|
 |
Linguistic Ignorance | ||
Tags: Surroundings | Error | ||
Share with:
| ||
 Language Learning Forum : General discussion |  | |
| Jenne:) Tetraglot Newbie Netherlands polyglotquest.wordpr Joined 4459 days ago 38 posts - 56 votes  Speaks: Dutch*, English, German, French Studies: Norwegian | Message 153 of 156 24 January 2013 at 2:16pm | IP Logged | ||
|
Something that I hear regularly: "I am Dutch and Dutch people can understand large parts of Norwegian texts when reading them, so I am fluent in Norwegian". I've even had a discussion with someone who did not believe I was better at Norwegian than she was, even though I am learning it (and am at B1 level now). Her argument: "I talk to Norwegian people in chatrooms". Uuuugh. Firstly, being able to understand part of a text because languages are similar to one another does not make you fluent in a foreign language. Understanding is not the same as using a language actively. Secondly, talking to people who have a certain language as their mother tongue does not make you fluent in that language.
It always surprises me how easily people claim that they speak languages fluently. In the Netherlands, one usually reaches A2 level at secondary school (in the highest level of education). Despite this, a lot of students are under the impression that they have reached fluency when they graduate. 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| beano Diglot Senior Member United KingdomRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 4614 days ago 1049 posts - 2152 votes Speaks: English*, German Studies: Russian, Serbian, Hungarian | Message 154 of 156 24 January 2013 at 2:21pm | IP Logged | ||
I would imagine there are opportunities in the course of everyday life to engage with English, German and French when growing up in the Netherlands. That must also contribute to language development, no matter what the school syallabus says. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Jenne:) Tetraglot Newbie Netherlands polyglotquest.wordpr Joined 4459 days ago 38 posts - 56 votes Speaks: Dutch*, English, German, French Studies: Norwegian | Message 155 of 156 24 January 2013 at 2:27pm | IP Logged | ||
|
Yes, you're right. I know that a lot of students are at a higher level of English when they graduate. Computer games, chatting, and media do that to people. But of all the people who have told me that they were fluent in French and German, I think only one of them was not lying (her mother is French). French and German are not that popular among secondary school students and many only choose one of these because it's obligatory. Edited by Jenne:) on 24 January 2013 at 2:27pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| palfrey Senior Member Canada Joined 5265 days ago 81 posts - 180 votes Speaks: English* Studies: German, French | Message 156 of 156 25 January 2013 at 4:50am | IP Logged | ||
I have to wonder about this, based on what seems to happen in Canada. I live far from Quebec, but consider the situation near the Ontario-Quebec border. (Ontario is mainly an anglophone province, Quebec mainly francophone.) There must be opportunities for Ontario anglophones near the border to engage with French, if they wish to. It is just a short trip to Quebec. One could probably also get French programming on radio and television. Likewise, Quebec francophones near the border could immerse themselves in English easily enough. But how many do, at least to the point where they learn the other's language? AFAIK, on both sides of the border you have largely monolingual communities, though Montreal and Ottawa/Hull may be exceptions. (Maybe there is more economic pressure in Quebec to learn some English, but even so, I have the impression that most people are still really comfortable in only one language. Perhaps Arekkusu or s_allard could enlighten me.) In short, having the opportunity does not mean people will avail themselves of it. 1 person has voted this message useful |
If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login. If you are not already registered you must first register
|  | 
Printable version
|
| Copyright 2024 FX Micheloud - All rights reserved No part of this website may be copied by any means without my written authorization. |
