HELP: I'm facing a crisis

[Bast]

I keep changing my mind about what languages to learn. I know that learning languages is a lifetime commitment. But I seem to be starting a language and not following through. Therefore, I never gain fluency in any one language but I just seem to know about how many languages work and get to beginner or intermediate level - which in itself is fine - but I need to settle down and pick one or two to become really fluent in.

I'm not going to talk about which languages I've been studying and which languages I'm interested in. I've said so on the board before anyway. And besides, it really isn't the point. I know why and how I want to learn them. It's putting it into action that's the problem.

The problem is that I'm interested in too many. How do I weed them out. How can I learn to commit?

The other problem is the US is the only country I'm interested in making a permanent move from Australia. Kind of doesn't help.

For me, it's more about interest rather than practical usage. In my language classes, I meet a lot of people who are going to work there, study there, have boy or girlfriends etc... That's helpful and you kind of don't have a choice as to whether to follow through or not.

 

[nonconformist]

Bast starting something she doesn't finish? Say it ain't so!

 

[gangleri2001]

The answer is not traveling to a country where that language is spoken, in fact, that is not helpful at all in most cases (it's only to improve your fluency, not to get it). The answer is reading and listening to it always you can. Trust me: it's the only way that works.

 

[Atticus]

Maybe it would help if you wouln't take it so seriously. Human minds sometimes works that way: if you're thinking it's a life time commitment to study some language, it's no wonder why you eventually drop it out. People don't want to take life time commitments.

 

[gangleri2001]

Maybe it would help if you wouln't take it so seriously. Human minds sometimes works that way: if you're thinking it's a life time commitment to study some language, it's no wonder why you eventually drop it out. People don't want to take life time commitments.

Wrong. I do. Do you want to marry me in Saudi Arabia?

 

[Masquerouge]

Maybe you've tried this already, but you could pick up books in the language you want to read? It will help you get immersed in the language, and will last you for a while...

For French, I suggest "a la recherche du temps perdu", by Proust. A light 3,200 pages

 

[RedRalph]

Bast starting something she doesn't finish? Say it ain't so!

Bast, you should use this thread title for every thread you start

 

[Hitti-Litti]

Maybe you should for example study a little about the cultures and history of the nations where the languages you're considering to learn are spoken. If you find one of them more fascinating than the others, then I think you'll know what to study.

 

[Atticus]

Wrong. I do. Do you want to marry me in Saudi Arabia?

Is gay marriage legal there?

For French, I suggest "a la recherche du temps perdu", by Proust. A light 3,200 pages

Yeah, that's easy for beginners, with half page sentences after you're not sure if the guy wanked or not even if your native French

 

[Masquerouge]

Yeah, that's easy for beginners, with half page sentences after you're not sure if the guy wanked or not even if your native French

ssshhhhhhhhh! You're ruining all the surprises!

 

[Sharwood]

Bast starting something she doesn't finish? Say it ain't so!

Best. Post. Ever.

Bast, if you ever actually show up in this thread again, I'd suggest learning Esperanto. It is considered the easiest language on Earth to learn, and makes the learning of other languages, particularly Western European ones, easier in turn.

 

[Masquerouge]

Best. Post. Ever.

Bast, if you ever actually show up in this thread again, I'd suggest learning Esperanto. It is considered the easiest language on Earth to learn, and makes the learning of other languages, particularly Western European ones, easier in turn.

Except that nobody speaks Esperanto...

 

[Atticus]

For an universal language that's a big fault.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I keep changing my mind about what languages to learn. I know that learning languages is a lifetime commitment. But I seem to be starting a language and not following through. Therefore, I never gain fluency in any one language but I just seem to know about how many languages work and get to beginner or intermediate level - which in itself is fine - but I need to settle down and pick one or two to become really fluent in.

I'm not going to talk about which languages I've been studying and which languages I'm interested in. I've said so on the board before anyway. And besides, it really isn't the point. I know why and how I want to learn them. It's putting it into action that's the problem.

The problem is that I'm interested in too many. How do I weed them out. How can I learn to commit?

The other problem is the US is the only country I'm interested in making a permanent move from Australia. Kind of doesn't help.

For me, it's more about interest rather than practical usage. In my language classes, I meet a lot of people who are going to work there, study there, have boy or girlfriends etc... That's helpful and you kind of don't have a choice as to whether to follow through or not.

If you're interested in combining a foreign language with the place you live, and you want to move to the US, I would suggest Spanish.

 

[jessiecat]

Bast, you should use this thread title for every thread you start

Yes. I thought it sounded familiar. Good advice there indeed RRW.

 

[Cutlass]

In the US, or the Americas generally, the most useful second language is Spanish. Only a relatively small percentage of people outside of Brazil in the Americas speak languages other that English and Spanish. And between English and Spanish I would think you could probably get by in most of Brazil. So that would really leave Haiti as the odd country out, but you don't want to go there without a group in any case.

 

[Simple Simon]

If your own indecision is a crisis, then I understand all your whine threads. My recommendation therefore is to start making decisions. Get a grip, do something. if it is the wrong decision, at least you did something, instead of whining.

 

[Sharwood]

Except that nobody speaks Esperanto...

Plenty of people speak Esperanto. And I'm more concerned with the fact it makes other languages easier than it itself.

@Simple Simon: Thank you for saying what EVERYONE has been thinking for a long, long time.

 

[GoodGame]

Not sure what the problem is. Tackle it analytically. Do you want to be an interpreter? You can still be an interpreter of any language in the world, and an American national.

I'd approach it from why I even want to learn a language, and then secondarily what languages are technically easy for me to learn.
If you just want to be a bilingual American, consider learning Spanish first, and French second. Also consider that some Spanish in North America borders on dialects, so you might even want to learn regional differences between say Mexican Spanish, Puerto Rican Spanish, etc..

 

[Birdjaguar]

In the US the only useful second language is English, uh I mean Spanish.