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Learning 2 languages at once - jordan3311 - 2011-11-16
As you guys know I am learning Japanese. My school does not offer it as a language. But they do offer Spanish. Spanish is a language that I want to learn as well and next semester my schedule is free so I have a chance to take Spanish. But I am not sure if I should take it I am trying for finish RTK and I am around 1750 But not sure if I should finish RTK and get better at Japanese or take Spanish and try to learn them both or put Japanese of hold for Spanish. What do you guys think? Is anyone studying two languages at a time?
Learning 2 languages at once - Zgarbas - 2011-11-16
Yes, you can. It takes more effort, especially since Japanese and Spanish have similar phonetics, but it is not very hard.
Just be sure to take breaks between them! I once ended up writing 祖buela on my Spanish exam...
Learning 2 languages at once - jordan3311 - 2011-11-16
@Zgarbas
can you explain to me how you did it. Sorry to ask this put I Love both languages and I what to learn both and this might be the only time I can take this class.
Learning 2 languages at once - jordan3311 - 2011-11-16
Has anyone or is anyone studying 2 languages at once? If so can they give me some type of advice
Learning 2 languages at once - kitakitsune - 2011-11-16
I recommend picking one language you want to concentrate the most on and do at the minimum a 70-30 effort split.
Learning 2 languages at once - ta12121 - 2011-11-16
I don't really think it's possible to learn two at the same time, unless you want to wait until trying to get good at both. I am tempted to learn Chinese but I know it would only confuse me. I want to wait 2-3 years before I jump to mandarin
Learning 2 languages at once - Bokusenou - 2011-11-16
I'm doing laddering right now, where you use a foreign language as a base language for learning another foreign language, instead of English. I'd only recommend it when you're at least intermediate level in Japanese (or another language). Every other attempt of mine at learning two languages at once ended with me mixing up the two and giving up, but hopefully you'll have better luck.
Learning 2 languages at once - leosmith - 2011-11-16
ta12121 Wrote:I don't really think it's possible to learn two at the same timeThis is obviously false. I'm learning 5.
To the OP, I recommend you spend some time at the How to Learn Any Language forum (http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/default.asp)
Everyone's situation is different. A rule of thumb is not to do it unless you can devote at least one hour a day to the new language.
Learning 2 languages at once - ta12121 - 2011-11-16
leosmith Wrote:I didn't mean you can't learn it per say but learning to fluency in 3 year time frame (sorry about the number but I remember that it usual takes 3-5 years to get to a complete level of fluency, if the dedication is there) for all the languages your studying, it quite hard. It's definitely possible to learn more at the same time but I'm just referring to complete fluency(listening,reading,speaking and writing).ta12121 Wrote:I don't really think it's possible to learn two at the same timeThis is obviously false. I'm learning 5.
To the OP, I recommend you spend some time at the How to Learn Any Language forum (http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/default.asp)
Everyone's situation is different. A rule of thumb is not to do it unless you can devote at least one hour a day to the new language.
Learning 2 languages at once - jordan3311 - 2011-11-16
I mean I took spanish high school so I do not think it will be that bad to balance both. Maybe if I trade off days or something. I did not do to well in Spanish in high school as far as being fluent when I felt. But I told myself that I would go back and learn that language. I feel that the reason I did not do well is that i did not find anything fun to do in Spanish like I did in Japanese. But I feel if i apply the same principles to Spanish as i have do to japanese learning Spanish will be a breeze
Learning 2 languages at once - oregum - 2011-11-16
It's definitely possible. However in my experience there are two concerns:
(1) Time: How much you have and how much you are willing to devote.
(2) Enthusiasm: How long until you get bored or burned out.
I took an Arabic 101 and a Spanish 101 class at a local community college a few month ago in addition to studying Japanese & Russian on my own. Btw, I graduated some years ago and have other responsibilities.
At first, it was fine. I was doing great in all four, but devoting most of my time to Japanese. My time split was something like this: 50JPN/20ARB/20SPN/10RUS. Which came about to about 1-4 hours a day, 5-7 days a week.
However, as the classes became harder most of my time was spent doing homework and studying for exams/quizzes. Not only that, but eventually I was only focusing on SPN/ARB because I couldn't fit JAP/RUS into my schedule. At the end of the semester I had no enthusiasm to learn any language.
However, after learning the basics of Spanish I will probably never take another class. Self study all the way, I say. I've been planning on doing Listening-Reading for Spanish for some time now, but don't have any to spare.
Learning 2 languages at once - leosmith - 2011-11-16
ta12121 Wrote:I didn't mean you can't learn it per say but learning to fluency in 3 year time frame (sorry about the number but I remember that it usual takes 3-5 years to get to a complete level of fluency, if the dedication is there) for all the languages your studying, it quite hard. It's definitely possible to learn more at the same time but I'm just referring to complete fluency(listening,reading,speaking and writing).I might be wrong, but it sounds like you're still confused. It's entirely dependent on time. For example, if one could spend 5 hours a day on 2 languages, why wouldn't they be able to reach your definition of fluency in the time limit you gave?
Learning 2 languages at once - leosmith - 2011-11-16
oregum Wrote:It's definitely possible. However in my experience there are two concerns:Nice post. I'd like to mention that (1) is true in all situations, and (2) is specific to yours. Also, there is nothing magic about the L-R method per se. If you make a similar effort in "normal" listening and reading, you will get similar results.
(1) Time: How much you have and how much you are willing to devote.
(2) Enthusiasm: How long until you get bored or burned out.
Learning 2 languages at once - ta12121 - 2011-11-16
leosmith Wrote:Well I can't say I've learned two languages at once but it depends on the languages. Japanese plus Chinese are really similar, so in terms of those languages it might be confusing. I guess I might have a bias here but one language is taking and will be taking a very long time to reach native-level fluency(for me that means doing all the things that a post-secondary students can do in Japan). I guess it's just my opinion here but that doesn't mean it isn't possible. I've heard of polyglots talking about this very same subject. They said they learned languages up to a certain point and went onto learning others. They know a lot languages(6-8) but they say they never studied it past a certain level. I guess for me personally, aiming for high level of fluency is 2 languages is enough for me but there are a lot of people out there that want to know more than 3 or more languages,even more actually. All I have to say is: that takes real dedication and time.ta12121 Wrote:I didn't mean you can't learn it per say but learning to fluency in 3 year time frame (sorry about the number but I remember that it usual takes 3-5 years to get to a complete level of fluency, if the dedication is there) for all the languages your studying, it quite hard. It's definitely possible to learn more at the same time but I'm just referring to complete fluency(listening,reading,speaking and writing).I might be wrong, but it sounds like you're still confused. It's entirely dependent on time. For example, if one could spend 5 hours a day on 2 languages, why wouldn't they be able to reach your definition of fluency in the time limit you gave?
Learning 2 languages at once - Tzadeck - 2011-11-16
leosmith Wrote:Huh? What do you mean that (2) is specific to his situation?oregum Wrote:It's definitely possible. However in my experience there are two concerns:Nice post. I'd like to mention that (1) is true in all situations, and (2) is specific to yours.
(1) Time: How much you have and how much you are willing to devote.
(2) Enthusiasm: How long until you get bored or burned out.
Learning 2 languages at once - jordan3311 - 2011-11-16
@oregum
Thats crazy 4 languages at once I see why you got burned out. I am only taking Spanish classes and teaching myself Japanese I don't think i will be that burned out
Learning 2 languages at once - oregum - 2011-11-17
@jordan3311
You should be fine, my point was that it's possible.
I was learning 4 for different reasons:
Japanese: my first love
Russian: maintaining fluency
Arabic: for work
Spanish: my mistress
Learning 2 languages at once - Zgarbas - 2011-11-18
jordan3311 Wrote:@ZgarbasHow I do what? Study more than one language at the same time, or managing to put Kanji in a Spanish word?
can you explain to me how you did it. Sorry to ask this put I Love both languages and I what to learn both and this might be the only time I can take this class.
The first: I've been adding languages as the time went by and I am a horrible role model to have. I started my L2 (English) when I was 3, my L3 (German) when I was 10, my L4 (Spanish) I just picked up along the road, and Japanese is my L5. (had Swedish as L6 at one point but it was nothing serious). I wouldn't recommend starting two languages from scratch at the same time, though.
These days I focus on Japanese and am trying to regain my fluency in German/perfect my Spanish...The works for Japanese, you can find a gazillion learning sources on these here forums. It's the only language that I'm really putting an effort into studying.
Currently going through my favourite book (The Stranger, by Camus), the German translation as German practice. Also using Lang8. I'm way too old to re-memorize all the articles and seeing them in print is really helping.
I read the occasional grammar lessons for Spanish but tbh I find it impossible to study at an academical level, so again I just purchased some nice books and am going through them. Since my native language is also a Romance language it is very easy...Then again I just magically found myself able to hold a conversation in Spanish. Sister languages. They do wonders.
And how did I end up putting Kanji in a Spanish word? Thanks to a remarkable mix-up in my school's exam session I ended up taking 6 different exams in 6 different language in a single week...Some in the same day. It was a very confusing week for me, but probably not as confusing as it was for the teachers who corrected my papers.
Also, school is good for outlines and the basics, but don't count on the courses to get you to even a beginner level. Study at home. It's the way to go.