Learning languages should be fun, not a chore.

Today someone asked me how long would it take to learn the Spanish language. WOW! This takes the fun out of it. My response was: I don't know. I speak the language fluently and can't say that I know it all. Everyday is a new discovery, new words, new expressions.

Conversational anything is for communication, for fun, for understanding. If you are planning to get a college degree because you intend to teach, write books, being a writer for a newspaper where accuracy and command of the language is very important, then, you have a horse of a different color.

I am an advocate of learning a language the easy way, then if you are really serious and have the commitment for a long term learning, go for it.

In the meantime, learn 365 sentences and travel, have fun, get dates, ask for directions, well, you get the idea. My questions is: When are you going to start?

Remember Robin Williams as Mork?

Last Friday evening I was invited by some very good friends to have dinner with them. For some personal reasons I declined to attend. Then, one of my dear friends called to ask me to reconsider. After listening to my personal reasons, she indicated to me that I should attend the dinner. That it would be fun and I would forget my problems at least for some time. She was right.

The host, a good friend and comedian in disguise took over the entertainment for the dinner by bringing back the character from Mork and Mindy, a TV show which became famous from 1978 until 1982. Robin Williams played the alien who came to Earth in a giant egg from the planet Ork.

You might say: what does that have to do with languages? Well, if you remember, Mork used to say: Na-Nu Na-Nu as a form of greeting. My friend decided to make us laugh with his interpretation of Mork and his famous greeting. That was really funny and we had a great time. It's amazing that sometimes we laugh so hard for the most ridiculous reasons.

The idea of an alien visiting us and speaking another language is out of character. But, think about it, hasn't that already taken place? They don't say Na-Nu Na-Nu, instead they say Hola, Oi, Salut and many other forms of salutation.

The question is, are we ready to say Welcome in their own language?

Did you know that you already speak some Spanish?

If you can say taco, muchacho, fiesta, cinco de mayo, corona, hasta la vista baby---you are already in your way to master the language.

Ah, but it takes more than that. What about a sentence a day?

English: Hello
French: Salut
Italian: Ciao
Portuguese: Oi/olá
Spanish: Hola

English: What's your name?
French: Comment vous appelez-vous?
Italian: Come si chiama?
Portuguese: Qual é seu nome?
Spanish: Cómo se llama? Cúal es su nombre?

If you keep up with learning short sentences, you will be able to ask for a date in no time.

Two magic words in every language

I have noticed that when I use these two words people smile and go out of their way to help me. Simple little words, yet, very effective in the world of communication. It doesn't matter what country, the results are the same.

English:Please
French: S'il vous plaít
Italian: Per favore
Portuguese: Por favor
Spanish: Por favor

English: Thank you
French: Merci
Italian: Grazie
Portuguese: Obrigado/a
Spanish: Gracias

Did you buy 3x5 cards yet?

So you want to learn 5 languages?

It's easier than you think. The first thing to do is to erase the message in your brain that isn't possible. Of course, trying to get the "learning curve" going is somewhat difficult, but not impossible. Remember what I said, learn little chunks of information every day and one day you will be able to have a basic conversation in five different languages.

I carry 3 x 5 cards with me all the time. One or two sentences at the time. I read them while I wait for the traffic to clear, when someone puts me on hold or any other situation where I have to wait. Don't get aggravated, learn something useful and fun.

So here is the first installment. I this time I can't give you the pronunciation, but this will come soon I hope.

English: My name is...
French: Je m'appelle
Italian: Mi chiamo
Portuguese: Meu nome é
Spanish: Mi nombre es/Me llamo

Next time you hear these words, they will make sense to you.

Have a great day.

The importance of knowing another language

Yesterday I had the opportunity of being able to help a friend who got hurt badly. She doesn't speak English and didn't know what to do. She called me and we managed to communicate by using a language other than English. I placed a 911 call and the paramedics came to her rescue. It felt great to be able to help her---all possible by knowing her language.

It's not the first time that I have been able to help someone who doesn't speak English. Sometimes people get lost, need help to find the nearest restaurant or medical attention. I know that very well, I have been at the receiving end. I remember the first time that I got lost in a strange city and someone helped me by talking to me in my native language.

Learning another language is a personal satisfaction, it's not done for the benefit of others. Some people say: Let them learn my language, why should I learn theirs? Well, that's a narrow view. We grow when we learn. As I said before, the learning of a language doesn't have to be difficult. Learn what you need or like, then use it.

Why five?

Why not. In some parts of the world speaking five languages is as natural as waking up in the morning. For some reason, or many reasons, that is not the case where I live. But that does not mean that it can't be.

Over the past several years I've spent a noticeable amount of time helping native English speakers try to learn at least a little bit of Spanish. But there's no reason to stop with Spanish. In Europe, for instance, someone who speaks Spanish can probably also communicate in Italian and maybe Portuguese as well. French is not out of the question and some bits of Romanian will at least sound familiar.

Fluency is not what matters about this kind of polylinguism -- what matters is being able to have a basic but effective conversation. No one here will ever advocate that everyone should have interpretive skills that could be used at the United Nations. It's more about how to order a meal, catch a bus or get a date in five different languages. Five is what I'm using here, but that is not a limit on you. I want to know about your multilingual experience, even if it's just your attempt and even if it's not a Romance language. After all, communication is the important thing.