is it possible to learn another language fluently without living in a country that speaks it?

Answer 1

Hey, it is possible.I just started learning (Hindi, French, German, Spanish, English, Chinese) on Livemocha. I love the combination of lessons and talking to native speakers. I really feel like I’m progressing!
You could check some cool stuff here http://www.livemocha.com/promo_codes/code/1190680074 and see what you think!

have a nice day...

Irvin!

Answer 2

Yes it is. Up until recently I only had English at school or university - have been to English speaking countries for holiday few times. And I have people telling me my English is even better than that of some Natives (esp on here). Now I've been living in Dublin for about four months and it becomes more difficult to speak German (my Native) as I only have contact with English.
Same goes for Italian which is my third language. I have lived there for half a year when I did't know a lot of the language with my ex and in the last 18 months didn't have lots of contact with the language. I'm fairly fluent in Italian - fluent enough for surviving a holiday there on my own. I can even translate from English to Italian (only very simple things but hey they're both not my native) and if I have enough contact with it I even start thinking in the language. Am doing bits of Italian answers and people understand what I mean even if it's not 100% right.
TO get the basic fluency you don't have to live in the country that's only for the refinement and getting the dialects/ accents/ slangs if you want to.
I have never been a hard worker when it came to learning languages I just have the knack/ talent for that kind of thing and despite that I've always been among the best in English classes.
So yes it IS possible!!!

Answer 3

Yes it is possible. It is easier and quicker to live in the country though. I live in Spain and don't speak the language fluently as we are right next to Gibraltar which is mostly english speaking. So I have gotten very lazy with learning Spanish as I have not has to learn it. I know if no one spoke english here I would be very fluent by now. I have been here almost 10 years!! (I am a very lazy language learning lass)

Answer 4

Though full submersion in a language would be the quickest way of learning it, you don't necessarily have to live in another country if you can surround yourself with the language. Not just with movies, music, books, etc, but also you're lucky because in America there's so many Spanish-speaking people. Moving to or hanging out in a Spanish part of town, going to Spanish stores and restaurants would help too. I think you can do it, especially since you seem so determined to learn it. :)

Answer 5

Yes. An excellent example is former accordion player, bandleader and tv host, Lawrence Welk. He was born in South Dakota in 1903 to Alsatian immigrant parents. He grew up in a German speaking community there and didn't leave home and begin learning English until he was twenty one. He always spoke English with a German accent even though he was legally and officially, an American.

I had a co-worker once who was born in Seattle to an English father and Greek mother. Yet, I would sometimes hear him speaking fluent Greek on the telephone to friends during breaks. Even though he too was an American, with a mother and lots of relatives coaching him in Greek, he could speak the language very well.

Answer 6

Of course. Especially if you can mix with other fluent speakers of the language without travelling to the country of their mother tongue.

This would be the best way, to pick up pronunciation and things like colloquialisms and slang.

Visits to the country would help, if you did not want to live there full time.

Answer 7

difficult - the best way to speak something fluently is to be immersed in the language

but some places have conversation classes in languages which would be beneficial, and just surrounding yourself with the language (tapes/cds, films etc) could bring you to a very good standard

Answer 8

It is more difficult and takes longer to learn and be good at that Language .
But it is very much possible .

Answer 9

Interaction is the key, fortunately there are restaurants/cafe's and such places where they encourage you to pratice your new found lingo, a good idea is to find such a place and take a few like-minded friends along and have a natter....not a word of English mind you.

Answer 10

Yes but it takes longer if you don't get intensive practice. I have heard people in Spain speaking fluent English and have never been abroad. They are usually very determined students.