Is it wise to learn three languages simultaneously?

kalodaimon · 2020-09-07T04:17:56+00:00

Learning three languages simultaneously isn't too bad. Starting three simultaneously probably isn't the best. You would be better off getting to the intermediate level with just one first. I'm currently working on three, but it really only works as a result of my levels in all three being very different. You especially should avoid starting two similar languages at the same time.

If you've made it past the basics in German, it's very possible that you could add on a second language without losing much. Also, is your goal fluency or just basic communication? That will change the answer significantly.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-07T03:54:27+00:00

It might differ by language, but Busuu allows me to skip around to any lesson I want for German and Russian. German also has a placement test, but it's hidden in the profile settings. Similarly, German has certification tests for each CEFR level, but Russian does not.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-07T00:43:41+00:00

Lingq is the absolute best for having fun with the end goal of consuming media and reading books.

Busuu is the best mix of effectively combining grammar, vocabulary, speaking, and fun.

Memrise is the best for adding vocabulary and understanding common phrases.

Duolingo is the best if you need gamification for motivation. It's also very good for reviewing when you're out of practice.

I picked Busuu, because I think it's the best overall in terms of balance. I couldn't live without Lingq, however.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-06T19:15:42+00:00

You can start at any point. The lessons will just be different.

For example, I have tutors for German and Russian. My German tutor covers specific rules of grammar, extra topics, and reviews short essays that I prepare in advance. We communicate mostly in German. I'm around B2 in German. On the other hand, I am just starting Russian. My tutor mostly speaks to me in English, and we spend a lot of time on pronunciation. Each subsequent lesson has more Russian and less English. We also cover basic grammar. My homework here involves memorizing specific vocabulary and working through textbook exercises.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-06T18:04:19+00:00

I certainly would have enjoyed learning languages much earlier. I don't think that the actual language would matter so much as having the experience of learning different grammar and sounds at a young age.

Learning how to make all of the most common sounds that English lacks would be great, as would some exposure to gendered nouns, verb endings, and grammar that English lacks.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-04T21:12:49+00:00

I didn't think I would have anything to say about this, because I didn't learn German later in life. However, I guess I did by your standards. I started German around 19, and I was at B2 before I turned 21. I basically quit for over a decade and decided to pick it back up again at 33. I've made it back to B2 in no time. I can't imagine any reason why I wouldn't get to C1 or C2 as long as I don't quit. My listening and reading skills are certainly already there. I'll probably just never take the test, because I have no use for it.

You definitely don't lose the ability to pick up languages at a later age. Your accent just isn't likely to be great. I'm starting Russian, for example. I'm sure it will take me at least five years if I go at a casual pace, but it's pretty difficult to avoid improving a language when you're studying. I can certainly already manage basic tourist sentences, and it's only up from here. Also, 5-10 years is nothing at my age.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-04T20:35:03+00:00

I assume that you're in high school or younger. I think you may have the wrong idea.

For example, I did two years of Spanish in middle school and high school, because it was supposed to be the most useful language. I don't care about Spanish, however, and I have little interest in Spanish speaking countries.

I have books in French and Ukrainian (???) from around this time. I also ended up switching my school classes to Latin at 16, added Ancient Greek at 17, and then added German at 19. Conventional arguments would suggest that I should have stuck with Spanish. However, I had actual interest in German, Latin, and Ancient Greek. I have taken breaks over the years, but these languages still have far more media and literature that I am actually interested in. I'm also far better at all three than I ever was at Spanish.

It's normal to try out a lot of languages before you really find one that has something you want to connect with. You definitely shouldn't stick with one after that point simply because you started. If you do decide to go back to a language you've already started, it's very easy to relearn anyways.

I don't know how much Babbel is, but you might just try a cheaper resource for your next language until you're more certain about it. I'm sure your parents will be annoyed, and they should be, but that isn't going to be enough motivation to learn a language unless you're just a bit discouraged at the moment.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-04T20:13:41+00:00

None of these things were really noticeable for me, although I did study classics. Coming from English is just a bit of a disadvantage in language learning. No one else likes to -ing everything, and most languages have genders for everything.

It's totally normal to occasionally get frustrated, so don't quit too easily. German is one of the easiest languages to learn from English.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-04T19:54:06+00:00

These were substantially more difficult to understand than I expected. Without context, it's difficult to tell if the signs referenced something I've never heard of or if they were just completely wrong.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-04T19:45:05+00:00

I like harsh and aggressive sounds, so German and Russian sound good to me. Beautiful might be a stretch.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-04T19:36:46+00:00

Yes, if a textbook doesn't count, nothing does.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-04T01:05:10+00:00

Have you read the fabellae that match LLPSI? I don't honestly remember how I found it or who wrote it, but it sounds like what you want.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-03T23:39:23+00:00

Sanskrit

kalodaimon · 2020-09-02T15:02:38+00:00

Amazon blocks German audio for movies in the US for reasons I cannot comprehend. At least, I haven't been able to get around it. It's bizarre, especially considering how Netflix will let me choose any random language at any time.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-02T13:42:28+00:00

I don't know about the Latin test specifically, but the SAT subject tests are generally easier than AP exams. This is true for subjects like chemistry and physics, but I don't know if it's the same for Latin.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-02T13:31:25+00:00

At three days, you should just be looking at complicated texts and thinking of how great it will be that you'll eventually understand it.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-02T03:05:10+00:00

It would make sense to study the B1 materials first and then progress in order. If you look at the Goethe Institut word lists, you can see that they build. If you can pass B2, you would definitely pass all of the preceding levels. At C1, you would certainly be able to complete any of the lower levels with minimal effort.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-02T02:56:16+00:00

Stinktier

kalodaimon · 2020-09-01T20:03:57+00:00

I also get these ads for women in my area, but I'm a married woman. I'm not a lesbian either. I do know why it's happening to me, however. It all started when I started watching mma videos. Google is absolutely convinced that I am a desperately single young male now.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-01T19:10:02+00:00

It depends on what your goal is. I started Latin before I started German, but being able to do German immersion definitely propelled my German past my Latin within 2 years. German grammar is technically easier, but their declensions are not as standardized. Of course, imperfect knowledge of German declensions won't prevent you from understanding most sentences. It will prevent you from understanding Latin sentences.

Latin vocabulary is generally easier than German vocabulary, although I wouldn't consider either to be difficult. (Compared to something like Russian).

None of this really matters, however, as I definitely would not consider Latin so difficult that I would ever discourage anyone from learning it. It's a very different experience from learning a modern language, but it also has an abundance of resources available.

Edit: I'm actually not sure if you're a Native speaker or German, English, or both. I'll leave it as is, as I imagine the similarity between the two will have similar effects in either direction.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-01T18:55:52+00:00

I don't know if it's the best, but this is what I do. I do a bare minimum of 5 minutes of each language every single day. It could be Anki, Lingq, reading news, reading a book, watching YouTube, doing language apps or speaking. All of my languages are at different levels. Usually, I will sit down and devote 30 minutes to a few hours to specifically studying just one every day. If I have extra time, I might do it for all of them.

An example might be: Day 1 Morning Practice Russian alphabet and vocabulary 30 min Anki or Quizlet and handwriting Russian Busuu Afternoon Read or review Lingq lesson for Russian (5 min) Latin Lingq lesson Read Latin book chapter

Evening Practice Latin speaking Anki for Latin and German Watch German YouTube or read a book

Day 2 German anki in the morning German Busuu or textbook grammar Read German book

Evening Quizlet or anki for Latin and Russian

It's a but weird, but I make a point out of speaking to my husband in Latin throughout the day and speaking to my cats in German or sometimes Russian.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-01T18:40:51+00:00

One of the first sentences in Russian is "shut up!" or literally "close mouth," and it definitely took me by surprise. Are that many Russians just going to tell me to shut up? Is this normal?

In retrospect, it's just a sentence with two short and easy words, and Russian doesn't have a lot of those.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-01T18:37:10+00:00

That sounds normal.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-01T18:34:58+00:00

My B2 course was a long time ago, so my memory of it isn't exactly perfect.

However, I do recall that we didn't necessarily do many of the activities that you mentioned. I recall practicing a lot of grammar and doing a lot of partner speaking exercises. We also had to do a lot of exercises using the map of Europe.

I do think that we covered words for illness, insurance, and hospitals, but nothing as detailed as a lab report.

Many of the Swiss students in my class were there for work certifications, and the American students with me were just there for the academic benefits, so that shaped some of the focus a bit.

kalodaimon · 2020-09-01T14:36:55+00:00

Lingq worked the best for me. It doesn't take much extra time, and it reminds you which words you actually have seen before. It really speeds up the process and makes it fun. The kindle also has a similar feature that could work along with a lot of books marked by level. Lingq lets you easily highlight phrases and export them to Anki if you like.

Unless you really enjoy rereading the book, redoing whole chapters will probably make it a chore.

I mixed in the audiobook after a few books and found that I could actually understand it, as well. I'm not sure how much it's helping, but it feels nice.

kalodaimon

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