True2marie

Some people are content with being mediocre. They don't want to make much of an effort. This mentality is an epidemic these days. It's why people are paying others to take the SAT for them and those in authority (Rob Ford) act so common. :nerd:

I never thought about how much I'd be willing to spend to learn a new language. Mostly, my training has always been free through school. So, I guess my range would be withing $50 and $100, an amount that wouldn't break my budget.

:angel: Yes! I definitely use coded language to speak with friends or family in public about personal topics I don't want others to know about. It's just a simple way to be private. I also have done this in the past while on the job and sending e-mails to co-worker/friends. Coded language in an e-mail safeguards from trouble in case your boss decides to read it.

Best use for knowing a second language is being able to communicate with more people. You can make friends with other people who might not otherwise be your pal because of a language barrier. You also get a peek into how individuals not native to your culture live.

Many high profile people know more than one language. Who is your favorite bilingual celebrity. Mine is Gilles Marini. He speaks French and is oh so handsome. This actor also seems to adore his wife and children. Link to list of bilingual celebrities: http://www.celebratelanguages.com/celebs.html

Do you need to be bilingual in order to excel in life? I am asking this question because several highly successful people know more than one language. They pick up another tongue for the purpose of business. So, to me, it seems that most people should follow in this path in order to communicate properly with more than the people from their native land.

Absolutely not. You have to take the time to learn the nuts and bolts of the language you want speak. So, you do need to know the alphabet as well as how to read some words.

No, I use the Internet as a tool to look up information. Whether it's dealing with language or a specific topic. My favorite reference spot (in general) is Dictionary.com. Link to Dictionary.com: http://dictionary.reference.com/

I definitely believe that learning a new language requires the help of someone else. So, I would study on my own and also get the assistance of a tutors. Tutors are great because they have the tools to take you past what you can do on your own.

I am surprised that no one thinks language is connected to earning potential. If you can't communicate with others, how can you even sell yourself in an interview or do business? I think our language has more to do with our financial success than we'd like to think.

I never had a job that required me to speak a foreign language. I worked many years in the insurance industry and they always asked that we use AT&T translators. Sometimes I didn't do this depending on the nature of the call and if the customer spoke Spanish. But - it was never a requirement.

I never thought about whether I can read and understand a text at the same time. So, I sat and tried it. It seems if the text is short and simple, this task is easy. If not, then doing both is hard.

No. A second language has never come into play for me in regards to a job. I do think people have judged me after getting a job based on this talent. Fortunately, the response has always been positive.

My longest study time in language was around 2 hours. Past this period, I either lose interest or get tired studying any subject. Some people can go longer, but not me. :nerd:

I just read an article in which a person did a study that revealed how language determines earning potential. Here's a quote: This information brings up a lot of questions about word usage and why people do what they do. :nerd: Link to article: http://pri.org/stories/2011-10-24/does-language-you-speak-determine-how-much-money-you-save

Based on the U.S. Census, the basic languages in my country (America) are English, Italian, Spanish, French, French Creole, Korean, Chinese, German and Tagalog. I am sure there are other ones, but these tongues are the most prominent across the 50-states. Makes sense to me. See link to U.S. Census Data: http://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/language/data/language_map.html

Check out the list of "Hot Latin Songs" on the Billboard. Most of them have repetitive lines that you can get even at an intermediate level. So, I would pick one, download it off of iTunes and enjoy (and learn) from what you hear. Here's the link: http://www.billboard.com/charts/latin-songs

Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno) is a critically acclaimed Spanish movie. It's a tale of war and the ending is a surprise. If you're a fan of horror-fantasy, you will be captivated by this flick.

Spanish is useful in my daily life because many of my neighbors are Latino. Talking to them and patronizing stores/restaurants with Spanish-speaking natives causes me to use my Spanish often. It's just a fact of life.

So, as I can see, I am not alone in my struggles to be a good listener. I am MUCH better than I was years ago, but it's still a work in progress. The main people I struggle to hear at this point are ones who have shown me consistently that they really don't have much to say.

People don't forget their native language. They just develop the Madonna and Tina Turner Syndrome. After residing in another country other than their own or visiting for an extended time, they mimic an accent or dialect they think sounds cooler. And, I get it. An English accent makes you sound way smarter than one from Brooklyn or the South.

I am happy to hear how many people feel the same as I do about prejudging others because of an accent. Hopefully, it's not just specific to the individuals on this forum. The world is becoming more diverse and as humans we have to learn to tolerate each others' differences better.

From the research I've read, dolphins and monkeys communicate with each other. They have specific sounds and movements that signify emotions and thoughts to one another. Scientists have not unraveled all of the details, but they are quite sure these species possess a language unique to them. :nerd:

The experts at Livestrong.com posted an article detailing how breathing exercises can improve a person's speech. They build up your diaphragm and give you more confidence. I have done breathing exercises for health reasons (get more oxygen) and it does help in communicating more fluidly with others. See link: http://www.livestrong.com/article/343820-breathing-exercises-for-speaking/

To add to this topic, I really think that people who hold onto stereotypes often prejudge people who have accents. They determine how a person is based on surface factors. As a result, they miss out on discovering who the individual really is.