Have you tried to learn two languages at the same time as an adult?

Question

If so what were your experience and the pros/cons doing it?
I've learned French (it's nice and all but don't get to meet too many French folks out here). Now I want to focus on reading and writing Spanish and Mandarin because I feel that it will help me in my work and life. I've been learning Spanish which is really easy in Los Angeles - my level is beginner/moderate. I want to push myself at learning this for 7 more months before I attempt at adding Mandarin.

A friend suggested that I build a solid two-three years for every language that I'm interested in before learning another.

Answer 1

So, actually, it sounds like you aren't trying to START two languages at the same time, it's just that you're worried about starting another language (Mandarin) too soon after you start Spanish. I wouldn't worry about that. After all, after two or three years you'll still be a learner -- you'll always be a learner, right? So why should it matter?

I would say that the main danger would be that your focus on Mandarin could take you away from focusing on Spanish, and then you might lose Spanish after a while. Linguists have documented that a person's proficiency in a language they learned as an adult can suffer if they don't get continued exposure to that language. In a talk that I heard at a semi-recent conference in linguistics, a researcher who studied what happened to language learners after they stopped getting exposure to the language discovered that, if people reach a certain level of language proficiency they are not likely to lose the language completely, but if they don't reach that level then they can lose the language almost completely without exposure to it. In other words, if you don't reach a certain level of proficiency in Spanish (I believe it's high-intermediate level) and then stop learning Spanish because you are focusing on Mandarin, there is a danger that you could lose some of your Spanish knowledge. So I would say, if you are trying to do two languages at a time, just make sure that you are still working on Spanish stuff while you are working on Mandarin.

It is pretty well-documented that the new language will always be affected by the previous one, so that means that you can expect your Mandarin to be affected by Spanish if you follow your plan. However, I don't think that there is any reason to believe that starting Mandarin 'too soon' would have any effect on the quality of your language in either Spanish or Mandarin that would be any different from the quality of your langauges if you waited a while.

I say, the more languages, the better! I'm an advanced-level speaker of Spanish, and I'm working on German. After that, maybe Korean...

Answer 2

Yes, Mandarin, Japanese and Russian. There are several things to consider, I think it's more confusing if you're studying two romance languages at the same time, so Mandarin and Spanish may be good. One thing I suggest is to learn basic Spanish first, then get some basic training materials in Spanish to start learning Mandarin (beginning tapes for Spanish people learning Mandarin). If you use this method, then you will avoid the problems that drshorty mentioned. Get a tape that has identical sentence patterns in both languages, but no English.

Chinese is easy compared to many other languages because of the grammar, but the writing takes years and years. I speak it fluently, but can't read or write well. When considering writing, there are two systems - Traditional and Simplified, if you're going to emphasize writing, it's best to go with Simplified at this time as that is what they use in Mainland China.

I'm curious how you would use Mandarin in a career. It's a widely used language and language alone isn't enough to make a career unless you want to be a linguist or teacher. For me, I couldn't do anything with just a degree and fluency in Mandarin, or even using Mandarin in the Army. So got an MBA and experience and even then the Mandarin was just secondary, it helped a little, but that's all. American companies typically hire Chinese educated in the USA. I'm fortunate to have been using my Mandarin this past year, but I'm off to India next month where I can't use it. Just a new language to start. Being able to speak a foreign language is a great feeling and I wish you luck.

Answer 3

Wow, I think you are brave!

I have learned Indonesian, on top of my English, Mandarin and various Chinese dialect.

Now I am picking up Thailand. But never learned 2 at a time as an Adult.

I sincerely think you are brave, to pick up spanish and mandarin at the same time.

Perhaps you have the interest. Good for you.

In my opinion, to learn a language, we have to learn their culture as well, and to be able to laught at their jokes in local TV program.

Answer 4

Well actually i have learnt two languages at the same time now i can speak 4 langugaes! But i chose Tagalog and spanish and they both are sorta have common words, and spanish has 'loaned' a few words to tagalog.

cuidate
jeremy

Answer 5

I'm 16 and I learn French and Spanish in school and Dutch independently and I think it's easy. I don't get confused.

Answer 6

Your friend's right. You won't be able to learn properly if you overload yourself. Immersion is the best way to learn so your spanish should come along easily.

Answer 7

I think your friend is right. Give yourself time in between. I tried to do two languages at the same time big mistake.

Answer 8

No i haven't studied 2 languages
Although i think it is extremely good!
The job possibility's are higher when your bilingual

Answer 9

well, i am not an adult, but right now i am learning Japanese and my classmates are teaching me Chinese, so i am learning both at the same time and its not that hard.

good luck.