Comments on: The Three Stages of Language Fluency http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:44:23 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Steve Kaufmann http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/comment-page-1/#comment-72459 Steve Kaufmann Wed, 06 May 2009 13:21:13 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/#comment-72459 Thanks Catherine and good luck with your French. Thanks Catherine and good luck with your French.

]]> By: catherine http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/comment-page-1/#comment-72454 catherine Wed, 06 May 2009 06:04:27 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/#comment-72454 i've listened to your explanation in 11 languages. I was shocked for a moment, since i myself also speak Cantonese. very impressive! especially your Japanese, i mean there is even no 'western accent' in it... your are my idol now, Mr Kaufmann. i’ve listened to your explanation in 11 languages. I was shocked for a moment, since i myself also speak Cantonese. very impressive! especially your Japanese, i mean there is even no ‘western accent’ in it… your are my idol now, Mr Kaufmann.

]]> By: Steve Kaufmann http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/comment-page-1/#comment-72435 Steve Kaufmann Mon, 04 May 2009 13:58:12 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/#comment-72435 French is easier for a person who knows Romance languages or even English because of all the common vocabulary. Learning Latin does not help in my view. The length of time depends on you. Give LingQ a try. French is easier for a person who knows Romance languages or even English because of all the common vocabulary. Learning Latin does not help in my view.

The length of time depends on you. Give LingQ a try.

]]> By: catherine http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/comment-page-1/#comment-72432 catherine Mon, 04 May 2009 06:25:29 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/#comment-72432 hi, i saw your article today and got very deep impression. thank you for your ideas :) BTW, i am learning French these days, how long does it take you to learn French? and, do you think Latin can really help ppl with Indo-European languages acquisition？ well, it is still ok if you didn't get time to reply:) best regards! hi, i saw your article today and got very deep impression. thank you for your ideas :)
BTW, i am learning French these days, how long does it take you to learn French? and, do you think Latin can really help ppl with Indo-European languages acquisition？
well, it is still ok if you didn’t get time to reply:) best regards!

]]> By: What is Fluency? http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/comment-page-1/#comment-71890 What is Fluency? Sun, 08 Mar 2009 22:00:42 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/#comment-71890 [...] http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/ [...] [...] http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/ [...]

]]> By: What is Fluency? Or should it be proficiency? http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/comment-page-1/#comment-71883 What is Fluency? Or should it be proficiency? Sun, 08 Mar 2009 18:30:15 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/#comment-71883 [...] http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/ What we wanted (and still want) is to be able, first of all, to function in a Spanish speaking country. To begin, this would be our goal: to be able to do all the things an able traveler needs to do — to read a menu, talk on the phone, tell a taxi driver the proper address, and generally stay safe and out of trouble. That would be our primary goal. (Not the first goal- which would be something like counting to twenty). Our ultimate goal would be to be able to carry on a conversation, both spoken and written, without long boring pauses and without sounding like a four year old. Fluency, for me, would mean being able to have that conversation on the telephone! [...] [...] http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/ What we wanted (and still want) is to be able, first of all, to function in a Spanish speaking country. To begin, this would be our goal: to be able to do all the things an able traveler needs to do — to read a menu, talk on the phone, tell a taxi driver the proper address, and generally stay safe and out of trouble. That would be our primary goal. (Not the first goal- which would be something like counting to twenty). Our ultimate goal would be to be able to carry on a conversation, both spoken and written, without long boring pauses and without sounding like a four year old. Fluency, for me, would mean being able to have that conversation on the telephone! [...]

]]> By: What is Fluency? « Learn Spanish, Travel Spanish Blog http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/comment-page-1/#comment-68877 What is Fluency? « Learn Spanish, Travel Spanish Blog Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:49:19 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/#comment-68877 [...] http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/ [...] [...] http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/ [...]

]]> By: Interesting Articles From The Web http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/comment-page-1/#comment-68616 Interesting Articles From The Web Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:52:11 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/#comment-68616 [...] The Three Stages Of Language Fluency [...] [...] The Three Stages Of Language Fluency [...]

]]> By: Steve Kaufmann http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/comment-page-1/#comment-68222 Steve Kaufmann Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:30:57 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/#comment-68222 Carmen, I do not think that we need to worry about forcing languages at children. The experience with French immersion in Canada is that there is very little difference in the final outcome between early immersion (from grade 1) and late immersion (grade 6). The important thing is the motivation of the learner. I would make sure your child develops a taste for reading. If your child is interested in listening to stories in another language, or if you have relatives who speak another language, or if you travel to another country this can also stimulate an interest in other languages. I tried very hard to get my kids to learn languages and failed. It was only later than one of them, who played professional hockey in Europe and Japan, developed this interest. Make sure your child enjoys reading, the rest will come. Carmen,
I do not think that we need to worry about forcing languages at children. The experience with French immersion in Canada is that there is very little difference in the final outcome between early immersion (from grade 1) and late immersion (grade 6). The important thing is the motivation of the learner.

I would make sure your child develops a taste for reading. If your child is interested in listening to stories in another language, or if you have relatives who speak another language, or if you travel to another country this can also stimulate an interest in other languages.

I tried very hard to get my kids to learn languages and failed. It was only later than one of them, who played professional hockey in Europe and Japan, developed this interest.

Make sure your child enjoys reading, the rest will come.

]]> By: carmen http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/comment-page-1/#comment-68179 carmen Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:55:52 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/the-three-stages-of-language-fluency/#comment-68179 Hi Steve: I was wondering what you think about children learning different languages. I think all of the studies show that children are "sponges" and that they learn at an early age. However, to send my child to a private elementary school with a mandarin immersion program will leave me barely having enough money for the mortgage and food... Do you think it's possible for my child to learn another language at a later age, for example, starting in middle school? Your article would say "yes," but I believe you're highly motivated to learn other languages. It's a different story when a parent has to play the "know what's best card" and recommend more studying. Thoughts? Hi Steve: I was wondering what you think about children learning different languages. I think all of the studies show that children are “sponges” and that they learn at an early age. However, to send my child to a private elementary school with a mandarin immersion program will leave me barely having enough money for the mortgage and food… Do you think it’s possible for my child to learn another language at a later age, for example, starting in middle school? Your article would say “yes,” but I believe you’re highly motivated to learn other languages. It’s a different story when a parent has to play the “know what’s best card” and recommend more studying. Thoughts?

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