Skills and Language Thread

[Progrez]

So, I am in the process of teaching myself other languages including English. What about you people? What other languages do you know?

I am currently teaching myself

English, Mandarin, Korean and Dutch, Finnish and French and Spanish and Italian and German. I will be teaching myself some more.

I want to know what other actionable skills can I learn because Languages are just words that offer structure. The only skills I could think of are yoga and exercise and Piano too.

 

[Trance4m8tor]

Great move! But isn't that too much at once?

I have knowledge in English, German, Dutch, Spanish and Japanese and French for sure my mother tongue. Took me more than 25 years to achieve this. I'd say I'm fully functionnal in English which at times turns out easier than my own language, perfectly fluent in German, fluent in Dutch, decent in Spanish and acceptable in Japanese. Next will be Russian and Portuguese and after my 40's mandarin Chinese and Arabic. Then hoping for perfect fluency in all ten languages by my 50's.

 

[Jetflag]

I’m fluent in: Dutch, Fryslan (mothertongue), English and German, and I can manage in French and Russian speaking countries, though working there would probably involve a lot of Google-translate

I’m terms of self-study: C#, sailors-licence and various offshore construction safety protocols (work related)

 

[Archon]

@Progrez Could this have been posted in What's on your mind today? thread?

 

[Progrez]

@Progrez Could this have been posted in What's on your mind today? thread?

Sure, you can move it there if you want man.

 

[nightslapper]

I am currently teaching myself

English, Mandarin, Korean and Dutch, Finnish and French and Spanish and Italian and German

is this even possible to go like that any effective? I mean, it depends on a goal you have, if you're in just for the process/experience or to keep yourself busy that's one thing but getting fluent in more than two simultaneously (especially so different like the ones you've mentioned) would require an extraordinary talent. I would suggest you figure out one or two you feel progressing with the most efficiently and stick to them, abandon the rest

 

[dmgtz96]

is this even possible to go like that any effective? I mean, it depends on a goal you have, if you're in just for the process/experience or to keep yourself busy that's one thing but getting fluent in more than two simultaneously (especially so different like the ones you've mentioned) would require an extraordinary talent. I would suggest you figure out one or two you feel progressing with the most efficiently and stick to them, abandon the rest

Agreed. One is bad enough. Mastery basically requires *living* in the country where that language is spoken, otherwise you're basically a forever amateur even if you take lots of college/university classes and have a local community where that language is spoken (ex. your city's Koreatown).

Edit: I guess it depends on what you want to do with the language. But learning for the sake of learning shouldn't be it. You learn languages because you want to connect with and understand people who speak that language.

 

[Progrez]

Great move! But isn't that too much at once?

I have knowledge in English, German, Dutch, Spanish and Japanese and French for sure my mother tongue. Took me more than 25 years to achieve this. I'd say I'm fully functionnal in English which at times turns out easier than my own language, perfectly fluent in German, fluent in Dutch, decent in Spanish and acceptable in Japanese. Next will be Russian and Swedish and after my 40's mandarin Chinese and Arabic. Then hoping for perfect fluency in all ten languages by my 50's.

Of course it's a gradual ease into the language. I am not learning them at the same time just every 2 weeks I change it up. I have observed that I do forget the language.

is this even possible to go like that any effective? I mean, it depends on a goal you have, if you're in just for the process/experience or to keep yourself busy that's one thing but getting fluent in more than two simultaneously (especially so different like the ones you've mentioned) would require an extraordinary talent. I would suggest you figure out one or two you feel progressing with the most efficiently and stick to them, abandon the rest

Agreed. One is bad enough. Mastery basically requires *living* in the country where that language is spoken, otherwise you're basically a forever amateur even if you take lots of college/university classes and have a local community where that language is spoken (ex. your city's Koreatown).

Edit: I guess it depends on what you want to do with the language. But learning for the sake of learning shouldn't be it. You learn languages because you want to connect with and understand people who speak that language.

That's exactly why I want to learn them it's to connect to the language and the people I am interacting with because I am curious to know what everyone around me and Melbourne has a large Asian population is saying.

 

[Progrez]

I’m fluent in: Dutch, Fryslan (mothertongue), English and German, and I can manage in French and Russian speaking countries, though working there would probably involve a lot of Google-translate

I’m terms of self-study: C#, sailors-licence and various offshore construction safety protocols (work related)

Never heard of Fryslan - I have heard of Flemish but not that and how interesting.

 

[Jetflag]

Never heard of Fryslan - I have heard of Flemish but not that and how interesting.

Damn autocorrect. It’s Frysian

 

[Archon]

Sure, you can move it there if you want man.

Or not, it's getting some replies at least.

 

[Progrez]

Damn autocorrect. It’s Frysian

Google says it's either Friesian, Frisians or Friesian all 3 are dutch apparently but the last one is a horse breed.

 

[Archon]

Always wanted to learn Italian and French myself, and also earn a C2 certificate in English (have C1 now). Ever since I was little, I had an easy time picking up new languages. But with life, learning new languages just never seemed to be a priority.

 

[Jetflag]

Google says it's either Friesian, Frisians or Friesian all 3 are dutch apparently but the last one is a horse breed.

It’s also a damn fine whiskey (Frysk Hynder)

 

[Uplifted]

As a native Ukrainian speaker, I know fluent russian as well, as the 2nd language in my country.
Learning English has been my passion since 5-6 years old. I always watched Cartoon Network / Jetix cartoon channels after school (idk why but somehow they were streaming on my TV in English) and slowly started understanding them while at the same time attending to English tutor lessons.
Also learned Polish (~ lower Intermediate level) after 1,5 years of living in Poland.
I'm still considering which language to learn next, maybe French, Dutch or even Japanese.
Regarding skills - as I attended musical school many years ago, I played recorder (it's called "sopilka" where I live and it's pretty much a traditional instrument from my my Transcarpathian region), clarinet and a bit on piano.
Also I have a unique track-names-remembering memory, as everyone tells me. But I keep forgetting people's names immediately after having a small talk with them.
I have a talent of being kicked from around 16 jobs so far that's why I never worked at a single job for more then 13 months (right now I'm 30 y.o. and I'm beating my personal record).
And I can hiss like a snake and cluck like a chicken (hmm, maybe I should include it in my resume next time )

 

[erickUO]

Indonesian (mother tongue), Javanese (basic), English (basic). Learned some Japanese in the past through Rosetta Stone CD, but completely forgot all of them. For now, I would love to improve my English to conversational level to be able to get a job abroad. Next maybe Russian, Chinese, or sign language, but same as Archon, it’s not top priority for now.

Skill-wise, I want to learn how to make noodles or any street foods, so maybe one day I can start a small food business. But if I have a lot of money, I’d definitely study archaeology at uni and become Indiana Jones

 

[miafricker]

I find it difficult to learn two foreign languages at the same time. Started with Spanish and German, but then decided to learn them one by one. At the same time i am doing an interesting marketing course thanks to help of amberstudent customer service. In the evening i don't have much time to watch tv or stare at my phone, proud of myself for doing it.

 

[Progrez]

I find it difficult to learn two foreign languages at the same time. Started with Spanish and German, but then decided to learn them one by one

Which are you finding more interesting to learn?

 

[Trance4m8tor]

Never heard of Fryslan - I have heard of Flemish but not that and how interesting.

Dialect from northern Netherlands and closely related to English if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Progrez]

Always wanted to learn Italian and French myself, and also earn a C2 certificate in English (have C1 now). Ever since I was little, I had an easy time picking up new languages. But with life, learning new languages just never seemed to be a priority.

Personally, I think that's an excuse There are books you can learn or just spend only 10 - 15 minutes or even 5 minutes. I spend 5-10 minutes (For books) each day or 1 hour time frame of trying to teach myself a new word whether it be watching tv shows (1 hour) in that language.

I am also teaching myself legal skills but a book has limitation I wish I could get some actual skills for legal things.