Gelsemium

I think that reading out loud is very good for diction, it helps us to pronounce the words correctly, but as for understanding better I doubt that, at least in my case, I understand better if I don't read aloud.

I would never try that to be honest, I think it's hard to learn one language, so two at the same time? What would be the point in that? Sure, in school that happens, but that's when we are full-time students.

My real interest for learning languages, or better said, knowing languages, started when I was a teenager and I was meeting people that didn't spoke Portuguese. Luckily I already knew a little English, but I improved a lot by practicing it.

I agree, it's totally different to read a book in English or it's Portuguese translation. Sure, the main ideas are there, but all the semantics and the context are different. Basically, emotion is lost. If it's a technical book it makes no difference though.

OK, 5 minutes per day it's really complicated, you can't study 5 minutes per day only. Why don't you get audio tapes for the car, or you study while walking or in the public transportations? Other options: in the bathroom, while having lunch, before going to bed. Seize the time!

I think this might depend from person to person like lizbeth says, for some the writing might flow easily and have a hard time speaking, while others can speak in public easily and have a hard time writing. For me when learning a new language I think that speaking is the hardest.

Anyone know the history behind languages? How did languages appear and how did the different languages started to multiply? I think the phenomenon must have happened with writing because everyone is speaking for centuries.

Towards is a good example of how the practice can differ from what you find in the books, but having this said I think it's pretty much like the law is made, some words are created by use and not by theory.

I doubt that France doesn't teach English and Japan either because they are both developed countries. I'd go more for China, I don't believe they teach English at school, but like you said Baburra, it's and assumption too.

The work dictionary without online reminds me of something of the past, I think there are not many users for regular dictionaries these days. Everything can be found online just a few clicks away.

This is really a no-brainer for me as I live in Portugal, so Portuguese is the most useful language. Having this said, English is more and more necessary because we have lots of foreigners here and English is the universal language, like in any other part of the world.

I don't know sign language and so far I didn't have the need to learn it, but who knows someday. I still don't understand why there can't be an universal sign language, is sign language merely a translation of regular languages?

Learning languages is really frustrating sometimes so yes, the idea of quiting crossed my mind, but then all the work I've done so far and the motivation behind learning it kept me going, if we don't put in the effort we will never make it.

I haven't seen a big difference in myself, I mean, I possibly have better knowledge in some areas, but where I see a huge difference is in kids, kids know more and more things earlier and earlier, five year old seem like small adults, it's really impressive!

Many times we read something and we don't understand it. This happens more often when we read out loud. Why do you think this happens, the brain is busy with something else and can't retain the meaning of the words?

This is a good point Dora, when reading out loud all of us are slower and more than that, sometimes we don't even understand what we are reading. This happened to me at school, I was so focused in reading that I didn't manage to understand what I was reading.

I think that learning languages at school should be worldwide mandatory. I think that in most countries it is, and that's great because kids learn far better than adults. I started to learn at age 7 probably.

I agree dark, Google translate is a great tool, but at the same time I don't think there is an effective software for translation, I think people are the ones qualified to translate because a machine can't make a correct structure.

Totally. I don't know who has the power to make these choices, I don't know if it's a country thing like in Spain, but I think that it doesn't contribute to the development of the language.

LOL, haha is good too, but at the same time how many hahas do you write? I think LOL or lol is a really good expression, equals a smile in written language and I use it often.

I have never measured the time I take reading, but I can make a difference whether I am reading or I am studying. If it's a novel or a newspaper I read fairly fast, but if it's a book I'm studying I go back and forth and take my time.

So basically you want us to answer those 4 questions? That is the survey? Just an open answer, how many lines do you expect per answer?

Well done with the new forum linguaholic, I've just checked it and it's looking really good. You have already some great debates going on, I wish it can grow as much as this one!

I don't think we will be forced to learn Chinese like in some countries some have to learn Spanish because there isn't a massive immigration from the Chinese that make such big communities, but surely can be of our interest to learn Chinese to take advantage of some business opportunities.

I've learned with other students at school, but I've always studied hard at home. I think this is the perfect combination, learn and interact at school and consolidate the knowledged studying by yourself.