Mental Self-Improvement

[Navarre]

I wonder if that is because the learning process that has provided that knowledge has also instilled ingrained perceptions of that subject/craft/art/skill?

When I teach my clients to use the medical billing software I sell, I have a much easier time teaching someone who has not used any software than I do how to adapt from their former software to the new one.

I know that I once took a few classes in a different martial art and they were showing me one of their basic stances (the things white belts learn). My mind was saying, "Sure, I can get this. It's basic."

But, after 25 years of doing a similar stance a different way, my brain was all but refusing to let my body adapt to the position and balance of the new stance.

[Navarre]

Does anyone speak multiple languages?

I'm not referring to a language class in school that allows you to order water at a restaurant but instead a solid ability to speak more than one language. If so, how did you acquire this skill?

[schleicher12000]

Are you asking, how does one speak multiple languages fluently without going to a class or taking a Rosetta Stone course?

MOST people who speak multiple languages (at least the ones I know), learn at an early age when the mind is still developing and open to the various languages.  If someone grows up in a bilingual household, and has mastered both languages, it is then often easier for them to acquire a third, fourth or more language.

The other thing to keep in mind is the language is the person trying to learn. If the root of the language is Latin, then it becomes easier to at least understand other languages which could then spin off to mastering that knowledge. 

If you are wanting to know if you can learn another language at your age, you can, but I doubt you will master it.  You've already said your mind is closed to learning new stances, the same will probably hold true with language.  You may be able to read/write and speak a little, but route to true mastery has more than likely been detoured when you were back in high school.

Of course there are always exceptions, but that is why they are exceptions.

[Gaumer]

Mastery would come from consistent use.

Move to Mexico or French Canada and I bet you'll learn that language

[Navarre]

Stephen, I was asking more of if any members were fluent in more than one language and how those members learned it. I suspect the answers is as you suggest (early exposure mainly) but I was curious overall. Are there members who have later become fluent in a language and, if so, how did that come about?

I agree with you that in our later years our minds are not as open and readily adaptable to new things. As language is such a fundamental aspect of our mental processes, I am sure that is true of language.

[schleicher12000]

Yes. My wife speaks three languages - English, Thai, and Spanish. As stated above, she learned at an early age.

[Navarre]

To what extent has you learned either Thai or Spanish, either by active attempts or by osmosis?

[Gaumer]

I bet they're mostly swear words

Those really seem to stick

[Navarre]

Piotr seems to throw that one Russian curse out pretty often, I agree. Yet I never hear Kitty cussing in Russian. Claremont and Fraction are hacks. 

[schleicher12000]

To what extent has you learned either Thai or Spanish, either by active attempts or by osmosis?

I has not learned to speak either fluently, though I'm better at Spanish than Thai, but as Rodrigo can tell you, my Spanish sucks.  That being said, when I'm around my Mother-in-Law for more than three hours, she can ask questions to me in Thai, and I respond to her in English, with the right answer, even though I don't know what she is saying. It's a very weird phenom that freaks everyone in the house out.  Kind of like total immersion theory on the way we learn to adapt to situations over time.

[Navarre]

To what extent has you learned either Thai or Spanish, either by active attempts or by osmosis?

I has not learned to speak either fluently,

Ouch. Zing.

I have been screwing up every single thing I have tried to do all day. This apparently includes the use of proper grammar. Back to second grade for me.

That is very interesting about the language exchange though. So if I want to learn French I should marry Eva Green or Laetitia Casta? Cool.

[Gaumer]

I think you called me by my DnD character's name in a post today too. Bedlor will surely find a tin-foil hat at some point now

I'm not sure if learning a language is something that is going to be a self-improvement unless it can be used. Sure its cool to know another language but not if I don't use it. I have no point of reference except DnD though, so IDK

[Navarre]

I think you called me by my DnD character's name in a post today too. Bedlor will surely find a tin-foil hat at some point now

I swear I think I have had to edit every single sentence I've typed today because of errors. We all have our days, I guess.

Yes, it would be nice to know another language but you're right. If I was not going to be using it for any reason it would take tremendous effort just to sustain it, let alone become eloquent with it.

I guess if I end up moving to Denmark I can learn Denmarkanian (yeah, that's it) after I get there. Otherwise, as interested as I am in expanding my mental talents, a second language is probably a waste of time unless I move.

[@lantis]

I dated a girl for a couple months who was fluent in Spanish.  She learned it through college courses initially, but the way she mastered it was by talking with native speakers.  Almost all of her friends were fluent Spanish speakers.

[Navarre]

I'm sure the constant exposure to the language is the best way to learn it. I live in an area with very, very little ethnic, cultural, and racial diversity. The closest I have to a non-Caucasian friend is a friend who is half-Korean and lives in South Korea.

So I guess if I want to learn another language I should just move.