Have A United Nations Day!

Yesterday I had a United Nations day, a day where I speak more than 2 languages. I respect the UN interpreters because they have the most difficult job in the language world -- simultaneous interpretation -- listening and speaking at the same time, from one language into another. There are 6 official languages at the UN: Arabic, English, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish.

Yesterday in the course of my work day, I spoke 5 out of 6 while listening to French radio. But I also spoke in Hebrew and Italian too. (In case you are wondering, the interpreters are all housed behind the 2 rows of glass windows on the right hand side of this photo.)

Of course I don't speak fluently in all those languages, but I try to learn from every language speaker I talk with. I at least ask them to teach me one word. "How do you say _____ in your language?" And I usually get a usable answer. And when I see them again, I ask for another word, then another.

Lose your fear of asking someone about their language. After the initial shock, people are usually quite flattered that you want to know more about their language and about them. They instantly go from being a stranger to your teacher. Yes, some people are suspicious about the question, but have some reasons for them to help you on the tip of your tongue:

• I need help in greeting customers -- how do you say good morning in your languages?
• What other languages do you speak? Maybe I can practice with you.
• How many other languages do you speak? I try to learn new words every day.

Yesterday, for example, 5 Chinese girls came in with their elderly grandmother. I wanted to greet her, since she apparently spoke no English. They said, she only speaks Cantonese and I said "Yum Cha" which is basically "let's eat"! But I apologized that I only spoke Mandarin. So they told the grandmother all this and they replied "well she speaks Spanish too -- do you speak Spanish?" And of course I do so I found out that this little old lady had lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina for 20 years. I asked her if she knew the tango and she named several dances that she used to do, including the tango. So I told her grand-daughters that grandma had been quite the hot tango dancer in her day, and they were all quite stunned. It all happened in 5 minutes with complete strangers.

Start to think of all the people around you as potential language teachers. Keep a language notebook with you at all times to write down the new words, meanings and pronunciations that people give you. They are especially flattered when you write things down. Sometimes they will write down the words for you if you ask. I have learned several Chinese symbols this way.

Now this style of ad hoc learning is not the only way to master a language, but it completely cuts to the chase. The reason you learn another language is to talk to someone. So I talk to as many as possible in their own language. If it is a new language, I ask for words. If I know phrases in their language, I try to use as many as I can and they I ask for more phrases. If I can be conversational, we talk! Everything in language learning leads to...... talking. 

So here's my challenge to you today: Go and have a United Nations day!

Next time I'll give you another way to expand this approach called LAMP: Language Acquisition Made Practical.

Thanks for listening!

My First Chinese Words: Chop Chicken!

In college I walked into a Mandarin Chinese restaurant and asked the owner for a job. I told him I wanted to learn to cook. He asked if I knew how to wash dishes and I said yes. So Friday (that was his name, Friday Yin) gave me a job and promised me that he would train me as openings came up. My chef was from Beijing, her name, Lin Tsao, and she was bright and articulate, but only in Mandarin. She handed me a chicken and a large cleaver and said Che Gee - Cut Chicken. Then she gave me an onion and said Che Tsong - Cut Onion. And that's how it started. The owner, a Boeing engineer by day and restauranteur for all the other hours, spoke English, Taiwanese and Mandarin. The chef spoke only Chinese, and the waitresses, Cantonese and enough English to take orders. That was the beginning of my Chinese journey. 

I later went to work for a Chinese import-export company and was the first Gwai Lo (foreign devil) they hired. So the adventure continued and still does today!

Here is an article that you'll enjoy about 10 people who have learned Chinese well enough to be famous for it, including my hero Da Shan.

Mark Henry Roswell is a Canadian living in China and is actually a stand-up comedian in a very difficult style of humor (called "cross-talking") that often involves him memorizing long strings of works like menu items or countries.


Watch this interview on YouTube as he tells his story and demonstrates his Chinese skills.

Mark Henry Rowswell (aka Da Shan) on Wikipedia


Sometimes all you need to know is that someone else has done it -- so why can't you?

Thanks for listening!

Be A Hyperpolyglot -- There Are No Limits - Only Limitations!

The Rosetta Stone

I confess, I am a hyper polyglot -- but not yet a hyperpolyglot. So let's work on learning more languages together!

I speak fluent English, Spanish, Portuguese and conversational German. I know some useful phrases in Mandarin, Arabic, Tlingit, Cherokee, Hebrew, French and Farsi. I've studied Hebrew and Greek for reading. I like languages and know that acquiring a language is just like acquiring any other skill -- you just do it. Think of it like your schooling as a child. You most likely have completed 12 years of study. Imagine that - 12 years! And if you'd like, you could learn a language a year for 12 years! It's not magic -- it's just time and effort with the right resources.

Find ways that work for you and do that! The goal of fluency can be achieved by looking at the limitations you now have and overcoming them.

That is the aim of this blog - to find the right tools, processes, systems, methods, tactics, products, websites, people, books and other resources you need to get fluent.

Stay tuned to this blog - help and encouragement is on the way!