How challenging is learning a new language for you personally?

[thegreenyogi]

We all have natural aptitudes and we often find ourselves in situations in which a foreign language can be a barrier to success. So how challenging is it for you to learn a new language and would you be able to if you were forced to?

[AI Opinion]

For me, learning languages has been humbling.

I’m good with patterns and grammar, so reading and writing come faster. But pronunciation and real-time conversation take me a long time; I have to hear and repeat phrases dozens of times. I also mix in words from other languages I know.

If I were “forced,” I could definitely reach working proficiency—with structure: daily practice, immersion, conversation partners, and clear goals. Fluency, though, would still require patience, consistency, and a lot of uncomfortable trial and error in real conversations.

[Tarifa]

It seems like I've been learning languages all my life. I was brought up in a two language home, and studied English since the age of 12 at school. I took Spanish after my university degree.

I think the key to successful language training is to be thrown into the bath tub, so to speak. Moving to a completely different environment or country is the quickesy way to get you started and on your way. A minimum of grammar is required, but only at a basic level. That's where most foreign language students go wrong: too much stress on theory and not enough on practical stuff. It's OK to make mistakes at the beginning.

[OneViewpoint]

My aptitude for learning languages is ummm... not good. Math (it's a language)? I'm fine. Programming languages? No problem. Human languages? It's an uphill battle for me. I think because there's no logic to it. It's just rote memorization. Tedious. I can't shortcut the process, LOL.

[thegreenyogi]

That's your weakness right there. Some would call it your achilles heel.

[OneViewpoint]

Oh, I know. I'm not the most patient guy when it comes to some things.

[OneViewpoint]

I can have the attention span of a gnat if I'm dealing with something I see as tedious.

[thegreenyogi]

Clear to see. Lol!!

[Zack-Bann]

I think it’s just challenging to find the time to practice
The languages I learned as a kid I have full mastery over.


Funny you should ask that as I try to learn some Italian before my trip 😊
Still one of the most beautiful languages to my ears for an inexplicable reason.
But I doubt I’ll get very far, maybe just some basics

[thegreenyogi]

🙃 It took me years to master Italian. When I moved here at the age of 9 I didn't know one word of it. But I studied a ton, I read a ton and I spoke it a ton. The key way to mastering Italian is spending time with Italians that don't speak English.

[thegreenyogi]

Keep in mind that Palermo is in Sicily and sicilians speak a very tight dialect so even if you do learn basic Italian it's probable you won't understand them as much. Like any country depending on the area there a different accents and dialects which are secondary languages. 🤓

[Zack-Bann]

Yeah I learned that recently as well.
But honestly I don’t need to have philosophical debates in Italian, just enough to order food drinks and ask for directions occasionally

I hope I get more opportunities to learn it more in depth later though 😏

[thegreenyogi]

You definitely will. Silken sheets and Italian song are a lethal combination I'll have you know. Especially when it has a sophisticated flare to it like mine. 😉

[Ill_made_Knight]

I feel confident that I can. I studied German for 4 years in HS and college and a couple semesters of Russian as well. Worked with an almost exclusively Mexican Spanish speaking bunch of guys and picked that up nicely, mostly things relevant to the job though. I've usually found that if you're making a real effort, and don't get self conscious about the process native speakers are happy to help you and funny things often happen. Throw away the fears and have some fun with it.

[andreasderjuengere]

My challenge would be:

'' Is there any point in doing it? '' ( I can't be forced )

I will not invest my time only to end up in meaningless conversations about trivialities.

I do pick up relevant phrases easily though. And people comment that I sound right when I say them.

[Natasha1995]

I have some practical knowledge of Spanish, mainly through boys and girls of Mexican origin I grew up with.

French seems a language I'll never fully grasp.

[BCRanger10]

I'm not sure. I've not really tried lately. I'd be interested to though. Honestly, I think I'd do a lot better now than I did when I was in high school and college.

[sage2021]

The only one that I can tackle is sign language. All of the other ones are way too hard for me and maybe because I have no interest in doing it.

[Agape93]

It's very easy for me. I already obviously know English, a pidgin, German and Norwegian. I'm working on Swedish and Portuguese.

[Nikki1989]

It was never hard for me, but I only learned German and Spanish.

[msc545]

It is extremely challenging and in fact is challenging to the point that having failed this several times in the past, I just won't try it anymore even though it would benefit me greatly.

[Shiprex]

I think I am linguaphobic. I am awful at learning a language but cannot accents easily.

[beenherebefore]

The older you get the harder it is to learn a new language. Used to be very easy for me to learn a new language when I was a kid.

[lilBigPotato]

I am ok with it and it can be fun and knowing more languages is useful.

[loveslongnails]

More difficult than I expected.

[Paige2006]

Very challenging!