Thread: Learning more than one language?

How much experience in one language do you guys believe is needed before you can start a second language? Since I only speak English as of now, I was wanting to work on Chinese. The only problem with that is im taking German next year, 85 minutes a day, Monday - Thursday, and more studying. Though, the languages are for the most part differnt. Would it be reasonable to do this? Or should I just say screw Chinese for now and stick with German?

Do both......you will have some help from one another, regardless of languages, in theoretical aspects!

English being a Germanic language, you shouldn't have too much trouble with it, especially with an intensive program like you're talking about. I haven't taken a German class in almost 10 years, so obviously I've forgotten most of it, but I still find myself thinking in German occasionally and I still speak more German than Russian - even though I'm moving to Moscow in less than months!

In intensive study, I would recommend you stick with German. Or, if you really want to do some Chinese on the side, make sure you use your German a lot, even outside of the classroom. I find myself swapping out Russian words that I don't know for German ones constantly out of unconscious habit, so you may find the same happening to you with Chinese.

Best of luck, though!

Nee how ma?

Originally Posted by kwatts59

Nee how ma?

Hen3Hao3
Ni3Hao3ma?

很好
你好吗

如果你要学习汉语你需要学习汉语因为中文写得和说得很难。。。我想不可能学汉语一点点如果你真的要说话和写 汉字。

I wanna learn Chinese.
So many things to learn so little time!

Edit: Err...Mandarin,