Why don’t British children speak languages?

[Muddy]

I think you need a degree in IT .

[Dachs]

I’ve noticed that people have different views on what it means to really “speak a foreign language”. I just wonder when people can actually claim that they do? What are the criteria for that? Is it when they somehow manage to get their point across or does it take more?

[Muddy]

When you don’t have to think about translating before speaking .

[JBR]

@Muddy

learning a new skill keeps dementia at bay the mind needs excercise as well as the body .

Absolutely, and I do exactly that by trying to keep track of Marge’s comments and opinions.

[Percy_Vere]

@Muddy

If you guys were Catholic you would remember .

My parents would be spinning in their graves if they thought I’d converted Low Church, CofE, me when I was confirmed.

[LongDriver]

@Muddy

When you don’t have to think about translating before speaking

That’s my take on it too. When my wife goes off on one in her native tongue, I automatically switch over and reply in the same language without thinking. . Upp din ocksa –>

[Percy_Vere]

@Muddy

When you don’t have to think about translating before speaking .

And you are more or less 100% fluent when you start dreaming in a second language (which I still do on occasion).

[LongDriver]

@Percy_Vere

And you are more or less 100% fluent when you start dreaming in a second language (which I still do on occasion).

My dreams are usually in Yiddish, but other tongues do occassionally lurk. As for fluency, I have not noticed and stuttering

[HelenP]

Have you tried DuoLingo Lion Queen?