Job Discussion Forums

[scot47]

Which are you ? I fell into the trap of language learning addiction but now that I am almost 70 I think I have got over it. How many Language Learning Addicts get into TEFLing as a way of life ?

http://blogs.transparent.com/language-news/2017/01/23/language-learning-addiction/


Hi my name is Jim and I learn languages...........

[spiral78]

Hi, Jim, I'm Poly:-)

[Dr X]

[twowheel]

poly--English, German, Chinese, Japanese

twowheel

[scot47]

But 2-wheel - how do you deal with this abnormal compulsion to acquiire other tongues ?

[Yanklonigan]

Scot47,

Sadly but truthfully I'm a mono-American. I studied Latin in grammar school (Latin was still used in the Catholic Mass), Spanish in high school and German at the university level: I barely passed the classes and I retained very little.

I made a gallant effort to learn Japanese during my five year stay there and I tried to ignore the Arabic language during one my year stint in the sand box.

Years ago I even dabbled with the Irish language!

My brain seems to be hard-wired against learning another language.

[twowheel]

[scot47]

My name is Jim and I am engaged in the study of Medieval Slobodian. Ever since my first visit to Slobodistan I have been intrigued by this language and the culture of all Slobs, ancient and modern..........

[c_destru]

moved to latin america for 5 months, learned advanced level spanish, forgot half of it. working with deaf folks so studying asl, about intermediate level. want to learn arabic, taking classes next week.


definitely a collector.

[twowheel]

[nomad soul]

Believe it... or not.

This Man Speaks 32 Different Languages
Ioannis Ikonomou works for the European Commission as a translator. It's a prestigious position, and yet it still sells him short. You see, Ioannis speaks 32 living languages. He belongs to a very small and special group of people called hyperpolyglots who have the extraordinary ability to attain fluency in many different tongues. According to Ioannis, there's no special trick or easy way to become a hyperpolyglot, but the best way to start is to boldly put yourself out there and SPEAK.

Video: http://www.greatbigstory.com/stories/the-ultimate-polyglot-this-man-speaks-32-languages

[simon44]

Hi Scot, I grew up in an academic and multi-lingual family. My father was a professor of languages at Leicester University. He grew up in Egypt in the 20's and was trilingual in English (family language), Arabic (local language) and French (school main language).

I remember that he was able to speak at least 12 living languages, plus academic-level knowledge of languages such as Middle High German, Old Norse, Icelandic etc.

My mother used to write (in French) biographies of famous/infamous French celebrities...

I was destined to study for a BA in French and Italian, but somewhere this went amiss and I ended up studying Rocket Science.

I have a great interest in learning new languages - During my forthcoming holiday break I'm catching up on my Myanmar language knowledge.

I think I was very fortunate to grow up in Europe (many different languages within a few hundred Km), and now working in south-east Asia (ditto applies).

[Knedliki]

How did people manage to learn languages in the good old days?

It must have been a real struggle before a new magical methodology appeared every fortnight to make things much easier!

[scot47]

Hard work, good textbooks and teachers who flogged their students regularly.

[twowheel]