tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post2309401253850770293..comments2024-01-24T11:41:28.022+00:00Comments on A Cuban In London: Living in a Multilingual World (The One About Socially Awkward Linguistic Situations)A Cuban In Londonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16423293358605007539noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-69374599854199878952016-02-29T15:52:50.087+00:002016-02-29T15:52:50.087+00:00English is my second language, and i learned it in...English is my second language, and i learned it in school because science and maths and the other subjects were all taught in English. i am a Chinese, and i can speak Mandarin, and a host of other dialects reasonably well, but when it comes to writing and reading it, it becomes a struggle. wished i had paid more attention to it in school. i think learning speaking and reading/writing a language requires different skill levels. it is easier to learn speaking, there are so many places you can pick it up, the playgrounds, the work place, the forces. writing requires much more motivation. :)<br />dsnake1https://www.blogger.com/profile/08724264906690080704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-78115596294254926462016-02-26T17:19:08.718+00:002016-02-26T17:19:08.718+00:00A lot of that in Sweden too :)A lot of that in Sweden too :)NatureFootstephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01340635075481959029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-79788066419145859292016-02-26T01:45:47.064+00:002016-02-26T01:45:47.064+00:00I have never mastered another language with the ex...I have never mastered another language with the exception of Morse Code (even thought I've studied three).sagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17499891950639742366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-83796167819101641432016-02-26T01:44:18.699+00:002016-02-26T01:44:18.699+00:00I took Spanish in high school, but regretted that ...I took Spanish in high school, but regretted that I didn't take Latin!sagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17499891950639742366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-84758309336471102562016-02-25T21:46:09.995+00:002016-02-25T21:46:09.995+00:00Which is why I'm so impressed that you blog so...Which is why I'm so impressed that you blog so eloquently in a second language. I'm rather intimidated about learning Japanese next year, but I've signed up for a first year class on the campus where my husband teaches Japanese politics. It will be a lot of hard work!Sarah Laurencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00423008641739156182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-31882847214890834592016-02-25T14:12:12.998+00:002016-02-25T14:12:12.998+00:00I work a lot with foreign attorneys who are very g...I work a lot with foreign attorneys who are very good at speaking English, but being able to write in English is a whole other level of skill--or any foreign language. My own foreign language skills are limited, so I don't mean to be dismissive. You do a great job, and you are right about context. I think what is incredibly confusing are the uses of various prepositions--there is so little rhyme or reason to this in English--to, of, by, at, about--using them in a metaphoric, contextual, or simply traditional way--really difficult1 I think you really write well! And I am sure your Spanish is as good! k. Outlawyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15698845661756444061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-32259940860040521022016-02-25T12:19:32.990+00:002016-02-25T12:19:32.990+00:00I know exactly what you mean - I've been strug...I know exactly what you mean - I've been struggling with my Spanish, but can generally be understood, although everything is in the present tense. But nuances escape me, and I'm certain I miss a lot of things people say to me.JOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03127111575563904349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-49327331870816380442016-02-24T20:40:22.259+00:002016-02-24T20:40:22.259+00:00Another thing is how different people can take to ...Another thing is how different people can take to different languages with more or less ease. I really struggled to learn Spanish and still can't speak more than a few words (though I can understand it reasonably well) but I found Italian really easy to learn, despite it being so similar to Spanish! Crafty Green Poethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02486633917197181851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-35908803981405529972016-02-24T18:15:56.697+00:002016-02-24T18:15:56.697+00:00Well I dont know..i do three languages..the americ...Well I dont know..i do three languages..the american i almost forgot..The spanish i speak read but when it comes to..learnig it away(My son is having spanish at school)the grammer!I dont know anything!(i learned spanish in the street playground)Anitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16296393166114580709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-88704012649352568942016-02-24T16:50:17.308+00:002016-02-24T16:50:17.308+00:00Lo mejor aprender los idiomas lo más jóvenes posib...Lo mejor aprender los idiomas lo más jóvenes posible ya que se tiene la facultad del aprendizaje, luego si no es por necesidad de ello, siempre hay que tener mucha voluntad o que verdaderamente te gusten mucho los idiomas.<br />Un abrazo.Mari-Pi-Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00661886117860375651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-70836718451120462062016-02-24T15:41:51.981+00:002016-02-24T15:41:51.981+00:00Hi ACIL - having 'tried' to learn another ...Hi ACIL - having 'tried' to learn another language and various of them ... I still as an English born-speaker would not be able to talk about "English syntax, semantics and grammar" ... as I've never understood them. Wish I did - thankfully mostly I manage quite well with my speaking and writing skills ... but I have no idea how!<br /><br />Cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-69269372935575372262016-02-24T15:05:20.210+00:002016-02-24T15:05:20.210+00:00Si aprender un idioma extranjero es complicado, en...Si aprender un idioma extranjero es complicado, enseñarlo mas aun, saludos.Boris Estebitanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08961516002917595069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-87475583724207899932016-02-24T11:57:20.422+00:002016-02-24T11:57:20.422+00:00I agree with your point that you need dedication t...I agree with your point that you need dedication to learn a 2nd language. My daughter is learning French, which we in our family all agree is odd, simply because one, Spanish is more desirable as a second language (most businesses salivate over a bilingual speaker and Spanish is the #2 spoken language here in the states); and two, my in laws are bilingual and she would've had an instant tutor, so to speak, for the language.<br /><br /><a href="http://gbmjrflashy.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Father Nature's Corner</a>G. B. Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09783331838434598963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-20212511947430169102016-02-24T10:28:47.626+00:002016-02-24T10:28:47.626+00:00I wish I could join in the debate... sadly my abil...I wish I could join in the debate... sadly my ability to learn a different language was laced by idleness. I would get so far then tire of the whole thing. Why, I asked myself, do I need another language? Of course, I found out when I got older. As for the word 'like' .... it is a good word but misused and thrust into that silly dialogue teenagers love to use. So irritating!Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12099030819314552958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-13883109624488536132016-02-24T04:13:40.479+00:002016-02-24T04:13:40.479+00:00Yes, learning another language is all about contex...Yes, learning another language is all about context, practice and determination. There are still times when I'm suddenly exhausted by speaking Swedish even though I've lived here for 17 years!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-47680718683453221662016-02-24T01:55:10.927+00:002016-02-24T01:55:10.927+00:00On the one hand, CiL, I agree with you and applaud...On the one hand, CiL, I agree with you and applaud your zest for gaining a solid set of skills in a variety of languages. Whether the use is for career, scholarship or personal reasons, I would imagine, determines the goals and the levels of expertise the learner wishes to accomplish.<br /><br />On the other hand, sometimes the line/sentence between political correctness and deliberately attempting to hurt someone through insulting words must be parsed. Political correctness, I think, is a literal curse, and in that regard many people need to develop thicker skin and to lighten up and to understand that they are not the center of the universe.<br />Fram Actualhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01540773153894050197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-55448026333898537132016-02-24T00:36:23.024+00:002016-02-24T00:36:23.024+00:00I'm impressed by anyone who speaks more than o...I'm impressed by anyone who speaks more than one language. In school I studied Latin and now I wish I'd studied a language people actually speak.stephen Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17659054447637207734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-43863079589261484772016-02-23T23:18:07.624+00:002016-02-23T23:18:07.624+00:00A little learning each day goes a long way. Very t...A little learning each day goes a long way. Very true too, anything can be twisted depending on how it is said, so good words may not be so good.Pat Hatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07745293224202430152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1165773290907101242.post-14665593827605221122016-02-23T21:58:10.009+00:002016-02-23T21:58:10.009+00:00Hopefully we are all still learning. I firmly bel...Hopefully we are all still learning. I firmly believe that when we stop our lives are over.<br />You are so right about Cameron's put down. He did indeed know what he was doing. Patronising nastiness.Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.com