Has Anyone Experience Learning Two Languages Simultaneously?

[stephania]

Hello all, I'm looking for some advice and was wondering if there are any language learners out there who could help me…[/size][/font]

I have just returned from a French language course in France , a final part of my degree which has consolidated all what I learnt and left me more or less fluent. It has fired my passion for language learning so much so that I am not only considering languages as a career but also considering learning another language. But this is what worries me, I don't know whether it really is a good idea or not. I certainly don't want to lose my French level! Considering one of my main interests is Italy, I thought about learning Italian – but slowly and steadily, whilst keeping up the French too. For this I was considering taking a viaggi di studio Montreal which would basically be going to an Italian school but in a French speaking city. So though the main focus on my language learning trip would be Italian (given that it is the new, target language), I would be mixing with French people (and so practising French) outside of class hours. Furthermore, I was considering giving one to one English lesson to French (or Italian!) speaking people as a way to earn money and a way to meet and mix with people.

What worries me is that the two languages are relatively similar and so I don't know if this would be a help or a hindrance…

If anyone has experience of learning two languages simultaneously, please do let me know how you manage and differentiate between the two! I'd hate to try for both and end up with none!

[chakatee]

I think most university language curricula are for 2 or more languages at the same time, so it is surely possible.

Similarity between French and Italian will have both a good side (as they are similar, many words the same or very much alike) and a bad side (using an Italian word during a French conversation or vice versa). I don't know which would 'weigh the heaviest', the pro's or the con's but interesting discussion i.m.o.

Personally I learned 3 simultaneously but this was in a very slow pace (over a total of 6 years), only 1 for professional use, the 2 others just to be able to get along and upto a level that a native speaker would think "Jee, this one has a weird accent".

Good luck in your search!

[toptuan]

I've learned the following languages simultaneously:

1) Greek & Hebrew

2) Thai & Lao

3) Japanese & Spanish

4) Vietnamese and Chinese (Cantonese)

No added difficulty other than the added time requirement. In fact, I used them to work for each other, by using small flashcards with new language #1 on one side, and the equivalent in language #2 on the other side. In actual conversation, only occasionally would the word from the other language come to mind first. Not a huge problem.

I had the good fortune of having to learn language pairs which had significant similarities in key skills (the vowels of Japanese/Spanish, the tones of Thai/Lao, and the tones of Vietnamese/Cantonese). Only Greek and Hebrew were so dissimilar that there was no real advantage. I believe your attempt to learn Italian with French is a marriage made in linguistic heaven. Good luck!

Edited June 4, 2008 by toptuan

[distortedlink]

I can speak two languages, English and Rubbish.

[stephania]

I think most university language curricula are for 2 or more languages at the same time, so it is surely possible.

Similarity between French and Italian will have both a good side (as they are similar, many words the same or very much alike) and a bad side (using an Italian word during a French conversation or vice versa). I don't know which would 'weigh the heaviest', the pro's or the con's but interesting discussion i.m.o.

Personally I learned 3 simultaneously but this was in a very slow pace (over a total of 6 years), only 1 for professional use, the 2 others just to be able to get along and upto a level that a native speaker would think "Jee, this one has a weird accent".

Good luck in your search!

How day Chakatee!

Thanks for your advice, I really eager to learn different languages. Wow you learned 3 languages simultaneously; even if a very slow space the most significant you know how to speak different languages. Thanks again.

regards

[kmart]

I can speak two languages, English and Rubbish.

During a recent meeting with the august Thai institution named "EGAT", I was schooled in the simultaneous tongues of "Utter Gibberish" and "Total Bullsh!t" by their top man. It was a real education.

[stephania]

I've learned the following languages simultaneously:

1) Greek & Hebrew

2) Thai & Lao

3) Japanese & Spanish

4) Vietnamese and Chinese (Cantonese)

No added difficulty other than the added time requirement. In fact, I used them to work for each other, by using small flashcards with new language #1 on one side, and the equivalent in language #2 on the other side. In actual conversation, only occasionally would the word from the other language come to mind first. Not a huge problem.

I had the good fortune of having to learn language pairs which had significant similarities in key skills (the vowels of Japanese/Spanish, the tones of Thai/Lao, and the tones of Vietnamese/Cantonese). Only Greek and Hebrew were so dissimilar that there was no real advantage. I believe your attempt to learn Italian with French is a marriage made in linguistic heaven. Good luck!

Hi Toptuan good day!

Wow! Amazing you learns many languages, my desire and goal is to learn many languages as much as I can. Thanks for your tips and advice this help to me how to handle in learning languages simultaneously.

Thanks and see yah later.

[gymshark]

I learned arabic and Mandarin at the same time, learning two languages is not a problem, the only problem I have found is that here I speak Thai every day and now my brain finds it hard not to use it. Thai has become the dominant language (apart from English) and when I try to think of a Chinese word, a lot of the time the Thai one will pop into my head. I guess like all languages, use it or lose it can be very true. Practice and usage are the keys.

[Jimjim]

What's French and Italian got to do with Thailand? Although this is an interesting topic.

[ozsamurai]

I think its definately the way to go, I used my second language to learn my third, re-enforcing the study of it. ie Learnt Japanese from English, studied Russian from Japanese texts etc.. Its all in the mind anyway, you want to do it you can.

[typhoon]

I learned arabic and Mandarin at the same time, learning two languages is not a problem, the only problem I have found is that here I speak Thai every day and now my brain finds it hard not to use it. Thai has become the dominant language (apart from English) and when I try to think of a Chinese word, a lot of the time the Thai one will pop into my head. I guess like all languages, use it or lose it can be very true. Practice and usage are the keys.

Like you gymshark, I only speak Thai when at home, even dream in Thai sometimes. Living in the NE I've spent the last 2 years learning the isaan language, but when my gf and I go to Bangkok, she tells me only to speak Thai.

Why is that??

Regards.

[PeaceBlondie]

I am a native speaker of Chicagoese and a transplanted speaker of Texan I was still learning Spanish and living in Mexico when I started working with natives who spoke batsi-kop. The same school offered classes in the native language, but it was too much for me. However, the only common vocab words in the two languages were the words donated by the Spaniards after the conquista. The two languages were so different that they would have occupied different compartments of my brain. When I unsuccessfully tried to learn Thai this year, Spanish did not interfere.

However, two Romance languages might get confused with one another, as I suspect Thai would confuse with Vietnamese, Khmer, or Lao.

[Naam]

However, two Romance languages might get confused with one another

true! when i try (the emphasis is on "try" to speak portuguese to my brazilian neighbour spanish dominates with the occasional italian subject or verb. but as these languages are closely related neither the speaker nor the addressee have problems. a different problem is that i address any Indian or Pakistani in arabic till i realize that their facial expressions say "no can understand nuttin of your gibberish".

[cluezo]

I'm fluent in English, Pillow Talk and Bullshit.

[gymshark]

I learned arabic and Mandarin at the same time, learning two languages is not a problem, the only problem I have found is that here I speak Thai every day and now my brain finds it hard not to use it. Thai has become the dominant language (apart from English) and when I try to think of a Chinese word, a lot of the time the Thai one will pop into my head. I guess like all languages, use it or lose it can be very true. Practice and usage are the keys.

Like you gymshark, I only speak Thai when at home, even dream in Thai sometimes. Living in the NE I've spent the last 2 years learning the isaan language, but when my gf and I go to Bangkok, she tells me only to speak Thai.

Why is that??

Regards.

I never learnt Issan but picked it up pretty quickly when I stay in NE sometimes, I get the same thing, she doesn't want me speaking it either, I just asked her again why and she says "I don't like you speaking it, sheuy sheuy". Oh well, it does come in handy at times though, not many shop staff here expect you to understand and happily jabber on in earshot, good fun.

[OxfordWill]

Its common to learn two, many universities do it this way. If they are similar this is even better! Youll make quick progress on both.

[toptuan]

I learned arabic and Mandarin at the same time, learning two languages is not a problem, the only problem I have found is that here I speak Thai every day and now my brain finds it hard not to use it. Thai has become the dominant language (apart from English) and when I try to think of a Chinese word, a lot of the time the Thai one will pop into my head. I guess like all languages, use it or lose it can be very true. Practice and usage are the keys.

Like you gymshark, I only speak Thai when at home, even dream in Thai sometimes. Living in the NE I've spent the last 2 years learning the isaan language, but when my gf and I go to Bangkok, she tells me only to speak Thai.

Why is that??

Regards.

I never learnt Issan but picked it up pretty quickly when I stay in NE sometimes, I get the same thing, she doesn't want me speaking it either, I just asked her again why and she says "I don't like you speaking it, sheuy sheuy". Oh well, it does come in handy at times though, not many shop staff here expect you to understand and happily jabber on in earshot, good fun.

Same reason TV newscasters in Alabama drop the deep south accent and mimic USA west coast accents. Seems like country bumpkins just like to hide the fact when rubbing shoulders with the hi-so folks!

[grtaylor]

I learned arabic and Mandarin at the same time, learning two languages is not a problem, the only problem I have found is that here I speak Thai every day and now my brain finds it hard not to use it. Thai has become the dominant language (apart from English) and when I try to think of a Chinese word, a lot of the time the Thai one will pop into my head. I guess like all languages, use it or lose it can be very true. Practice and usage are the keys.

I wouldn't say my Thai is fluent but its OK, but when I go to France or Spain, two languages I learnt a long time ago, I can't speak them without Thai words suddenly appearing . . . . I guess my brain is configured to English and "Foreign", and at the moment Thai is the dominant foreign. All others, therefore, suffer.

G

[stephania]

I learned arabic and Mandarin at the same time, learning two languages is not a problem, the only problem I have found is that here I speak Thai every day and now my brain finds it hard not to use it. Thai has become the dominant language (apart from English) and when I try to think of a Chinese word, a lot of the time the Thai one will pop into my head. I guess like all languages, use it or lose it can be very true. Practice and usage are the keys.

Good day Gymshark!

Hope your doing fine, thanks for your advice that learning two languages is not a problem and your right if what language you using everyday then you learn more.

But the most important is more practice to learn both languages.

[stephania]

What's French and Italian got to do with Thailand? Although this is an interesting topic.

I think its definately the way to go, I used my second language to learn my third, re-enforcing the study of it. ie Learnt Japanese from English, studied Russian from Japanese texts etc.. Its all in the mind anyway, you want to do it you can.

I learned arabic and Mandarin at the same time, learning two languages is not a problem, the only problem I have found is that here I speak Thai every day and now my brain finds it hard not to use it. Thai has become the dominant language (apart from English) and when I try to think of a Chinese word, a lot of the time the Thai one will pop into my head. I guess like all languages, use it or lose it can be very true. Practice and usage are the keys.

Like you gymshark, I only speak Thai when at home, even dream in Thai sometimes. Living in the NE I've spent the last 2 years learning the isaan language, but when my gf and I go to Bangkok, she tells me only to speak Thai.

Why is that??

Regards.

I am a native speaker of Chicagoese and a transplanted speaker of Texan I was still learning Spanish and living in Mexico when I started working with natives who spoke batsi-kop. The same school offered classes in the native language, but it was too much for me. However, the only common vocab words in the two languages were the words donated by the Spaniards after the conquista. The two languages were so different that they would have occupied different compartments of my brain. When I unsuccessfully tried to learn Thai this year, Spanish did not interfere.

However, two Romance languages might get confused with one another, as I suspect Thai would confuse with Vietnamese, Khmer, or Lao.

However, two Romance languages might get confused with one another

true! when i try (the emphasis is on "try" to speak portuguese to my brazilian neighbour spanish dominates with the occasional italian subject or verb. but as these languages are closely related neither the speaker nor the addressee have problems. a different problem is that i address any Indian or Pakistani in arabic till i realize that their facial expressions say "no can understand nuttin of your gibberish".

Good day everyone!

Thanks for all your reply it helps this to me a lot, other said that if what you are using language at home then that language will be practice more and that's true.

But if we desire to learn different languages then the most important is study and more practice.

Thanks again and have a nice day to each and everyone of us.

Edited June 18, 2008 by stephania

[kat]

I can speak two languages, English and Rubbish.

During a recent meeting with the august Thai institution named "EGAT", I was schooled in the simultaneous tongues of "Utter Gibberish" and "Total Bullsh!t" by their top man. It was a real education.

Awesome thread. I have been concerned about exactly the same thing. I learned Spanish slowly growing up, but have not used it in a long time so it needs some tuning up. I know some conversational Thai and Burmese, but would like to become fluent in both. I also have a love of Japanese aesthetic, and want to learn Japanese, and then there is that French guy whom I have my eye on ..... etc.

At any rate, I have various languages in various stages that I either want to tighten up, take to the next level, or start completely from scratch - all at the same time! Thanks for asking this question, and thanks for some great, reassuring answers. It's a little bit more challenging, and I kind of need that to keep me focused.

It is the exact same question that I have been walking around with in my head, so thanks! Onwards - I have my work cut out for me.

[kat]

I learned arabic and Mandarin at the same time, learning two languages is not a problem, the only problem I have found is that here I speak Thai every day and now my brain finds it hard not to use it. Thai has become the dominant language (apart from English) and when I try to think of a Chinese word, a lot of the time the Thai one will pop into my head. I guess like all languages, use it or lose it can be very true. Practice and usage are the keys.

I wouldn't say my Thai is fluent but its OK, but when I go to France or Spain, two languages I learnt a long time ago, I can't speak them without Thai words suddenly appearing . . . . I guess my brain is configured to English and "Foreign", and at the moment Thai is the dominant foreign. All others, therefore, suffer.

G

Yeah, but I think that is normal and part of a transitional phase. I was still using Thai words of greeting or thanks when I came home to the U.S. That habit stopped once I became fully immersed again.

[qwertz]

You can if you organise your brain, which is far more efficient than any computer.

Align your languages side by side, not stacked on each other.

Give your newly acquired information memory tags so that you have rapid recall.

Never try to think in your mother tongue when you're speaking another language.

If you can't do these things you'll never be a good interpreter and if you can't sway your students to this way of thinking, you'll

never be a good teacher either.

And the best advice of all - use it or lose it.

[stephania]

I can speak two languages, English and Rubbish.

During a recent meeting with the august Thai institution named "EGAT", I was schooled in the simultaneous tongues of "Utter Gibberish" and "Total Bullsh!t" by their top man. It was a real education.

Awesome thread. I have been concerned about exactly the same thing. I learned Spanish slowly growing up, but have not used it in a long time so it needs some tuning up. I know some conversational Thai and Burmese, but would like to become fluent in both. I also have a love of Japanese aesthetic, and want to learn Japanese, and then there is that French guy whom I have my eye on ..... etc.

At any rate, I have various languages in various stages that I either want to tighten up, take to the next level, or start completely from scratch - all at the same time! Thanks for asking this question, and thanks for some great, reassuring answers. It's a little bit more challenging, and I kind of need that to keep me focused.

It is the exact same question that I have been walking around with in my head, so thanks! Onwards - I have my work cut out for me.

Hi Kat,

Thanks for reading my article and giving time on it. Your ideas and advices are very much welcome and appreciated.

Hope to see you every now and then.

[stephania]

You can if you organise your brain, which is far more efficient than any computer.

Align your languages side by side, not stacked on each other.

Give your newly acquired information memory tags so that you have rapid recall.

Never try to think in your mother tongue when you're speaking another language.

If you can't do these things you'll never be a good interpreter and if you can't sway your students to this way of thinking, you'll

never be a good teacher either.

And the best advice of all - use it or lose it.

Hi Qwertz, how are you?

Hope everything is fine and okay. Your ideas is very much welcome and appreciated. Its nice to be part on this site. Members are very supportive to each and every one.

Hope to see you around every now and the.

[myauq]

I can speak two languages, English and Rubbish.

can you say that in english please

[mmushr00m]

I tried learning the chinese dialects of Mandarin and Cantonese simultaneously.

Now I speak both badly. Maybe it was the similarity but I kept mixing the 2 up. Using cantonese words when speaking mandarin and vice versa. So now when I speak mandarin, its a mish mash of words and rythmn and enounciations.

And the practice or lose it thing. Very true, studied french from public school thru highschool thru 1st year Univ. Now I can hardly speak a word.

[londoedan]

I found learning a second language quite straightforward- it was Bahasa Indonesian which is very easy to pick-up - and after living there for 3 years I became quite fluent, could understand TV programmes etc..

However I did find this fluency a hindrance when trying to pick-up a third language and have now only managed to pick-up smatterings of Hindi, Mandarin, Vietnamese and Arabic along the way. Even now, I find the Indonesian words and phrases pop into my mind when trying to learn Thai and this has caused me to reply seveal time in Bahasa when staying in Thailand. Odd.

Londo Edan (which is Javanese btw - but thats another cerita).

[mmushr00m]

To the above....

I have the opposite problem. I picked up Bahasa Melayu and is now trying (vainly) to learn Thai Now when I speak Malay, Thai words pop in....

Thai words pop in too when I speak mandarin and cantonese.

Now not only do I have a horrible accent when I speak these language, I sound like a retard as well.

[bonobo]

I was taking Chinese (Mandarin) at the US Naval Academy and doing well when I was suddenly assigned to a foreign exchange program with the Japanese Navy.  So while still studying Chinese, I had to take a crash course in Japanese. I did OK with it, but I found that in formally learning two languages at the same time, it somehow broke down barriers within my thought-process, and I started interjecting words of Spanish, German, and even Russian into both my Chinese and Japanese. 

Prior to my starting on Japanese, I never interjected other words into my Chinese, but once I started the Japanese classes, the spigot was opened and I started interjecting words fairly often. I never interjected English words, though.  And many times, I never knew I had interjected, say, a Spanish word into a Chinese conversation until I saw the look of confusion on the face of the person to whom I was speaking.