How can I conversation-level proficiency in 3 forieign languages in 6 months?

Question

For spring break, I am going to multiple European nations. I would really like to be able to speak conversationally with the local people beyond the stereotypical "where is the bathroom?" and "How much does this cost?".

The languages that I wish to learn are French, Italian, and German. Is is possible to become decently proficient in these languages in six months? And, if so... are there any websites, activities, books, or tips that you can reccomend?

Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

The bad side of being too ambitous is that you will have an odd feeling od not acomplishing anything at all.
I think six months is too little to acquire that level in one language. and you are talking about three.

If you only have six months, I'd say you should choose one of those languages and work hard on it. six months is too little time, but you could get a decent level if you try hard.
Good luck.

Answer 2

Hello,

No; things like how are you where;s the bathroom you can quick enough but to have an intelligent conversation on the world economy, defend yourself in a court of law or even understand jokes and plays on words takes many years. To pass high school or college exams maybe 7 years or more.
Profeciency in a few new languages in 6 weeks, 6 months is nonsense.

Forget websites and take classes and mix with people of those cultures. It is the only way you will learn.

Michael Kelly

Answer 3

well, as a suggestion, you could approach your instructors, and see if any/all of them might be available for 'immersion' training. if so, this could be expensive, but the object is for you to be forced to speak and understand the language, out of necessity.
french and italian are close enough that you might find yourself mixing them up. german is from a different language family, with a different grammer. how proficient are you now? when did you start learning all three languages? i've got to day, this is ambitious, and likely (not assured, but likely) to fail. if you do nothing else, all day long, for the next 6 months, you could be proficient in one language, perhaps, though there are rare souls who can do it in more than one, especially when you're dealing with two latinate languages.

if you have a background in latin, itself, that will make things so much easier for you.

my oldest son was sent to a kindergarten which was conducted, entirely, in another language. so, at 4 he was learning a language which wasn't spoken at home, and bore no resemblance to his native language. it took him about 4 months of DAILY immersion in the language, for 6 hours a day, until he suddenly started holding his own with it. it's possible, but, you are going to be working constantly.