Speak 5 languages fluently

Both of my parents can speak 5 or more languages and I would like to achieve the same.

English is my first language, but I’d like to speak five languages other than my own.

I’m fluent in Spanish on the most basic of levels and currently working through classes in it towards a certificate (which is basically a minor in Spanish.)

Next, I’m going to try to tackle French. I’ll be in France next year for an unknown amount of time, perhaps quite frequently, and I’d really like to be able to communicate on some level.

Then, Russian. Why? Because it’s awesome.

At some point, I’d really like to learn Gaelic. I visited Ireland in 2002 and fell in love with the heritage, the people, and of course, the language, which really isn’t too prevalent, but whatever.

Lastly, American Sign Language for good measure and because I know a few people who I’d love to be able to communicate with in it. My dad’s best friend’s son is deaf and I always feel horrible when he tries to get something across to me without a pen and paper.

I’ve always had a love for learning new languages. And this kind of hobby can really only help me in life, rather than hinder me.

I think communication is the key for our existence in community. I love to learn, I love to travel… So I think we all should know at least 5 languages! :)

I already know:

- Spanish (my original language) Si si :) mi lenguaje original!
- English, the universal language
- Turkish, I am learning turkish ama, Turkceyim iyi degil :( yet

I pretend to learn:

- Arabic
- French

While I wouldn’t dream of claiming to speak French fluently, I do at least have basic French mostly under my belt—and I have the effin’ credit hours to prove it. Unfortunately, the books used for my FRH 114 course and my FRH 115 course were different. Very different. Both authors used differing styles and introduced material in different sections. I officially have something of a gap in my tense work.

I am going to take a break from French for Irish (still not Gaelic – because that’s the family of languages that Irish falls into – still definitely Irish). For the time, I am all Frenched out.

1. Spanish
2. English
3. Portuguese
4. Italian
5. Japanese

Spanish and English I’ve learned from my grade school life, I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Portuguese and Italian I’ve learned from my parents and my own will. As for Japanese, I’ve been studying it casually for over two years back in Puerto Rico, and I just recently moved to Japan, which has helped me obtain fluency.

i think that studying medicine and studying law is killing my ability to learn other languages… learning as an adult is certainly bad enough, but all of the lingo and the jargon that comes with these specialties is like languages unto themselves…

I am really not setting this as a serious goal. Like I am not going to run out and learn all these languages, but I am studying several of them when I have time, and hopefully one day I’ll become decently fluent in a few more. So if I could choose 5 to eventually become fluent in, they are:

1. Mandarin
2. Hebrew
3. Arabic
4. Korean
5. Japanese or Cantonese (depends on where I end up in life)

I’m already fairly fluent in Mandarin (though a bit rusty at the moment), and study Hebrew in my spare time. Korean I have studied in the past a little bit, but really haven’t progressed very far.

I think I’ve decided on a number five language (assuming English doesn’t count): Dutch.

I know a few phrases in Dutch right now. My great grandparents met in Amsterdam and eventually settled in Western Michigan (where there is a large Dutch community in the Grand Rapids/Holland area). When I was growing up, my grandmother frequently used some Dutch phrases. Generally, she used them when she gave us a reason for ordering us around. ‘Jonge benen’ was her favourite reason (young legs).

Anyway, the list is now:

1. Irish
2. French
3. Latin
4. Romanian
5. Dutch

In order to truly appreciate, understand, and feel a language, thus becoming fluent in it, one has to devote a great amount of time to the pursuit of lingual knowledge. Because humans live for such a short time, it is generally accepted the magic number of languages one can be truly fluent in (while not having a life exclusively devoted to understanding languages) is approximately five. Based on that notion, I’ve picked the five languages I want to know. Fortunately, some of them are cheaters, which will allow me to at least converse with people having similar languages.

1. Irish
2. French
3. Latin
4. Romanian

I’m leaving the fifth slot open. I have no idea if my native tongue, English, counts or not. I sort of hope it doesn’t, I’m sure there’s another language I would love to learn fluency in.

As of now my understanding of Irish is just beginning. I really like it so far. Additionally, what little I’ve worked on is really helping me perfect my accent. Of course, there are so many variations in Irish accents from county to county, but the base one is getting better. That’s something.

French: I’ve actually had some formal education with this one. I’m far from fluent, but I have a basic understanding.

Learning Latin is something I think most historians aspire to. Actually, considering my specialisations (Irish history and general British History), Latin, French, and Irish would all benefit me quite a bit.

Finally… There’s Romanian. That one is just for fun: completely and purely. Though, I will admit to having some fascination with Romanian history and culture.

I already speak English(duh) and Spanish fluently. I speak Italian pretty well, but I am not quite fluent, so to speak. I am taking French now, as well as improving my Spanish grammer but I also hope to learn Arabic in the near future, maybe in college. I have always wanted to learn Portuguese, but I don’t know how realistic that will be. I want to take a food tour of Europe and the Middle East and eat from the best chefs in the world (and a couple of street vendors, too).