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Being overseas makes me realize how bad the U.S. is, as far as teaching foreign language in schools. How many languages can you speak?

I'm from Quebec, CANADA and my first language is French. But in school, we must learn English as a second language when we have ±8 years of age until the end of college (±19 years old). I consider them basic courses but they help a little.After that, when I came to University, I have to deal with deveral English books in engineering. And, at the end of University, I went to an English immersion program in New Brunswick for 6 weeks. This helps me a lot to have good conversations in English...I always like to go in vacations in English places. I went to these areas: New Brunswick (Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John...), Nova Scotia (Halifax), Maine (Presque Isle), Prince Edward Island, Ontario (Ottawa, Niagara Falls, Toronto, Cornwall), Florida (Orlando and Daytona), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), Missouri (Springfield).I like it a lot to practice my English language!

When I went to school we had to take French from kindergarten up to and including grade 9, and then I took it up until grade 11. Even with that many French classes, I'm not bilingual, but I do know enough to get my by I think. I'm just very hesitant to use French when in Quebec because I'm afraid people will look at me like "what are you talking about??" kinda of thing.

quote:I'm just very hesitant to use French when in Quebec because I'm afraid people will look at me like "what are you talking about??" kinda of thing. Dear Sputnik,Please don't bother about that! Personally (and most Quebecers think the same), if you try to speak French in Quebec and you do your best, no one can say anything. Just because you try and this is very good. I know they are many tourists coming to Quebec that don't want to say at least one word in French... They just want us to switch in English because I think they want to be answered in English... I don't think this is very good for all of them.Like I said up here when I go to an English place, I try to speak English as much as I can. So, don't bother about that and feel free to speak French in Quebec. Quebecers will understand. And if someone don't want to cooperate, ship him to me!Bonne chance! (Good luck!)

I like reading the French language topics here so that I can practice. Occassionally I'll answer post a reply in French if I know whats going on.

quote:Please don't bother about that! Personally (and most Quebecers think the same), if you try to speak French in Quebec and you do your best, no one can say anything. Just because you try and this is very good. I know they are many tourists coming to Quebec that don't want to say at least one word in French... They just want us to switch in English because I think they want to be answered in English... I don't think this is very good for all of them.So, don't bother about that and feel free to speak French in Quebec. Quebecers will understand. And if someone don't want to cooperate, ship him to me!Bonne chance! (Good luck!) Agree with VibeSalsa. Keep trying when you are with Québecois...We have a lot of respect for those who's trying, it's some sort of respect for us. Just say "bonjour" "merci" is enough sometimes.

I know a small amount of spanish. I guess I fall into that Half-Bilingual area.

I took French in high school and college, but that has been like 5 years ago--and sadly enough, I remember very little.....so I cannot honestly say that I speak 2 languages.

quote:I know a small amount of spanish. I guess I fall into that Half-Bilingual area. I'm afraid I only speak english, so I feel like a retard in Germany cause almost all of them are also fluent in english. Just kicking myself for never picking up a second language. I just know a few phrases in german to get by. Like asking if they speak english, or where the bathroom is. Even the prostitutes speak multiple languages. Had one on the street cat-calling me, a Asian guy, a Latin guy, and a German guy, all in different languages! Thats skilz.

English (Or American LoL) is my main language, of course. I can also speak German and a little Japanese.

French and English at work, Franch at home.

Bilingual. Having a French-Canadian mother, and growing up in Ottawa (now officially a bilingual city) helped. Half of my co-workers are French-Canadian, so I find I speak both languages all the time.The g/f speaks French, English and Spanish. Gets scary when her family is over, and they all switch between the three languages. Unfortunately, I never really learned much Spanish, so I have to guess at what they are saying half the time. I should probably try to learn .... seeing as we have only been together for 14 years now .... If you get the chance to learn more than one language I highly recommend it. I know any children I may have will definitely speak both French and English (at least).

quote:The g/f speaks French, English and Spanish. I should probably try to learn .... seeing as we have only been together for 14 years now .... Not married after 14 years?! She must not be driven by marraige as much as most. Not saying that is bad, just different. My sister in law has been living with the same guy for 8 years, so I understand it.If my wife could speak other languages, I would love for her to teach me. Last thing I need is for her to make fun of me in front of my face with me smiling like a bafoon.

quote:Not married after 14 years?! She must not be driven by marraige as much as most. Not saying that is bad, just different. My sister in law has been living with the same guy for 8 years, so I understand it.If my wife could speak other languages, I would love for her to teach me. Last thing I need is for her to make fun of me in front of my face with me smiling like a bafoon. We are engaged at least. I can usually make out most of what she is saying when she is speaking with her family. There are similarities to French, three years of Latin in high school helps (don't ask), and body language ussually fills in the rest. I should learn though ... her mother keeps telling her to teach me. We'll see.

ASL, but not well.English (kansas/midwest flavor)A tiny bit of Spanish, from 7th grade.Dog.Woodworking Power tool.And my own suedo english/giberish.Microsoft Basic, QuickBasic, and Visual Basic.That adds up, considering I'm not fluent in ASL, Spanish, or Dog, to 5.5 languages.But I"m as bad at math as I am at languages, so it may only be 2.KSNeptune

You speak dog? Good. Tell me how to say "shut up!" in dog langauge, so when the neighbors dog starts barking outside at 1 in the morning...2 in the morning.....3 in the morning, I can tell it to shut up. It doesnt understand English or German. LoL

quote:Tell me how to say "shut up!" in dog langaugeI would, but it's not actually something that can be spelled out in english (or german). Yes I speak Dog but not fluently. You'll need sort of a loud "OuoooooPH" with leading and following growls. And you've got to really sell it. Be the TOP DOG, that is.Hope that helps.Your town may have a noise ordinance. One call to the police may solve your problem. Try to have the dogs barking in the background when you call.KSNeptune

I mainly speak English, of course, but I could probably get by a bit with my French. Had 3 years of it in high school and was reasonably good at it then. Having not used it for so long now has made it quite rusty. I also used to be able to speak enough Slovak to make small conversation, as my dad's side of the family was all Slovak. My great-grandmother was only able to speak about 3 sentences of English, so I learned it when I was very little. Almost all of my family from that side has passed away now, so there is really nobody left to speak it to so I have forgotten most of it. Here in Pittsburgh, most older people are of Hungarian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, etc. descent and all those languages have many basic similarities. Occasionally, I can catch some of them off guard by asking them how they are doing, etc. in Slovak. My grandmother learned to read and write it well as well as speak it, but my grandfather could only speak it. Funny how a guy can speak a language for over 60 years yet not know how to read or write it.

quote:Tell me how to say "shut up!" in dog langaugeI would, but it's not actually something that can be spelled out in english (or german). Yes I speak Dog but not fluently. You'll need sort of a loud "OuoooooPH" with leading and following growls. And you've got to really sell it. Be the TOP DOG, that is.Hope that helps.LoL!!!quote:Your town may have a noise ordinance. One call to the police may solve your problem. Try to have the dogs barking in the background when you call.KSNeptune Tried that three times. The dog did quiet down a little, but he still gets going once in awhile. Usually when I'm trying to sleep.