What is your position on the subject?

[jrineakter]

Olivier: Afterwards, it's normal, it's something that is normal, but indeed, you have to try to say to yourself: "I don't absolutely have to look for this word, this turn of phrase, I'm not going to succeed, so I'll say it differently with my own words."

Johan: We made a video on the subject, " How to speak without translating into your mother tongue? " So, we put the link in the "i" as info and in the description. But it's true that it's also something that members of the academy often tell me, they have this difficulty, translating into their mother tongue. This is especially true at the beginning when you're no longer a complete beginner but you reach the intermediate level, you can sometimes have difficulties. So, you might as well get used to it from the beginning in the end. So, OK. Is there another particular mistake or is this really the major mistake that you want members to think about?

Olivier: No, I think that one is really… So, there are others, but I think that one is really important…

Johan: OK.

Olivier: … because it will actually encompass a lot of things, because afterwards it will also lead to false friends, it will also lead to things, translations that are not good in fact. There are sometimes translations where it does not have the same meaning at all. And so, it will actually encompass a lot of things, on vocabulary, on understanding and expression in fact.

Johan: Yes, I quite agree with that. So, we really focus on that, we don't translate into our mother tongue. Another question that comes up often, and you've probably had the opportunity to encounter this case in your meetings, is people who say to us: "can we learn two languages ​​at the same time?" I get asked this question very, very often, and I imagine you do too.

Olivier: Afterwards, it depends. It can be case by case, but so, there, it’s… we’re going to try to…

Johan: In broad terms.

Olivier: … generalize. Broadly speaking, yes. But I would say “of course, we can”, but I think that there are criteria to respect a little, because if we learn two things at the same time, the risk is that everything gets mixed up and that finally… then, either there is one that we will quickly abandon or maybe even completely abandon both, because we are lost, to say to ourselves: “Where do I start in this language? This one is different, so I have to start too”. So, that is the risk, it is the abandonment of one or the other, that one takes on more weight than the other.

And in my opinion, we can of course learn two languages ​​precisely if there is this imbalance in fact. If there is one that is already... where the foundations are already very solid, where ultimately we are there, we consolidate it, we amplify it, and at that point, we have less risk of losing what we have acquired, and it can allow us to start something new. But that the two are at the same level at the beginning, for me, that is a risk.

Johan: Yes, yes, yes. So, you would rather say: "OK, if one is maintained in the end". For example, you who have a good level of English, you maintain your English and you learn Spanish for example, but starting from scratch is complicated. I quite agree with that. I would add a point that you raised previously, it is the pleasure point...

Olivier: Yes.

Johan: … because many people sometimes want to learn a language just because it looks good or to add a line to their CV, but there is this notion of pleasure. So, you have to learn a language that you like, that interests you and that you will need. And of course, the time aspect is obvious. If you have half an hour a day, learn only one italy whatsapp number data language. If you have a lot of free time and you are able to invest 3-4 hours, you can learn two languages ​​at the same time. But I agree with Olivier that the brain is largely capable of learning two languages ​​at the same time. So, try to respect the different conditions that we have mentioned.

Let's talk now about written expression, because we can express ourselves in French orally, we can speak, but we can also write, therefore, express ourselves in writing. Some people need it in their work, for example, to write emails. Is there a particular activity or advice that you would have for people to improve their writing?


Olivier: Already for native speakers, really it's already also... you have to know that it's... there are really a lot of rules and a lot of silent letters that are very important in writing. And for that, you have to see the words, you have to see the sentences, the syntax. I talked about syntax too earlier, about all these grammar rules. And where do we see it? Well in books, in reading. And I think that reading... Again, earlier, I was talking about active listening, passive listening. Here, I'm going to talk a little about visual memory in fact, that is to say that if I read, I see the word, and of course, it can allow me to understand a little more, but the brain will see it and will take a little photograph. So, sometimes, it's furtive, eh.