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For me it's always been a combination of learning in a classroom setup and going to stay among native speakers in their country. I always found that the minute I was in the country, with as few English speakers as possible, that's when my learning seemed to accelerate. Too bad, I can't afford to take off like that anymore

This sounds like an interesting site, @Trellum! Do you know if they do French or even Italian too? I guess I could just go on there and have a look around. I hope it's not too expensive to use. I like that it seems to ease you into it, rather than hurry you along. Sometimes all I want is to do is go at my own pace, rather than gauge myself against others and keep up with everybody else, say in a typical classroom setup. I like learning in a classroom, but I've found this to be one of the drawbacks for me

I can definitely see this working. I think watching the second time round would give you the chance to enjoy the show/film without the distraction of the sub titles. You would also have had time to get the full meaning and understanding of the content the first time you watched it, so that the second time round you wouldn't be exerting yourself trying to understand. This would leave you free to enjoy it with much less distraction. I like this idea very much

Hehe this is such a weird post! I can't remember writing this, and it just doesn't make any sense to me at all. Maybe this is a case of me forgetting how to speak English, a language I've spoken virtually ALL MY LIFE LOL A serious, weird case of amnesia.

Then we'll just have to agree to disagree @FlagOnce! I still maintain it's just not possible. My dad (Danish) first came to Botswana when he was 21 and he's in his mid-60s now, yet he still speaks Danish fluently! We're not a Danish speaking household or country, so he doesn't speak the language often. ....and he's not the only one! Where I come from (Botswana, an English speaking country), we have quite a few Scandinavians who've been here for years, and they have never forgotten their respective languages. I also lived in England for 13 years, where I very rarely spoke my own language, and I never forgot it. So I'm not convinced at all. Let's just agree to disagree

Children are definitely at an advantage. I often wish my parents had encouraged me to take up languages from a young age. But that's not to say I won't continue to learn even in my adult life. I know it's be slower and more difficult, but I'm up for the challenge. I can't wait to resume my French lessons some day, when my schedule is less busy

Oh wow, I really empathise with you guys who've been mocked by native speakers in the past. I can hand on heart say I have never in my life come across that sort of rude behaviour. Whether it was in France or Italy, even with my broke French and Italian, people have always been very supportive and helpful. Never once has anyone been horrible towards me, let alone mocked me because I was butchering their language. That would be should destroying!

@ Filipe....OMG I don't believe you're learning some of the languages that I consider the most difficult alongside each other! I can only take my hat off to you! I wish i had your courage LOL

Only you can really answer that question honestly. What reasons do you have for learning these languages? If you can answer that question honestly, that will help you decide which way you want to go. I would go for French, because I've always loved the language and culture. Plus some of the work related stuff i'd love to be able to do, lend themselves better to French. Ask yourself also, is it practical to learn Japanese or French? Will you be able to use the languages once you've learnt them? I get the feeling you like both, why not maybe go for both? I think you're still young enough to give it a bash, and may surprise yourself by how well you cope. I can only wish you the best of luck

In my honest opinion, it's never too late not just to learn a new language, but for anything really in life. If you want to do it, in the words of Nike (as cheesy as it sounds LOL) JUST do it! Of course, ideally it's best you start learning a foreign language very young. But not everyone has the money or the tools with which to learn whenever they wish to. So I say whenever you can do it, just go for it!

Wow, now that it's been unveiled, I have to commend you on the facelift. The new look is definitely a winner, I LOVE it

I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but I just can't get my head around learning multiple languages simultaneously. The one thing I wanted to mention is that I feel that the quality of the languages learnt would almost certainly be compromised. I feel strongly that doing this would probably be possible if someone already had some knowledge of their chosen languages, if they already had the basics onto which to build their skills, maybe, just maybe it would be possible.

Then start with only one, once you master one jump into another one. Nowadays you have so many choices, the best ones are paid ones, but while you decide what language you really want to study, you might want to give the free choices a try

I don't see why it is so terrifying and why we should try and strive to keep our native language? If our native language is no longer, just let it go, and if you ever need it again, you will get it again, more quickly than if it were not your native language, that's all. Don't feel afraid and fixed. As long as you can communicate everyday with the people you want to talk with, the rest doesn't matter.

@Richard. H....I'm glad that the ANKI software is working for you. It sure sounds like an interesting way of learning, which ties in with my belief that the more you practice, the more it sticks and the better you get. So yes, repetition should work! I absolutely agree, part of the 'secret' is to have fun while learning!

To be fair, in English this is very rare. -especially compared to Latin languages, where it's entrenched within the languages, every single noun is a she or he. For me as an English speaker, this does pose a challenge in my learning process, because whether I like it or not, I do have to master the 'art' of distinguishing which is which. But what can you do? If you're really passionate about the language, you'll learn it as is because whatever we feel about it, it's not likely to change any time soon!

I too wouldn't be keen on learning more than one language simultaneously, especially if the 2 languages in question are completely different. Maybe it could work say with Italian and French. I would become frustrated and probably lose interest.

I was also just about to say that It can't hurt to advertise here, because I believe there are quite a lot of Spanish speakers on here. I sure hope that you get some positive responses and that you find what you're looking for. All the best

I am from the Philippines, and as far as I know, Chavacano is a dialect here in our country. I believe it is another variant of Bisaya. I don't know how to speak Chavacano though. I am only fluent in Tagalog. But yeah, you are right. It is mixed Spanish and Bisaya. It is actually pretty interesting to learn.

In all honesty @Trellum, chances of you forgetting your language are nil. I don't mean to pry, but I take it you're past your pre-teen age? If you are, believe me, your language is well embedded in your brain, and even if you don't speak it with fellow Spanish people in Holland, It's very highly unlikely to disappear. Equally, it's not possible that at the age you are, your proficiency in a language that you learn now as an adult is ever going to supersede your Spanish. It's a bit like riding the bicycle; it doesn't matter how long you don't ride, the minute you get back in that saddle, you know exactly what to do!

Right now I only speak 3 languages I speak both English and Spanish quite fluently, I also speak some dutch (I'm in the process to master it - it should happen in the next 6 months). I can read some Hebrew as well (but I need to brush it up, since I have forgotten quite a bit). I wanted to learn a lot languages in the past I have some very basic knowledge of Norwegian, but super rusty. Maybe one day i might learn it jut for fun (it's so easy).

No, sorry but I couldn't make out anything I recognised at all! I clearly heard 'para' and what i think was 'caroo'? But i couldn't even work out what accent it was. It's probably something way far removed from the languages I'm familiar with. I hope that someone comes along and is able to work it out for you

It's a good thing that you're having your son start so early, because he'll be able to learn it quicker and more easily. I find that Scandinavian languages are very difficult to learn. My step dad is Danish and I remember when I was younger but older than your son, he tried to teach me and I had to give up because I just couldn't get the pronunciation right! I probably should have started a bit earlier. I hope that your sone does well with Swedish

I agree with those who say it's just plain rude, but luckily I've never come across that sort of behaviour. Even though I know for a fact I butcher both French and Italian, nobody has ever mocked or laughed at me. They've instead been very impressed and complimentary. I think just the fact that I've shown an interest in learning their language makes them happy.

It certainly does open your doors to so many exciting opportunities! That's why if it were easy to do, you'd find many multi-lingual people around the world, including me! But lately I've been seeing many articles of some people having learnt a foreign language in record time, like in the last article I read that this guy learnt a foreign language in like 22 hours! -and apparently he's not even very good at languages! Just how they do it is something I can't get my head around!!