Learning a New Language

Kai NB

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How fast do you think it takes to learn a new language? When I say this, I mean fluent enough to have regular casual conversations in that language. Also, is it a good idea to try and learn two or more languages at once?

Why I'm asking:
I am asking is because I want to learn quite a few languages. The reasons being I like each language's respective culture, like the sound of the language, and it could be beneficial to learn them.

I currently know English and Arabic, and have basic, if not mediocre, proficiency in Spanish. I want to end up speaking English, Arabic, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese fluently. Those are the ones that I simply want to know. Any other language I may want to learn would be French, but that's it.
I'm assuming it would take about 3 - 5 months for each language.
 

Stark

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I too want to speak multiple languages and incorporate them into a profession hopefully, that's what I'm studying in college languages. I might start with Mandarin Chinese or Japanese, I already speak English, Italian and Spanish, also Latin but that's a dead language.

OT: It depends on your dedication, it could take months or years.
 

Gokuy

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It took one man to learn Chinese in 3 week using this website
 

Kai NB

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I too want to speak multiple languages and incorporate them into a profession hopefully, that's what I'm studying in college languages. I might start with Mandarin Chinese or Japanese, I already speak English, Italian and Spanish, also Latin but that's a dead language.

OT: It depends on your dedication, it could take months or years.

That's really cool! I mainly want to learn the languages I stated because I would really love to travel to Italy, Spain, and Japan. There's so many amazing things to do and see there, so I wanted to have the full experience by making sure I learn the languages.
 

-Punk-

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Some are harder than others , but usually a couple of years + you need to be practicing all the time as well or you'll become rusty and forget . I learned Sign language a couple of years ago but I never really practice after it and kinda forgot .
 

Kai NB

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It took one man to learn Chinese in 3 week using this website

Woah. Actually, that site looks a lot like the Duolingo app I'm using. Too bad there's no Japanese on it
 

Prog

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Kore wa mizu desu!

My french teacher once mentioned it could take about 3 months of dedicated learning/practice.
 

Kai NB

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Some are harder than others , but usually a couple of years + you need to be practicing all the time as well or you'll become rusty and forget . I learned Sign language a couple of years ago but I never really practice after it and kinda forgot .

True, I'll be sure to keep up. Also, I totally remember that I also wanted to learn sign language too! Guess that's another language on the list
 

PRODUDE

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Italian should be easy for you since you know spanish. It is a little bit similar and easy to learn. I learned it hen I was in high school and I understood it very well with a lot of practice I'm sure you can get all those down easily.
 

Kai NB

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Kore wa mizu desu!

My french teacher once mentioned it could take about 3 months of dedicated learning/practice.

That's definitely reassuring. If that really is the case, I could probably get 3 languages down in a year. (I doubt I could fit in a fourth in a year because that would be cutting it close)
 

Beyond the Horizon

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Depends on how often you practice, I guess. If I decided to actually use German more often, I probably would have been fluent right now, but I'm not. I think it'll take at least six months with lots of dedication. I wouldn't advise learning more than one language at once, especially if, say they're both Germanic or maybe romantic. That may make it a bit confusing on you, but that's just a personal thought. Best of luck to you though :) .
 

Kai NB

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Italian should be easy for you since you know spanish. It is a little bit similar and easy to learn. I learned it hen I was in high school and I understood it very well with a lot of practice I'm sure you can get all those down easily.

Well, I only took Spanish 3, and it still takes me time to actually think about everything I say, so I'm not quite there yet, but that's good to hear if I finish that, Italian should be easy
 

Kai NB

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Depends on how often you practice, I guess. If I decided to actually use German more often, I probably would have been fluent right now, but I'm not. I think it'll take at least six months with lots of dedication. I wouldn't advise learning more than one language at once, especially if, say they're both Germanic or maybe romantic. That may make it a bit confusing on you, but that's just a personal thought. Best of luck to you though :) .

Thanks! I'm probably not going to do two languages at a time, so I think I should be good!
 

Itachi Edo

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It depends. Do you mean hold a conversation as in the basics, like asking for time and what are you wearing? If that's what you mean then you can learn all those phrases and responses in a couple of weeks. If you mean greater fluency then 3-4 months of strenuous study, eight hours a week minimum, is likely what you need. That was the case for me when I learned Spanish.
 

Prog

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That's definitely reassuring. If that really is the case, I could probably get 3 languages down in a year. (I doubt I could fit in a fourth in a year because that would be cutting it close)

Key words: Dedicated, practice
Once you do that, you should be good. I want to learn Japanese as well. Any good sites you would recommend?
 

Kai NB

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Key words: Dedicated, practice
Once you do that, you should be good. I want to learn Japanese as well. Any good sites you would recommend?

I just recently started using Duolingo, an app on the App Store or Play Store. It has very good reviews and from what I've experienced so far, it's very fun, interactive, and engaging to use. It has a fair amount of choices for languages (though I have yet to see a Japanese one). I'm going to use it for Spanish and Italian, and possibly French, but I have no idea about where I plan to learn Japanese
 

Prog

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I just recently started using Duolingo, an app on the App Store or Play Store. It has very good reviews and from what I've experienced so far, it's very fun, interactive, and engaging to use. It has a fair amount of choices for languages (though I have yet to see a Japanese one). I'm going to use it for Spanish and Italian, and possibly French, but I have no idea about where I plan to learn Japanese

Actually, there was a site I was using, JapanesePod101.com, but my free trial ran out and I don't do all of that Premium membership thing. You should check it out, it is really nice.
 

Mellow

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i do shit the old fashioned way and write out sentences and try to translate songs from jap to eng.
 
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