious of people who can mutually converse in various languages. I don't mind the fact that they SPEAK them, only that they can switch to several different ones in mid-conversation. And personally I've never found switching from one's native tongue to a foreign tongue and back to be a skill worth even the smallest boast. Switching from foreign tongue to foreign tongue is far more impressive. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Kary Groupie Canada Joined 6149 days ago 85 posts - 113 votes Speaks: English* Studies: French, Spanish, German | Message 11 of 19 24 June 2010 at 2:51pm | IP Logged | |||||
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I am envious of my husband, who was described by a colleague as being "extremely efficient with his limited French". ;-) He's the same in any language he studies - completely fearless and determined to communicate. I'm the polar opposite. I can understand the question, have a grammatically perfect answer composed in my head, but still not be able to speak without hesitation.
I am envious of my two youngest nephews who have the option of attending French language schools for their elementary education. I just have to convince their parents that it's too good an opportunity to let pass. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| pingvin10 Groupie Hungary Joined 6278 days ago 68 posts - 114 votes Speaks: Hungarian* Studies: English, German, Spanish, Turkish | Message 12 of 19 28 June 2010 at 5:10pm | IP Logged | |||||
This. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| cordelia0507 Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 5838 days ago 1473 posts - 2176 votes Speaks: Swedish* Studies: German, Russian | Message 13 of 19 28 June 2010 at 10:27pm | IP Logged | |||||
Then you can use this as a dating site.... LOL!! it's got private messaging you know, and at least half of the members are female... 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Adamdm Groupie Australia Joined 5437 days ago 62 posts - 89 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Mandarin, Japanese, Dari, German, Spanish, Russian, Arabic (Written) | Message 14 of 19 29 June 2010 at 2:25am | IP Logged | |||||
I think an important contribution to the lengthy delay in my attempts seriously to learn one or more foreign languages (beginning in my thirties or forties, depending how 'seriously' is interpreted) was the awareness of the universally-acknowledged truth that girls are generally much better at languages - the flip side of boys are good at maths and science. Whether there might be any substance in such generalizations as far as averages go, they can be very hobbling for individuals. Now that I think about this subject at a safe temporal remove from school, it may be merely that girls (on average) do better in the learning environment in which languages are taught at school (and conversely boys & maths/science). In this way, the generalizations can become self-fulfilling ... So, another argument in favour of self-directed learning (not that most school kids have the luxury of choice in this matter). 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| robsolete Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5385 days ago 191 posts - 428 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: French, Russian, Arabic (Written), Mandarin | Message 15 of 19 29 June 2010 at 7:25pm | IP Logged | |||||
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Regarding the gender gap, I think it's more cultural than genetic. In many societies women are highly socialized in their youth, and are taught to place a lot of emphasis on verbal communication and conversational nuance. Girls are also encouraged to be chattier, whereas boys are encouraged to be active and not necessarily shunned by their peers if they're the quiet type.
Give this orientation from a very young age, it makes sense that women would be more likely to prioritize learning other languages, since verbal communication is seen as so important. This probably makes them work harder at it, and encourages them to practice regularly, whereas men may be more solitary in their language pursuits and see them as "challenges to be conquered" instead of as "daily life tools." Venus, Mars, etc. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| justgoogleme Newbie United Kingdom Joined 5332 days ago 26 posts - 27 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Italian, Spanish, Arabic (Egyptian), French | Message 16 of 19 02 July 2010 at 11:49am | IP Logged | |||||
in That case, Any Italian, French or Japanese Girls who are studying or fluent in these and want to help a good looking, tall, dark, wealthy, funny, charming and incredibiy modest guy out with my studies...PM Moi. 1 person has voted this message useful |
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