Learning a new language is an humbling experience.

[La_Fourmi_Rouge]

I have always been pretty adept with the english language. People tell me so - they always say "You should be a writer." And although I have never tried to make a living as such, I think I can tell a pretty good story.

Learning to speak French has been a long story. I began when I was 49 years old, without any other language to speak of, besides a bit of Spanish and some Latin. I had landed in Lyon with big dreams, and needed to converse with people desperately - in love as I was with the city and the people. It has been one long and frustrating struggle, and yet it may be the most rewarding challenge I have ever undertaken.

Every friend I have made in France has impressed on me the importance of the language, and made clear to me that learning the language is the most important thing I can undertake to get closer to the people and the culture and the history of my adopted country.

Yet, after two years, I still struggle, and all too often am at a loss for words, but I agree with my friends and hear their criticism with open ears... Many of them have 3 or 4 or 5 languages, and enjoy learning more. Becoming language-friendly is an attitude and a way of living.

Brother Claude chided me years ago: "Luther, you think of yourself as an educated man, but you cannot speak one single foreign language!" I only just now have understood what he was saying.

People do not realize it, but language colors our world - it defines in very fundamental ways the way we apprehend reality.

[Lautremont]

1. This is why you find so much scorn for the idea on the right.

I guess their self-esteem is already so brittle that the humility and hard work that comes with learning a language is unappealing to them.

Allez-vite la twist!

[bullimiami]

2. an 'umbling? or a humbling?

:)

[flyingfysh]

3. try Rosetta Stone

It is good software, and could make the learning process much easiser.

[Book Lover]

6. I second this

Rosetta Stone has worked very well for me; I highly recommend it.

[jean]

4. So true. Many of your foreign friends probably learned their

languages while very young, in their schools. It's tougher when you're older.

[SoCalDem]

9. Young brains are like sponges.. It's a shame we don't teach

languages in pre-school & elementary..

We had a neighbor in Panama (air force base) who had married a Portuguese woman...he was Chinese-speaking, and their maid spoke Spanish..

Their little boy, Roberto, was a HOOT!.. At 3 he spoke all three languages, and would rattle on ...using all threee in the same sentences sometimes.. We would say.."Whoa Robby...slow down.. one language at a time".:)

[jean]

11. wow - imagine the connections in his brain, firing like a light show

[bliss_eternal]

20. True--our niece is only two and is already bilingual...

her mom speaks Spanish to her and her dad English. We get her nothing but toys that offer teaching in both languages and have even talked to her parents about getting her some things in French or German.

:)

[goddess40]

5. America is too arrogant to teach foreign language effectively

we wait until middle school or high school when it is too late for many people to learn. Most still only learn it superficially - forgotten quickly after the leave school.

[Nay]

7. Question about Rosetta Stone, for those who've used it---

Is it ALL DVD, so you have to watch it on TV or a computer screen? I hate that idea. I like to listen only--I don't want to have to stay in one spot in front of a screen.

[Ezlivin]

8. Profanity is my second language

It's a hell of a lot easier that way.

I did have to learn Greek and Hebrew at seminary, but that was just for readin' and writin'.

[Der Blaue Engel]

10. Tell me about it

I'm trying to learn Russian, at 40. I'm a writer, and it's really difficult for me to deal with the fact that I can't communicate at all, let alone effectively. I spent a month in St. Petersburg this summer at an intensive language program, but I seem to be forgetting what little I absorbed.

[bobbolink]

12. Your words make me chuckle, as I have struggled to learn Greek

and other languages.

For some of us, it's very difficult.

Yet, it is truly the way to fit better into the world.

I think fondly of the Greek women who, upon learning that I was trying to understand Greek, insisted on speaking only Greek to me, and only allowing me to reply in Greek. My own language intensive! They were so patient and encouraging. If only *all* my learning could be so warmly supported! Not easy... but warmly supported.

Best of luck to you, and I hope you find the French equivalent of my wonderful Greek teachers!

[AspenRose]

13. Take heart

One of my very good friends in Montreal didn't begin learning French until he was in his 30s. He's now approaching 60 and has a good command of the language (and no it didn't take 30 years) :D

[Karenina]

14. I LOVE your last sentence!

"People do not realize it, but language colors our world - it defines in very fundamental ways the way we apprehend reality."

Very astute. Understanding the stucture of a language other than one's own mother tongue gives such an insight into HOW PEOPLE THINK!!! I find it all so fascinating and FUN! Americans miss out on such a rich tapestry of cultural exchange with their fear-based attitudes about language.

The language wars have heated up in Spain and Belgium recently.

[karlrschneider]

15. I learned more English from foreign language studies than I did in

"English classes" in school - I mean the nuts and bolts of grammar and sentence structure, and nuance to a degree as well. I regretfully never quite got the 'hang' of -thinking- in other tongues which seems requisite to me but my Spanish is about a B-grade and I can -read- French and Italian quite well and actually compose rudimentary sentences but my brain doesn't "hear" them very well. Also, I've
retained enough Japanese to get around in Japan (very little reading ability but I can manage -or mangle- simple conversations.) ;-)

About 20 years ago I was in Tokyo with some of the company people - we were at a large dinner/business/party gathering (!)...the guy my boss (who spoke no language whatsoever except
Okie) was trying to speak with knew no English but he was fluent in Spanish and I found myself in the frustrating and embarrassing position of facilitating (?) their conversation by filtering both sides through Spanish. It was a game of 'telephone' on steriods. :D

[Sparkly]

16. True -- and I think it relates to some of our country's ignorance

even if it's innocent ignorance. We're relatively isolated, and have relatively little need to know other languages.

In Europe, countries with different languages are a trainride away. In comparison, they naturally see us as less worldly when Americans go there unable to communicate, relying on THEIR knowledge of OUR language.

And think of the intolerant people here who freak out at people who don't speak English! (It's like, "Speak English! Are you stoopit?" = "We don't know anything else!!")

It always amazes me to hear leaders of other nations deliver speeches or even make casual remarks in English. Few of our leaders have been able to do the same.

(And on a more basic level, the vocabulary and sentence structures are mind-opening -- "humbling," as you say! It also opens us up to poetry, opera libretti, and other texts in their original form.)

[Missy Vixen]

17. Thank you for the post

I tried to learn French in college. It was already too late. I'll never forget my professor's horrified expression at my terrible accent and even worse pronunciation: "Juliette! Une catastrophe!" Of course, now I'm afraid to go to France, because I won't be able to talk to anyone :cry:.

We spend an awful lot of time at the local Mexican restaurant, so I have been (very slowly,) learning a word here and there and talking to the employees. They have been very patient and kind with my efforts. I think I'm going to have to get some software. Then again, there is an ESL class in our community. I wonder if I could volunteer. Maybe I could learn some Spanish that way.

Julie

[KharmaTrain]

18. Easier When You Have To Live Around It

When I was 13, I spent the summer in Israel...living with a family whose command on English was limited. In the weeks, we went from speaking in combination Hebrew/English until I was able to understand what they said (and others)...it got to the point where I was starting to "think" in Hebrew...the key to knowing your able to converse in a language.

Several years later, I worked around a lot of Hispanics...part of my job was engineering radio shows in Spanish. Going in I had two years of High School Spanish that helped me pick up every fourth word or so...but by being around the language and the speakers day in and day out for months on end, I soon found I was picking up words and phrazes right and left.

I found learning these languages as exilerating...a key to another culture that gave me a greater insight into these people and their history. While my Spanish skills aren't what they once were, I can still pop on a Spanish telenovela and get the jist of what's going on...or hit a Spanish website and manuever around.

Inversely, I've seen immigrants who barely spoke a stitch of English become somewhat fluent (at least to the point of easily conversing with them) giving a year or so of exposure to our language. If anything, English is valued by many immigrants as its the doorway to making more money. Also, as time passes, the use of English increases as the children of immigrants...growing up on American TV and attempting to melt into this culture become fluent speakers.

I'd suggest a solid 6 months of sunbathing on the French Riviera...you may just get a good tan along with really getting your French up to snuff.

Cheers...

[La_Fourmi_Rouge]

19. A good friend gave me some advice.

"The best place to learn French, he said, "is in bed!"

I think he is more right than he might think, as I have learned that, starting to learn the language rather late in life, it takes a concentrated effort, aided by truly intimate relationships which provide a rich and constant source of feedback.