any of you gent bilingual?

[tlanning]

I received a phone call this afternoon and was startled to hear the caller speaking Arabic. Long story short, an acquaintance from days gone by visiting the US wanting to get together. I had the opportunity growing up and in my chosen profession to become fluent in several languages and get around in a few more. Although frustrating, (VERY) being in a Multi language enviornment when young, it proved somewhat of an advantage later on, (except being able to finally understand my Mom when she would get angry) but that was mostly directed towards my Father

Just curious

 

[DunEdinRanger]

me.

 

[PatrioticWhisky]

I speak English and Army.

 

[jkraska]

english and french at a post secondary level... a spattering of german..

 

[Luc]

English and French. I understand Spanish and Italian a bit but unable to speak it...

 

[thunderball]

Not bad in Japanese or English.

 

[Robxcarlson]

I speak Spanish well enough to get by when I need it - but I'm sad to say that I'm not fluent.

 

[Prince]

I wish. Most days, I bungle up English.

 

[Piper Down]

Fluent in English and American Sign Language. I work as an interpreter when time allows.

 

[wbw0126]

I'm minoring in German...but not fluent yet

 

[sklegg]

In addition to English I can survive with Spanish and I am still struggling with Russian after a year of (not-all-that-vigorous) study.

 

[Kratos]

Fairly decent in Spanish, which results in me getting called all over the city to translate.

 

[mretzloff]

I am fluent (actually, native) in English and German. I really would like to become fluent in Mandarin Chinese. I know a guy who can speak several languages, including English, Greek, Russian, and Hebrew (or whatever they speak in Israel).

EDIT: To those of you who have become fluent in a language through study (not by having your parents teach it), have any of you found that you can become fluent without immersion?

 

[ogopogo]

Besides English, I'm fluent in Spanish and speak high-school French, which is to say almost nothing. But I'm currently learning Italian.

 

[northpaw]

To those of you who have become fluent in a language through study (not by having your parents teach it), have any of you found that you can become fluent without immersion?

I haven't, but my wife became absurdly fluent in English (especially written) without ever even visiting an English-speaking country. They had classes in school over here, but she did most of it on her own. Her method was to read everything in English that she could find and write out the definitions for every single word she didn't know. During the first year or so after we met, she would occasionally mispronounce a word (although using it correctly), and I'd realize that she'd never said it out loud before.

 

[galopede]

English and I can swear in Welsh. Does that count?

Gareth

 

[Chimensch]

I haven't, but my wife became absurdly fluent in English (especially written) without ever even visiting an English-speaking country. They had classes in school over here, but she did most of it on her own. Her method was to read everything in English that she could find and write out the definitions for every single word she didn't know. During the first year or so after we met, she would occasionally mispronounce a word (although using it correctly), and I'd realize that she'd never said it out loud before.

I learned Italian in college and now work as a translator. Reading a lot is, indeed, the key. My wife's oldest son, who translates from English into Italian, started learning English from video games as a child and then read alot. He is extremely fluent in English despite never having lived in an English-speaking country.

After a couple of years of grammar, you should start reading without falling into the trap of having to look up the meaning of every word (don't confuse reading and understanding with translating). I made a rule for myself to only look up 3 words when reading a book. That way, you understand the key concepts and learn the meanings of other words by inference.

 

[Captain Flint]

My mother tongue is Portuguese but I'm also fluent in English and French. Very good level on the other Iberian languages: Galician (which is very, very close to Portuguese), Castilian (Spanish) and a bit of Catalan. Understand some Italian as well.

 

[Captain Flint]

I made a rule for myself to only look up 3 words when reading a book. That way, you understand the key concepts and learn the meanings of other words by inference.

+1.
That's the key!

 

[laberinto24]

I am fluent in English as well as Spanish. I live in California so it definitely comes in handy at work and pretty much everywhere. Also, most girls love it when you can go to a restaurant and order in a different language.