Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with bilingual

Swiss Army Knife of Language

Knigel — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:19:14 -0800

What are the pros and cons of learning more than one language? How can one adapt to a multi-language world? I'm in Korea now, have been in Cuba, and have been surrounded by many languages and cultures. I have learned bits and pieces of a few languages; however, I'm not a master of any--even English. Here in Korea, most people are focused on learning English; however, so many seem to be struggling. When I was in Cuba, so many people spoke four or more languages, and many were quite good--even children.

I know there are obvious benefits to learning many languages; however, what are some disadvantages? From my understanding, people's vocabularies in both languages might be limited if they become bilingual or more. How much of a deficit would there be? Is it major or minor?

Are there ways that learning a third or fourth language will benefit the second learning processes, or is it usually a distraction? For example, when I try to speak Spanish, my Korean takes over and I get entirely confused. Is it really best to focus on one language and then move onto the next? Are there any shortcuts? Can limitations be overcome?

My ideal is to learn bits of as many languages as possible. I'd like to be mostly fluent in 2-3, but be able to at least say some things in many languages. What is the best way of doing this?

I also want to offer advice to my friends and students about how they can study various languages more effectively.

It seems that we are living in an international world where knowing some basics of many languages is very beneficial; however, I haven't found any good websites that focus on learning many languages at once.

How can I build a swiss army knife of language?

Indian English Speakers with Shifting Western Accent

Non Prosequitur — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 10:04:40 -0800

Is it a widespread behavior for multilingual speakers of english to get a more anglicized accent when talking to a native speaker? I don't mean just common code-switching (someone getting a drawl in Kansas, or someone going 'you understand' vs. 'you feel me' in different contexts.) But people going from like, Indian english to completely westernized english (in accents, not necessarily in diction or dialect) without making a conscious decision to do so. This is besides people 'faking' an accent because of class issues related to these things.

Multilingual job listings required?

Aleen — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:41:58 -0800

Discrimination filter: Must a company which has both an english and a spanish version of its website have job postings in both languages? Details follow. I work for a business that provides a service to companies in the United States and Puerto Rico. Business is conducted in english in the continental US and mostly (though not completely) in spanish in Puerto Rico, as may be obvious. We need to know if we are legally required to put job listings in both languages on both versions of the site, regardless of the location we are hiring. To date, all of our job listings are in english and are only linked on the english version. The majority, if not all of the people we have hired in Puerto Rico were recruited through an employment agency, if that matters.

You are not our/a lawyer and other standard disclaimers apply, of course.

Bilingual Garcia Lorca online?

kalapierson — Sun, 24 May 2009 00:27:54 -0800

Federico García Lorca poems, in side-by-side Spanish and English: where can I read them online? (Websites, Google Books previews, etc.)

French-speaking university for a student from the U.S.?

non-kneebiter — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:36:49 -0800

What are some universities which teach in French that a student from the U.S. should consider? (Especially in Quebec.) I'm a high school student in the U.S. currently trying to figure out where I would like to go for college. I'm interested in going to a school in a French-speaking location and at a school where classes are taught in French. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions for places to consider, especially in Quebec (or New Brunswick?), from anyone who has attended one or knew someone who has.

Thanks!

Dating bilingual: how can we improve our communication?

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:21:17 -0800

Bilingual/interlingual relationship filter: how do I not treat my S.O. condescendingly? I've been in a relationship with him for a few months. I live in his country. He speaks good, but not great English and is in a grad program that involves writing in English. I read many simple words of his language, but only speak it on a very basic level. He often helps me with my language skills, especially pronunciation, and sometimes I ask him to only speak it to me so I can improve. But, often he corrects me even if I don't ask for it and it's a running joke how I'm not really able to pronounce his name correctly because my rolling-r skills are lame.

The problem is that he hasn't asked me to help him, so I'm not sure what's kosher or not. Also, I often find myself simplifying what I say to him to an extent that I know is unnecessary and even condescending. Other natives tell me that they wish native English-speakers would correct them, but I'm pretty uncomfortable with it. I tutor some natives in English writing, but my S.O. has never asked me for this and I've always thought maybe it was because he might be embarrassed or something. Yeah, I also am afraid that if I ask him about this, it will come across as condescending. Should I just dive in and correct? Are there more gentle methods I can use? Should I just let him speak the way he wants?

I don't know many others in similar relationships, so tips are appreciated!

How to make a bilingual child?

signal — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:27:49 -0800

I'm trying to raise my son to be bilingual in English and Spanish. I'm Chilean, but spent a good part of my childhood in the US and lived there for 2 years as an adult, so I'm close to 100% bilingual in Spanish and English and have a US accent. My wife lived in the US for 1 year, and speaks some English with a Spanish accent.

We currently live in Chile and speak to each other in Spanish. She speaks to our son in Spanish, I speak to him in English. I set the TV's audio channel to English for cartoons.

He's 1.25 years old and starting to speak, but only in Spanish, except for "Mommy". He seems to understand me, however.

I'm worried that as I'm the only English speaking person in his life, he won't really learn to speak the language.

Any tips, research or experience on how to make a bilingual kid is very appreciated.

At home language learning for me and my child

nanojath — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:36:52 -0800

Learn-at-home systems for languages: are they worth it? Could working with one help facilitate encouraging bilingual learning in a child? I've been thinking about trying to reinvigorate my Spanish using one of the audio-based learning systems (computer and text components are also acceptable but anything hands-free is preferred as I'm at home with a child for the time being). I'd also like to focus more on Mexican and/or Latin American idiomatic Spanish, which would have more utility for me than what I learned in high school and college.

I took four years of Spanish in high school, and after a couple year's break a couple years in college. I always did well though I never had any sort of immersive experience and I was never what I'd call truly fluent. At my peak I was able to slog through Spanish literature, do reasonably well with films, and when I traveled in Mexico a few years later I could manage conversationally with reasonably patient people. But that was a decade ago and I've done almost nothing with it since.

First question, opinions (direct experience preferred) on whether at-home learning systems are worthwhile and recommendations on brands. Getting maybe over-optimistically specific, anyone ever try working with something like this with a child (4 year old) running around? It would probably involve a lot of stopping and starting, would this disjointed approach badly impede the process?

This is getting more theoretical but my son is becoming very attuned to the Spanish that forms a small but consistent part of the shows he watches on PBS and some of his books. At 4 with one non-fluent parent (Mom speaks very minimal Spanish) is there any hope of developing some bilingual ability short of some sort of special school environment? Anyone try learning a language while raising a young child? Any other thoughts on encouraging language acquisition in children when your own skills are nominal is appreciated.

Should I interfere with my bilingual children's speech patterns?

BinGregory — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:16:39 -0800

To what degree should I moderate my children's use of language at home? I am raising six children aged 10 and below outside the US with my wife who is an non-native English speaker. I want them to be fully bilingual. As it is, they speak with my wife in her language, with me in English with tons of foreign vocabulary and a fair amount of imported grammar, and with each other almost exclusively in their mother's tongue. Example: "Me play-play only" = My four-year-old's way of telling me "I'm just kidding", a word-for-word translation of "Saya main-main saja" from the national language. My wife and I speak to each other in both her language and mine, since we're both still trying to improve our respective foreign language skills.

My questions are these: What positive steps can I take to ensure that they are able to speak English as well as they speak their other language? Is there any benefit to enforcing an English-only policy in the house? Is there any benefit to correcting their grammar or vocabulary when they speak directly to me?

Let me be clear that I am happy they are proficient in their other language, and I accept that they may come to feel more comfortable speaking with one another in that language, even when/if they are perfectly fluent in English. I don't feel left out from that, as I am fluent enough in that language to understand them. I just want to make sure that English will be a native language for them, one that they can speak as effortlessly and comfortably as I do.

Pointers to any resources online would be greatly appreciated.

Inspired to ask by the tremendous responses here

Help my wife find a bilingual job

Hands of Manos — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:45:52 -0800

My wife has been a Spanish teacher for 7 years. This year she said "no more" and quit. She wants to find a job where she can use her language or at least be in an environment helping Hispanics. We've done the online thing and are coming up with nothing. What else can we do She has a major in International Business and her masters in Spanish. She's smart as a whip, very organized, detailed and can handle project/time management with ease. She doesn't want to deal with managing people or be in a disciplinarian setting.

We've already gone through Monster, Career Builder and the other major jobs sites and they just lead to nothing. We're in Atlanta and we're up for relocating if needed.

She DOES NOT want to be in an education setting. She'd prefer non profit or corporate however she has considered home schooling kids.

Any help?

Help me find other bilingual bands

chicainthecity — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:10:00 -0800

I'm a big fan of Dengue Fever, the LA-based band that has songs in both English and Khmer. Can anyone recommend other bi- or multilingual American bands (preferably, but not necessarily, indie)?

mas despacio por favor

youthenrage — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 09:30:19 -0800

I need to improve my spanish, specifically my listening comprehension. I've done all the Pimsleur and Michel Thomas courses, and I can easily read spanish with very few problems, but I want to get better at understanding native speakers. Anybody have any good resources? I can read the newspaper, web sites, books no problem, I chat over gchat and aim with my spanish friends all the time but my comprehension of the spoken language is still lagging way behind. I listen to the spanish language news podcast from democracynow.org, and can understand that without problems, but I'm 99% sure the announcer is not a a native speaker, and they don't use a whole lot of tenses either. I try to watch Telemundo and listen to podcasts like Radio Caracol, but Telemundo is just waaaaay too fast and insane for me to do anything but pick out more than a couple of words and Radio Caracol is a little better, but the format of the show (think the morning zoo crew type shows here in the USA) and the low quality of the podcast (sounds like it was recorded in a submarine) makes it hard to understand. What I really need is a recording of a couple of people talking back and forth in a civil manner (without the interruptions and cuts of a talk radio type show - like Radio Caracol) I'm thinking something along the lines of This American Life in Spanish.

Anybody got any resources for me? Any tips on how you improved? Should I just keep watching telenovelas and wait for the day when all of a sudden I get it? Basically I feel like I've gotten to the point where my spanish is good, and I'm having trouble getting to the next level.

PS: to preempt everybody who would like to answer this question with any variation of "the best way to learn is to spend a long time in a spanish speaking country", 1. I've done that before, 2. I'm going to do it again, but can't afford it right now.

My vocabulary is large, it contains multitudes

seawallrunner — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 07:56:26 -0800

LanguageArts: to the bilingual (or more) people in the hive... Did you grow up in a two-language culture? I grew up in Montreal, Canada, where French is the main language and English runs a very close second. Even in my adult years, I speak two languages with my friends - shifting from French to English and then back to French during the course of a conversation. I'm not unique in doing this, I hear this often in Montreal, my friends do this too no matter their proficiency in English (or French). There appears to be no rhyme or reason for the 'switch' to happen, or no designated switcher in the conversation, who changes one language to the other (it could be me, or it could be the other person).

And this has little to do with the degree of closeness in the relationship - I've seen this done in retail stores between salespeople and clients, as well as within families or between friends.

So - my question: are we Canadians unique in this regard (I've seen this in Ottawa as well), or are there other countries where this happens as well? I'm thinking of countries with more than one official language - Spain (Spanish and Catalan), Switzerland (German, Romanche, French, Italian), anywhere else? Does this happen in Asian countries? In Latin America?

I'm not talking about moms switching languages with their toddlers in order to teach them another language - although this may have something to do with it, why us adults are doing this in our later years.

Fluently bilingual (or more) people, tell me more about how you talk with your friends - do you stick to one language only or do you drift from one language to the other to express thoughts and emotions? And if so, which languages do you use?

How many languages should my kid have to learn?

PuGZ — Sat, 06 May 2006 23:24:42 -0800

Polylingualkidsfilter: (Hypothetical) I'm a Fluent English/French speaker and my wife is a fluent English/Mandarin speaker. Living in an English-speaking country (Australia), in what language should we speak to our kids? We're both of the opinion that knowledge of a second language is a wonderful skill that no one should be without. In this environment, we curious as to whether our kid(s) would benefit from speaking a LOTE (Language Other Than English) at home and English at school.

Unfortunately, I don't speak a word of Mandarin, nor does she speak a word of French. Could we realistically speak to our kids in our respective foreign languages and would it be beneficial for them, or quite the opposite? Would speaking to your father in French, your mother in Mandarin and your friends in English give you an incredible advantage over your peers, or would it only serve to confuse you and would you end up with less-than-stellar literacy in all three languages?

Thank you for all your input, Mefites. :-)

German jokes at a bi-lingual wedding

ajp — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 15:22:41 -0800

How do I make a multi-lingual best man's speech at a German wedding? Very similar to this previous post I am to make the best man's speech at a German wedding. However there are some differences from the other post.

First, both bride and groom are German, child-hood sweet-hearts from the south of western Germany. The wedding will be in Germany, the guests will mainly be German with some English, Italian, and other nationalities. I'm told that most people will understand English, but I'd like to do something that will reach everyone, and particularly the German-only speakers.

Second, it has been specifically requested that there be no props, photos, PowerPoint, etc. Frankly, that's making things a lot trickier, but I suppose I'll have to go along with it.

I am looking for a way to break any language barriers and encourage everyone to mingle. I'm thinking of drawing inspiration from Eddie Izzard's "le singe est dans l'arbre" skit, wherein he parodies the useless French he learned at school. Possibly I'll take a German joke as the theme for the speech, or an English joke and transcribe it into German... who knows.

Any suggestions for the best approach to take? I don't really need any tips on German etiquette or weddings in general, just how to make a bi-lingual speech without saying everything twice, and without leaving half the audience waiting for a translation. Oh, I can speak a smattering of German and have friends who would help with translation.

Language learning tips!

anjamu — Fri, 24 Feb 2006 18:43:48 -0800

I'm at a stage where I need to memorize vocabulary in a foreign language, and I am looking for advice, tips & useful software. The more recommendations, the happier I'll be, especially as regards flashcard software and that sort of thing.

I'm also interested in radio broadcasts in Spanish, French & Portuguese, and possibly slowly-spoken Hindi. And in bilingual texts in the latter.

And memorization techniques, can't forget those.

Ooof.

How to find an English-speaking techie in Korea?

runkelfinker — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 07:42:17 -0800

How can I find someone in Seoul, Korea, who speaks English and Korean and is reasonably tech-literate? I need to track down someone bilingual and reasonably tech savvy in the Seoul area to help me trial some technology services over there and report their findings back to me. There doesn't seem to be - or at least I've never found - a good way on the Net to find people based on certain attributes (e.g. their location, their language skills). Does anyone have any ideas?

Can I become an interpreter?

dead_ — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 11:58:14 -0800

Do those of us who started learning our second language after high school have any hope of becoming interpreters? Actually, a few questions here. From what I understand, to work as an interpreter/translator, fluency in 3 languages--minimum--is required. This would be an absolutely ideal career for me (with English, Japanese and Korean being the three languages), however, it seems like it would be nearly impossible for somoene who was not born into a household where two languages were being spoken (for example, Mexican immigrants growing up in the US, speaking Spanish at home and English at school). Do you think there is hope?

Is this a goal that will simply require too much time? Im 23 right now. Also, are there any translators out there? How does one even begin to break into the field? Any comments related to interpretation and translation would be welcome, I realize this is sort of a vague question.

Best way to learn Spanish

jason9009 — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 16:55:01 -0800

I minored in Spanish in college about 10 years ago, but remember very little of it. Just went to Tijuana to and had the opportunity to be immersed in the language and culture for 5 days. A lot of it came back and I was able to communicate .. now I have a huge desire to be bilingual. I'm back in Tennessee now ( where I live ) and won't be able to go back to Mexico for awhile. Whats the best way to learn to speak fluent Spanish in Tennessee? More classes? Books? Tapes ? I don't have any Spanish-speaking friends.. any ideas ? Is it even possible ?

Luggage Tag Languages

NGnerd — Sun, 11 Jul 2004 16:51:21 -0800

I just bought an overpriced piece of luggage and as a method to make sure it's easily recognizeable (like all modern luggage it's plain black fabric) and lower it's inherent value i want to place a sticker on it that says "This is not your bag" in as many languages as possible. I just don't trust babelfish not to make my bag say "bag yours not" so i'm hopeing i can steal some of that bilingual knowledge out there.

What advice do you have for raising a bilingual child?

Ljubljana — Mon, 02 Feb 2004 10:22:37 -0800

Raising a bilingual child. I'd be grateful to hear advice, experiences or recommended resources for raising a child in a dual-language home. [more inside] I often hear the "Don't worry about it, kids are sponges, they'll learn anything" line, but I'm not totally convinced, and would love to hear more about things to watch out for, common mistakes, good tips, etc...

A few details: My wife is Slovene, I'm American and we're currently living in Slovenia. Right now we're thinking about both speaking English at home. Luckily, English is widely spoken here, and almost all radio songs and television shows are in English. I'm guessing this will help a lot.

In our extended family, however, there are a variety of languages spoken (Serbian, German, Mandarin Chinese) which we're not quite sure what to do with. Is it possible to overload a child with languages? Is it good for, say, one grandfather to speak to her in Serbian and another in German? Or will this do more damage than good?

(She's only 3 months right now, so there's no urgency.)

Any info at all would be greatly appreciated!