Posted on 12/02/2018 1:28:11 PM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
Can I Learn Two Languages at the Same Time? In short, yes, it is possible to learn two languages simultaneously. Our brains are frequently required to learn similar topics at the same time. In fact, all educational curriculum count on the fact that you should be able to process and filter information from multiple categories concurrently. Even in other situations, our brains are primed to adjust to new tasks as needed on a regular basis.
Motivation matters– especially when attempting to learn two languages at once. If your only goal in studying two languages at the same time is to become multilingual, you are likely to fail. There is little motivation to spur your forward progress and make the challenges worthwhile.
On the other hand, a person who is trying to learn Chinese and French in order to get a dream job is much more likely to persevere.
(Excerpt) Read more at brainscape.com ...
No, I can’t.
As a music teacher, I see people learn several instruments at once. Same part of the brain as for language learning, I am told.
If the two languages are similar, absolutely. There are a lot of parallels between Spanish and French.
No reason why not.
Many in Europe grow up learning and speaking multiple languages.
Like Java and Python?
Children do it all the time. The pathways are slightly different so while their dendritic trees branch in multiple directions, speech itself comes slower and improves slower, but in the end they are fully bilingual. Worth it if the situation is right.
Paul McCartney can pretty much play any instrument. At one time, he played bass, drums, piano and lead guitar on Beatles records.
Yes, of course. What a stupid question.
Why can’t everybody just learn to speak English? This would make things much more convenient for me.
Actually on Duolingo, I’m up to my fourth language.
I started with Spanish, French, then Polish and now learning German.
I hope to do Russian next, and my background in Polish will help there.
My goal is to be fluent in all of those languages in five years. I try to spend an hour every day on it.
Learning new skills is good for keeping your brain active, and some studies indicate it helps against acquiring dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Does Body Language count?
One of the Spanish carols made me hungry: "Mi burrito sabanero."
C and C++
healthy human brains are language sponges (my term) when a person is young but changes occur in the brain at about the time of puberty that change that dramatically.
I went to a school that offered a once-a-week Spanish class. I started in 3rd grade. While I can’t claim to be fluent in Spanish, the Spanish I learned then I know as well as English—I don’t have to think about it, I just know it. Languages I’ve learned since always require me to think about what I’m trying to say, how to conjugate verbs, etc.
Offering foreign languages could and should start in Kindergarten—maybe even a couple and continue through grade school/jr. high.
I’m getting old enough that I’m beginning to forget English.
C/C++ and Python.
My observation of people IRL is that that is a prime truth. A family friend has a six year old that surprised the hell out of us at dinner one night. She insisted that she order the food for us at the local Chinese restaurant. So we humored her. She proceeded to order the meal in Mandarin. Her mother was as shocked as the rest of us. The kid had learned it during their two hour per day commute off of an ipad. She told me over Thanksgiving that she is working on Spanish. I have known adults that can’t even order the basics in Spanish, let alone Mandarin.
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