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Certified polyglots

 Language Learning Forum : Polyglots Post Reply
21 messages over 3 pages: 1 2 3  Next >>
slowlanglearner
Triglot
Newbie
Germany
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6 posts - 15 votes
Speaks: German*, English, Spanish
Studies: Russian

 
 Message 1 of 21
12 April 2014 at 4:14pm | IP Logged 
I wonder who would get the record when it comes down to the highest number of language certificates.

It's clear to me that sometimes certified language proficiency doesn't preclude having a horrendous accent, or not being able to understand small deviations from the norm. However, they are still a better proof than some monologues posted on YouTube.


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Jeffers
Senior Member
United Kingdom
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Studies: Hindi, Ancient Greek, French, Sanskrit, German

 
 Message 2 of 21
12 April 2014 at 4:24pm | IP Logged 
I have no idea, and I don't really care all that much about people's claims.

The reason I'm posting is to say: I love your name! Slow learning is deep learning.
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luke
Diglot
Senior Member
United States
Joined 6964 days ago

3133 posts - 4351 votes 
Speaks: English*, Spanish
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 Message 3 of 21
12 April 2014 at 4:33pm | IP Logged 
slowlanglearner wrote:
I wonder who would get the record when it comes down to the highest number of
language certificates.


Sounds like it could be an Olympic event.
1 person has voted this message useful





DavidStyles
Octoglot
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United Kingdom
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 Message 4 of 21
12 April 2014 at 5:14pm | IP Logged 
slowlanglearner wrote:
...still a better proof than some monologues posted on YouTube


Indeed. Those monologues mean next to nothing. I could have a friend write an Urdu script for me to memorize and reproduce without even necessarily understanding, let alone being able to produce it myself.

Not sure why people do those videos, except perhaps to showcase a nice accent if they have one.
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drygramul
Tetraglot
Senior Member
Italy
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165 posts - 269 votes 
Speaks: Persian, Italian*, EnglishC2, GermanB2
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 Message 5 of 21
12 April 2014 at 6:35pm | IP Logged 
DavidStyles wrote:
Indeed. Those monologues mean next to nothing. I could have a friend write an Urdu script for me to memorize and reproduce without even necessarily understanding, let alone being able to produce it myself.


Same goes for dialogues, imo.

Even the lack/possession of certificates doesn't necessarily prove something. Most tests are expensive, can't be taken in your country, and could be challenging for natives too.

Edited by drygramul on 12 April 2014 at 6:35pm

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Solfrid Cristin
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Winner TAC 2011 & 2012
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Norway
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 Message 6 of 21
12 April 2014 at 7:30pm | IP Logged 
I am not even sure what a certificate would prove. Like you said, your pronunciation can be horrendous, even
if you have a certificate, and a lot of the really good polyglots do not necessarily have any certificates.
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shk00design
Triglot
Senior Member
Canada
Joined 4203 days ago

747 posts - 1123 votes 
Speaks: Cantonese*, English, Mandarin
Studies: French

 
 Message 7 of 21
12 April 2014 at 11:57pm | IP Logged 
There are a few polyglots I can name off my head including Moses McCormick (US), Luca Lampariello
(Italy), Steve Kauffman (Canadian living in Hong Kong), Stuart Jay Raj (Thailand), Tim Doner (US), Benny
Lewis (Ireland), Felix Wang (Taiwanese parents in Belgium).

Some people may not be polyglots but became successful language teachers such as Mike Laoshi who
teach Mandarin to the Western audience, Carlos Douh (Canada living in Hong Kong) and teaches
Cantonese, Cecilia Gamst Berg (Norwegian living in Hong Kong) and teaches Cantonese, Hugh Baker
(English living in Hong Kong).
2 persons have voted this message useful



luke
Diglot
Senior Member
United States
Joined 6964 days ago

3133 posts - 4351 votes 
Speaks: English*, Spanish
Studies: Esperanto, French

 
 Message 8 of 21
13 April 2014 at 12:15am | IP Logged 
One of the certified polyglots here should register as a record holder/breaker at
the Guiness Book of World Records.
Even
if you don't think you hold the record, you could set the initial bar.

Once Guiness picks up the scent for the category, the records could be more specialized.
Most period.
Most B1 or higher, most B2 or higher, etc.

For me, I'm impressed by the polyglots here regardless of certification.

Edited by luke on 13 April 2014 at 12:17am



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