How many languages do I really speak?

In elementary school, a classmate told everybody that she spoke many languages. She had learned some basic expressions in all of them.

As a communication coach, I am often asked how many languages I speak; which languages and how many of them perfectly. I always feel a bit awkward with the question. Often, I try to avoid an answer altogether. First, I have no clear answer for myself. Second, I want to avoid creating a boastful impression. (If I had a Ford Mustang – my favorite car, I probably would drive it only where nobody might recognize me).

In writing this, I hope my answers can be helpful to you as you learn and improve foreign languages.

It is no big deal.

This again may sound arrogant. Just wait a second. I am a slow learner, especially in languages. It usually takes me years to be fluent in a language. That’s OK for me. I willingly adopt the “turtle method” of making small, but consistent steps every day. I am not in a speed contest with anybody. If people consider me dumb, because it took me 5-10 years to learn a language: So be it.

Apart from obligatory schooling in Germany (unfortunately, no homeschooling allowed), and some courses at the university, I did not learn any other language in a traditional way: no vocabulary learning, no grammar exercises on paper, no intensive courses, no apps.

The only thing I did and do is: I regularly expose myself to different languages. I have a big electronic and less so physical library in different languages. I read in Wikipedia. I am currently subscribed to 102 podcasts in 19 languages. I consume content only in areas of my personal interest: literature, history, economics, philosophy, self-development. While reading or listening, I sometimes play in my head with words and try to create meaningful sentences that I could use. I regularly think, write and speak (mostly for myself) in those languages.

Here are the key elements for you:

·        regular exposure to quality content, coupled with a patient attitude (I do not need to understand everything)

·        specialization: even in your native language, you are not a fluent speaker on every imaginable topic. So why try to know everything in a foreign language?

·        a playful attitude: We can play with words like children play Lego

·        Produce something yourself every day: thoughts, videos, a personal journal.

Why is this no big deal? If you expose yourself to anything for many years, in my case for more than 20 years, you will automatically remember something. If you watch sports consistently, you will know all the statistics, results and names of players. There really is not a big difference.

Now, how many languages do I really speak? During the last 25 years, I have been learning more than 35 languages, at a certain point. For about three years, I had a weekly podcast on psychology in 21 languages. Currently, my goal is to limit this hobby. I picked 19 languages (European languages only, apart from Arabic) for reading and listening. Out of those, I picked 6, in which I regularly produce content for my students and clients.

Which of them do I speak perfectly? Well, actually, none (not even in my native language, German). Due to the way I learned them, I can read with ease almost everything that interests me (well, in Arabic, it takes me a lot longer), understand most conversations and podcasts, and talk quite freely on academic topics or in real-life situations. Do I make a lot of mistakes? You bet! Do I have a German accent? Of course, I have. If you ask me, what the words for “screwdriver” or “pillow” in all those languages are, I will fail most miserably. But, if you asked me to give an interview or a public presentation at a university, I will accept it with pleasure. Will it be perfect? Certainly, no! But, I will apply the respective language as an instrument to convey useful information. If even one listener leaves with a practical insight that changes his or her language learning process, that is more than enough for me.  

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Gerhard Ohrband is a psychologist, book author and language teacher from Hamburg/Germany. Starting as a shy student, he currently speaks over 21 languages and assists business executives and companies in developing better international communication skills.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerhardohrband/ 

Want to get rid of insecurity and bad feelings regarding the foreign language(s) you have already started to learn? Want to learn a new language, without going through various levels of standard courses? You feel you are making no progress?

Go to Amazon and grab a copy of my classic book ”The GO Method – breaking barriers to language learning”.

https://www.amazon.com/GO-Method-Breaking-barriers-language/dp/1973118688/ref=sr_1_1?crid=ZLMGYKR6PDY3&keywords=Gerhard+Ohrband&qid=1694099394&sprefix=gerhard+ohrband+%2Caps%2C239&sr=8-1

 

 

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