Sadly, I have to say that I am a person
that puts quantity above quality. I am a jack of all trades, and I
always search for something new to learn even thought I am not quite
finished with the thing that I am currently working on. When it comes
to languages, I managed to learn two languages to a pretty decent
level and when I was working with them I didn't really try to learn
any other languages. At that time everything was easier. I was new to
language learning, and I could stay pretty absorbed in a new language
for a longer period of time, but as I started to get more knowledge
about our world's linguistic diversity I went nuts and started to
change languages like socks. Today, there even exists a meme of me
that humorizes this problem :)
Just to exemplify this, once I studied
15 languages at the same time. Basically, I just studied the language
that I wanted on that particular day. I had a list of 15 languages
and then I just went crazy. One day I could go through five to six
languages and then next day either I did the same languages or I
changed. I had no plan whatsoever, so everything was random and
crazy. Of course, I didn't learn a lot because of the constant
switching and then I decided to change it and try something new.
Right now, I am learning 3 languages at the same time (This is not a
lot to me). Or rather two since one already fell out. During last two
months I have been pretty concentrated only on those languages and
surprisingly I feel that for once I am improving. Also during this
time I have realized a couple of things about learning more languages
at the same time and I want to share what I have learned.
One very interesting thing that I have
noticed is that you won't be able to spend the same amount of time on
each language and you won't be willing to either. And this is maybe
not revolutionary but it could help those who have a problem choosing
a language. Do this:
- Start learning both languages at the same time of those that you choose between.
- Study until you start feeling that you are paying more attention to one of those languages and then gradually push the second language out.
It might seem cruel as to say, but I
find this method particularly fun, because you get to learn something
about both languages and then you can choose a direction in which
you want tol continue.
Two months ago I said that I will
study only three languages for a certain period of time that will be
chosen according to what I find suitable. Since this was the end of
the year I decided that the rest of the year I can spend on
Portuguese, Italian and Faroese. I knew that since Portuguese and
Italian are Romance languages and I already speak Spanish and some
French, I could probably reach a conversational level until January.
Faorese was a new languages to me, more difficult than any of the
other Germanic languages that I have studied so I decided to just go
with the flow and see what happens. And what is happening? Exactly
what I have written before: I am unconsciously choosing a direction
which suits me best.
I have realised that I have been
spending most of my time (80 percent) on Portuguese, 20 percent on
Italian and none on Faroese (At least in the later stages, at the
beginning I did study some). Right now I know that the language I am
mostly going to continue with is Portuguese, and it fits me great.
The language is amazing, Portugal is really interesting and exotic
since it is not as popular as Brazil and I know that I have an
advantage because of my knowledge of Spanish. I am not sad that I
haven't learned Faroese, the time will come. Italian? I guess I am
going to do some here and there and I will possibly acquire some low
conversation level, and I might to improve it later.
So, if you have to choose between
languages I will tell you to take both (or even three) and see what
happens. You see, language learning is a matter of experimentation.
People tend not to experiment and instead they only do what they are
used to. I tell you, never studied more than one language at the same
time? Do that! Never studied only one language at the same time? Do
that! Experiment and see what works best for you, it will be an
exciting journey and you will learn a lot! That way you will be the
best language learner that you can be yourself!
Good luck!