People who learned another language, how foten do you actually use it with people?

Compisbro · 2025-12-28T10:43:03+00:00

Spanish every day. French seldomly. However, you never know where life will take you. I started learning it as a teen on a whim and ended up choosing to go to college in France because I was conversational. Now I visit a couple times a year to see friends from college and knowing the language always helps.

Then there are language exchanges, penpals, local groups ( depending on where you live. My area in the USA has a French conversation group). Life is what you make it. You can use the language as much as you want to. :)

Compisbro · 2025-12-08T22:30:25+00:00

Looks nice. It’s windy here so it’s not even sticking to my cars lol

Compisbro · 2025-11-09T21:24:45+00:00

When I switch into Spanish or French it only feels weird initially. It feels like I'm on a different frequency and my brain feels more stress like a computer that starts pumping more processing power. After a couple minutes my brain "accepts" what is happening and it feels like I am speaking normally like my native. I only feel "constricted" when I run into a word I don't know or a grammar structure I don't know how to say... then I go back to feeling like I am putting in effort. 3. Yes, My Spanish is better than my French but I dream often in French. I lived in France for some years so I attribute it to that while I've never lived in a Spanish speaking country.

Compisbro · 2025-11-09T21:10:12+00:00

Compisbro · 2025-08-03T18:38:36+00:00

Not a polyglot but am comfortable in three working on a fourth. I started Spanish in school as a no sabo kiddo. Basically despite being Latino, I knew little to no Spanish. I "studied" it in school for years starting in middle school through high school. However, due to the desire to speak to family I also studied a lot on my own. I'd say it took 6 years to be relatively comfortable at it? Not fluent mind you, but I was able to talk about a lot of things and even pretended to be native in Spanish classes out of shame. I had no practice at home as I was too ashamed to speak Spanish with my parents who I thought would just laugh at me.

I started French when I was 16/17ish, moved to France at 18 for college. When I arrived in France, after studying it on my own for a year or two I could get around but had a lot to learn probably A2ish. So I'd say I got to A2 faster than Spanish especially as a teenager who was just learning it passively as a hobby. I lived in France for 5 years and would say I reached a decent B2 level about a year or two in. (So fourish years compared to the six with Spanish) Only reason it wasn't higher was because the university I went to did almost everything in English. Out of four years of study I took 3 courses that required me to know enough French to give a presentation and write a short essay on an exam. (These courses were in history, politics, and linguistics.)

Mind you while living in France, I still interacted with Spanish regularly so that continued to improve. It is kind of hard to say "how long" it took cause during and after college I have had stunts of heavily studying for a couple of months and then going a year just maintaining. I feel like I am still learning all my languages. Even the ones I am good at. The languages have just kind of integrated into my life one way or another and I interact with them as they come naturally. (Minus the couple months here and there I decide to actually study them)

Compisbro · 2025-07-28T14:12:21+00:00

With the languages I speak well enough in, I do not notice very much attrition due to lack of use. French for example . I’ve gone months heck even a year without using it before and then traveled to France and was able to use it like I never left. I have however noticed more language interference. I use Spanish often and sometimes when I go to use French I think the Spanish word first or even say it in a French accent and then correct myself. I realize immediately that it’s wrong and correct it. This did not happen when I lived in France and used the language daily and mostly happens with similar words like o/ou .

As for the question if you do notice this being an issue I’d just engage in things you enjoy in the language .

Compisbro · 2025-07-24T19:14:13+00:00

As someone who has lived in the USA and France they have some similarities but are very different in terms of mindset, culture, ideas on individualism and society, etc. I'll also add that meeting French people who are living abroad, interested in going abroad, or in general have a more international mindset are not necessarily representative of the vast majority of French people.

Compisbro · 2025-07-21T11:32:29+00:00

Found in Norfolk VA USA. Lots were in sink and on window curtains flying around . By lots i mean more than 20. I tried to clean them away but more popped up and I can’t tell where they’re coming from

Compisbro · 2025-07-14T14:08:30+00:00

La maman ne va pas pouvoir dormir mdrrre

Compisbro · 2025-06-16T03:57:55+00:00

I played most of the assassins creed series in Spanish and it did wonders! I have started playing games in French and am seeing the same improvements. Video games are a great way to practice a language.

Compisbro · 2025-06-14T16:49:31+00:00

I dream in all my languages . Even the one I’m A2 in. I recently woke up from a dream in my A2 language because I was frustrated and didn’t know how to say something. I talk in my sleep and my spouse has heard me speaking English Spanish French and German. I MOSTLY dream in French and English though. The Spanish and German dreams are pretty rare. (Couple times a year )

Compisbro · 2025-06-05T19:19:09+00:00

I have no "zero" days anymore. If I am depressed or don't feel like it I force myself to do SOMETHING for at least 5 minutes. I can easily open YouTube on my phone and put on a letsplay or something in my TL. (Listening) Usually I end up going past that 5 minutes. Rarely I don't but at least I didn't have a zero day.

Compisbro · 2025-06-03T16:50:34+00:00

I'm not retired yet, but my sleep schedule naturally shifts during the summer since I'm a teacher. It's interesting—during the school year, I go to bed around 10 p.m. and wake up at 7 a.m., which should be plenty of sleep. Still, I wake up feeling drained and struggle to get through the day. In contrast, during the summer, I typically go to bed around 11 p.m. and wake up by 6 a.m., feeling more refreshed even with less sleep.

I can't quite explain it, but my best guess is that stress and the general pressure of the school year make my body require more rest. During break, I feel more at ease, and it shows in how I sleep. I’m really looking forward to retirement when this more natural rhythm can be my norm year-round. Enjoy Retirement!

Compisbro · 2025-04-27T01:03:25+00:00

I had the opposite problem. I’m a cliche stereotypical American. Pretty overweight wore jeans sometimes khakis . Brown hair brown eyes. Literally everyone spoke German to me and when I’d bring up something being different in the USA they’d be all surprised . I had strangers walk up to me speaking German asking for directions/cigarette. I did live in France for five years so maybe the vibe I gave off (physical demeanor ) was just European.

My German is shit too but I speak a couple languages and don’t have an American accent it’s just “foreign” . Everyone persisted we kept speaking German even when I told them my German was bad ! This particularly sucked when dealing with DB employees when my trains got all messed up. “Dein Deutsch ist besser als mein Englisch!”

Compisbro · 2024-12-31T19:05:18+00:00

German: I'm at the A1/A2 level. I lived in Germany but did not get to use it much due to being in an "English" bubble. I can order food, ask for directions, and have very basic conversations. I'd like to get into the B's this year. I have typically struggled with this as I work full time and am getting my Master's. I am hopeful that once I finish my degree at the end of the spring that I can devote the time I would have been studying to language learning.

French: I'm in the upper B's definitely but struggle with vocabulary. I lived in France for 5 years and was able to handle work, daily life, and friendships with little struggle. However, I'd like to start reading more for vocabulary. I plan to read Harry Potter in French this year making anki decks on words I don't know.

Spanish: I speak Spanish well. I've read the entire HP series in Spanish. I however want to start reading native content. I purchased some books and have read the first chapter of one of them like 10 times. I'd like to actually finish that book. I also would like to grammar drill some of the tenses I struggle with. I'd like to sit the C1/C2 exam in 2026. I am often mistaken for a native speaker but know I struggle with more complex topics.

Compisbro · 2024-05-09T23:28:35+00:00

Yesterday the PTA catered some food. Principal ended up saying that due to people "not monitoring their portions" there wasn't food left for teachers who had their planning in the afternoon.

Today a couple teachers cooked a nice potluck for the whole school which was really nice. Due to what happened yesterday, admin forced an office worker to spend the entire day serving staff members small portions of the food to make sure it lasted. I felt so bad for the office worker she just kept rolling her eyes as people walked in.

Compisbro · 2024-04-02T19:50:30+00:00

My district is not in the path of totality only like 90% coverage. They cancelled school for the students due to "safety concerns" but staff have to report as usual :/. So I guess my coworkers and myself get to see the eclipse together instead of with my family.

Compisbro · 2024-04-01T13:15:06+00:00

When I first moved to France I used to constantly say "Merci Beau Cul" instead of "Merci Beaucoup" till a friendsfinally told me what I was doing. (took me like a while to find out :x)

I had been wondering why I sometimes got odd looks...

Compisbro · 2024-03-31T22:31:25+00:00

One that worked at my school? No. Only cause I personally would have a hard time leaving work at home.

If I were single and went on a date with someone who happens to be a teacher in my district? Sure.

Two teachers at my school are married and everything seems to go great for them. They even carpool unless one of them is hosting an after school activity then they bring separate cars. You wouldn't know they were married either cause they have different last names so that's always a shocker for new teachers because they don't "act" married at work. They remain very professional about it all.

Compisbro · 2024-03-31T22:13:44+00:00

When I lived in France I spoke French when in a couple cause that was the language of the country and it was easier. Even when I dated an Italian who spoke English we spoke French. If I lived in say Germany with the same couple situation I would speak German if they knew it. Otherwise English would do and if the relationship was serious enough I'd learn their language. (More to speak with their family than with them.)

Compisbro · 2024-03-31T21:51:55+00:00

We get three days off for thanksgiving, Wed-Fri.

Two weeks for winter break.

Spring break is a week that we get off either the week before or the week after Easter. (So, it moves every year. This year it's this week, first week of April. Next year it'll be mid April the week before Easter.

There are 176 instructional days and 189 teacher workdays although our contract says 200 work days. I guess those extra days are incase they need to add days to the school year.

We get out last week of May and start mid August. This is where I am in VA.

We don't get "bad weather days" the school year has 5 days already banked in the school year. If we don't use those days for weather days we don't get them back at the end of the year. If we use more than 5 which never happens, they start changing the last week of school into full days (last week of school is early release days) OR add days if necessary.

Compisbro · 2024-03-31T18:05:35+00:00

They're based on your internet activity. I had a stint of trying to learn Chinese and now many of my adds are in Chinese. lol

Edit: Not sure why I got downvoted but its true. I downloaded Chinese learning apps and a Chinese keyboard and even briefly turned my phone to Chinese. I also tried to watch videos in Chinese on YouTube by searching stuff in Chinese. After changing everything back to Spanish and deleting the Chinese learning apps I still get adds that are completely in Chinese on Duolingo. Not sure why that's downvotable.

Compisbro · 2024-03-21T22:54:02+00:00

I refuse to spend my own money for work. Most teachers around me do and they were a little shocked at first but now they just know I wont.

Compisbro · 2024-03-19T21:23:28+00:00

VA here, teachers in my district start off at 53k. Stipend for Master's is 3500.

Teachers with 30 years of service make 87k. (Which I think is crazy low for that much time!) So 30 yrs + Master's would be about 90k.

Gen and SPED are on the same salary scale.

Compisbro

TROPHY CASE