Who here is bi-lingual? Help Needed!

Right, i have a serious decision about my life to make and need some serious input! so ...

I may have the chance to study in a country, fully paid for on a *very* generous grant each month, purely to learn the language (intensive 12 month study course. 8 hours a day. every day apart from sunday), then 6 months working there, using my skills.

I'd love to do this, but i don't think i'd ever use another language. So i ask you this:

Is your second language of any use to you? Do you use it every day? if so, why, or why not? Did you develop it for fun, or because you needed it?

Any input would be greatly apprectiated!

Jamie

I speak 4 languages and understand about 6 languages in total.

But I am fluent in 3 of them for speaking.

I use 2 of the languages every day and that is English and Swedish.

So for me these 2 languages are not for fun, they are necessary.

But depending where you live and so forth, the language can be useful for you in the future or it may not.

But knowledge is power as they say, more you learn, the more you can learn at the same time, our brain is like any muscle, we need to train it.

Kandor

I am fluent in 3 languages and am very glad that I took time to learn them. I think you should jump on that opportunity and learn it. It might open up new doors for you, you just never know. Also, it will definitely look good on paper.

I speak 4 languages as well and i love it
Especially the fact that women love it when you tell them nasty things in foreign languages (harr-harr)
Latin languages are the best for that
Besides, you can yell at people without them knowing what you're saying
(i do this in apple stores sometimes, lol)
But the questions you should ask yourself to help you decide are:
Are you interested in going to that country?
Do you plan to ever go to that country again?
Do you know anyone in that country?
Speaking a foreign language is always good,
it's good excercise for your brain plus it could come in handy when you're looking for a new job.
But what's important before doing this kind of trip,
is that you are excited to go to that country and check out the people there.
Because if you're not comfortable with that, it will suck.

So what country is it?

jammie,

Having studied and continue to study a second language, I find it a real help. As we age this is an excellent way to make the brain work hard and stay young...altho that's probably not a worry of yours at this point. If I had your opportunity I would jump on it with both feet. Not only do you have the opportunity to learn another language but to visit and learn from another culture. And a word of advice, if I may, if you do take advantage of it, remember that when you visit the new country you will be the minority. So, don't expect the culture to conform to your ideas of how things should be done. Just learn and enjoy.

Learning a second language is a GREAT idea. My second is Spanish. It changed how I think about things. Learning my third language (not fluent but intense study - German) was totally cool also. If you don't go I volunteer to go in your place.

The really "sweet" part is living in a different country / culture.

i read that learning languages is the best way to stay mentally healthy.....

the best way to learn is to go to the country in which the language is spoken, imo

Hey Buddy, I do not think that it is at all relevant what other people are doing with their second (third, fourth) languages.

It seems to me that YOU can do well with using a second language. It sounds like a great opportunity.

Go to another country, learn their language and culture (please don't say it's Mexico) and you will be getting paid!

And if that is you in your avatar, you look like a young guy, and this is a great chance for you to LIVE!!!!!

20 years from now, you will hate yourself (probably) for blowing off this opportunity.

But, as the saying goes, "To each, his own". So I guess you will have to follow you heart on this one. Do that, and you will never go wrong!

Jammie

I can speak 3 other languages, but only 1 fluently (French), the other 2 (Italian and Bulgarian) just conversationally. I also learnt Russian and Latin at school, but not using them I've largely forgotten them. It's unbelievably useful to have these skills, and unusual as a Brit. In France, locals almost never speak to you in English, unless they see that you're trying to speak French. Lots of the world still speak French as their second lanuage (parts of Africa and Eastern Europe). Knowing the Cryllic alpahbet gets you round places like Bulgaria, etc. Knowing Italian allows you to guess most of Spanish, which is the official language in 22 countries. In Florida now, alot of employers wont give you a job unless you can speak English & Spanish. I could go on....

But speaking another language is also fun. BTW, which country is it you're thinking of stuying in?

N

Think of it this way, Learning another languege can make you several more hundred thousands a year. Why? it opens doors to other markets. English is an international languege, but know other langueges opens doors to untaped market opportunities.

OMG! DO IT BOY, DO IT!
Go there, and go to tokyo as often as you can!
Trust me, the women will hunt you down!
You're blond right? The women over there LOVE european guys, and being blond is an EXTRA PLUS!
There's a place in tokyo called the "flirt street" and it's filled with bars and clubs.
The only purpose of that place of course, is to "meet" new people
So if a girl looks into your eyes, you know SHE WANTS IT! ahahaha
Just make sure she's at legal age (make her buy you a drink or sth.)
And don't forget the condoms bro!

Simply living in another culture is a mind broadening and door opening experience. You already seem like a very bright individual - this will be an experience that perhaps later in life you cannot take advantage of... for various possible reasons - kids / significant other / family issues...etc.

As someone above said, if it is a country that holds a least a bit of interest for you - go for it. Second languages open up doors to other 'women' of the world... (pardon me for saying that to the women on here, but it is true). I was married to a Costa Rican girl many years ago - it didn't work out in the long run, but it was all worthwhile. Now I'm dating a woman from Cambodia - (not that I speak Khmer - yet) but let me tell you - they are some of the nicest people you cannot even imagine. Thai is good too... but you might get 'distracted' there... and hey, if you like dudes, well they prettiest ones are in Thailand!!! Straight Thai guys have it made - less competition!
PM me for an opinion of the country you are considering - I'll give my two cents if I have any knowledge to share.

I've studied Spanish, French, Portuguese, Khmer, Thai, Mandarin... fluent in only the first two.

(just saw that you posted the country - Japan) dude GOOOOOOO!

My second language is Japanese and I have been living and working here for around 6 years.

If you have the opportunity to be immersed in the language and get paid for it, then I would seriously recommend that you consider it.

Unless people without Japanese language ability, have sought after skills, e.g. finance sector, some IT areas etc, then job prospects can be limited to teaching conversational English, which is fine and many people do. I did it myself when I first came here, before moving into sales and Online marketing.

Having another language does add to your CV but more importantly, helps you integrate into the community and commercial sectors a lot easier as well as gain a deeper understanding of the culture. Also very useful for chatting up guys/gals depending on your preference.

As xhanuman said, "Simply living in another culture is a mind broadening and door opening experience."

If you would like any further info, send me a PM and I'd be happy to assist where I can.

Cheers

Jamie, knowledge is never a bad thing, I am personally fluent in 5 languages but understand 8. afaik you are already fluent in several programming languages, and you have been saying that each language will tackle a specific problem, same thing goes with languages. Good luck with your new adventure. Besides traveling to a new country will open new opportunities, you will have the chance to meet new friends and most importantly will open your mind.

I also met and married a girl in Costa Rica, we are now happily married and have a baby. We just moved back to Switzerland in April but we will move back to Costa Rica next year.

xhanuman said:

Simply living in another culture is a mind broadening and door opening experience. You already seem like a very bright individual - this will be an experience that perhaps later in life you cannot take advantage of... for various possible reasons - kids / significant other / family issues...etc.

As someone above said, if it is a country that holds a least a bit of interest for you - go for it. Second languages open up doors to other 'women' of the world... (pardon me for saying that to the women on here, but it is true). I was married to a Costa Rican girl many years ago - it didn't work out in the long run, but it was all worthwhile. Now I'm dating a woman from Cambodia - (not that I speak Khmer - yet) but let me tell you - they are some of the nicest people you cannot even imagine. Thai is good too... but you might get 'distracted' there... and hey, if you like dudes, well they prettiest ones are in Thailand!!! Straight Thai guys have it made - less competition!
PM me for an opinion of the country you are considering - I'll give my two cents if I have any knowledge to share.

I've studied Spanish, French, Portuguese, Khmer, Thai, Mandarin... fluent in only the first two.

(just saw that you posted the country - Japan) dude GOOOOOOO!

Click to expand...

jammie said:

Right, i have a serious decision about my life to make and need some serious input! so ...

I may have the chance to study in a country, fully paid for on a *very* generous grant each month, purely to learn the language (intensive 12 month study course. 8 hours a day. every day apart from sunday), then 6 months working there, using my skills.

I'd love to do this, but i don't think I'd ever use another language. So i ask you this:

Is your second language of any use to you? Do you use it every day? if so, why, or why not? Did you develop it for fun, or because you needed it?

Any input would be greatly apprectiated!

Jamie

Click to expand...

'...This reply is going to be very controversial and I apologise in advance if I upset anyone.

Everyone outside of the US knows that North America are not the World leaders they think they are and their popularity is at an all time low.

The World is changing and, while it used to be an advantage to speak any of the European languages; Spanish, French, German, Italian etc., all relatively easy to learn, you now have a huge advantage if you speak Thai, Japanese, Korean or any of the Chinese dialects.

The second language you try is the most difficult to learn, after that additional languages come fairly easily, especially if Latin-based.

It really is a no-brainer. An old girlfriend of mine came from Austria to the Canary Islands to learn Spanish when I lived there. After becoming fluent in a little over 18 months she stayed, has a very good job and is now fluent in several European languages and has never looked back. Languages open doors to job opportunities, travel and hot foreign chicks'.

If you're not convinced now, you never will be...lol.

English is the language of the Internet and Aviation but if you want to be taken seriously outside of the US you MUST speak at least one other language.

Europeans are so used to traveling to other countries we cannot believe many North Americans don't have a passport. It's like they are all Hillbillies. (Sorry for the controversy, but I did warn you).

There is no prestige in being so insular and traveling from state to state means nothing. You are still in the US.

In most European countries, for every extra language you speak you will get up to a third more added to your salary. This does not apply in The Netherlands and Belgium where almost everyone speaks a minimum of three languages.

I'm busting a gut here to try to convince you but PLEASE, PLEASE...If you have a chance to travel and learn another language. DO IT!

themagician

I am using my second and third language daily (second because of work, third because of country I live in) and would say that anybody who has the chance to learn another language should jump on the opportunity straight away. Even if you feel you might never use it again in the future, it will definitely give you a grasp of understanding different cultures and broaden your own horizon and mind, especially if you are studying it in another country!

Wow! Thanks for all the positive replies!

Seo, i didn't think of it that way. That really opened my eyes, thanks!

& TheMagician, i guess i don't really have a choice after that!

I can't wait now =]

Jammie

jammie, I would also suggest if you can, to go and live in the country to learn that language. There's nothing like total immersion to really learn.

My husband is French and moved to the States five years ago, a couple of years later we moved to Argentina for a year where I worked hard on my Spanish and because of his French he actually understood quite a bit of Spanish.

We now have a daughter that we're raising trilingually with English, French and Spanish as well as sign language. My hope is that with parents from two different backgrounds and already being a little world traveler, that she will be interested in learning other languages as well.

Learning more languages, as someone said, broadens your thinking - both culturally and intellectually, increases your career opportunities, and simply feels damn good

Go for it! If you don't then you'll always look back and wonder what if I had gone...