For all of those who learned a second language and are now fluent...?

Question

im trying to be fluent in spanish. ive already had 5 years and right now im in AP, but i just want to be fluent by the end of this year.

so, to the point, how do u guys go from "knowing the language" to actually being fuent?

Answer 1

Anyone who has studied a language will tell you that they're not fluent. If someone says they're fluent, they're either truly bilingual, or they're lying.

I can overhear an Italian conversation and still pick up on words I've never heard before, yet everyone I know says I speak like a native. I've studied the language for going on seven years now, and I'm not bad, but I'm not fluent either.

I guess there is a point where you suddenly look back and think to yourself, "I don't panic in conversations, anymore." But I've never had a moment when I can look back and say, "Wow, I know everything now!"

One of my Italian professors, a 70-something-year-old woman, asked me what "24/7" meant the other day. She started studying English in her 20s, but she still learns a new thing every day. Language isn't a set amount of words you need to know, it's a never-ending process.

Anyway, sorry for the rambling. Best of luck in your studies (and good luck with the AP exam)!

Answer 2

You can't become fluent in a language just by taking it at school.  You really need to be completely immersed in a target country.  3 months in a foreign country for me was about equal to 3 years at school =]

Answer 3

it doesnt matter how long you have been in the language. spanish is/was my first language, and by no means am i fluent. i am in AP and its is kicking my butt. my goal is similar to yours, but what you might like to do is take a trip with some friends to mexico or spain there you can see where you are as far as being fluent goes, and pick up new words, slang, and culture. it is easy for me because i live on the mexican us border. butyou can realy relate to a language when you have been emersed in it. BUENA SUERTE. SU LATINO AMIGO. (NO HECHO EN MEXICO)  

Answer 4

Spend 3 months in a country where your 2nd language is the official language, and don't bring any friends who speak english, and try to use Spanish 100% of the time.  It works!  Plus it will be a great experience!  Look into summer exchange programs, summer volunteers, summer employment.

Answer 5

Once i get into high school, i want to go on exchange to france.  If you do that with spanish to mexico it is a doable task.  I believe it is called immersion.

Answer 6

to become fluent in a language means that if you were stuck in a country you could completely get around and talk to people with no problem.  Pretty much that you can say whatever you want even if it's not perfect.  That's the difference in being fluent and knowing the language.  I believe that I know Spanish but I am not yet fluent.  When I learned English in school, I knew it but when I came to America I realized how much harder it was to actually communicate in another language compared to knowing it. Now I can say that I am fluent in English.

Answer 7

well i had to learn english, but to become fluent youd have to go to the country for a year or so to become really fluent, thats what i did when i came to America