hey guys. I had question for all you college students/grads/ attemptees (like me). I want to learn BOTH spanish and mandarin. Ever since dating my gf who speaks mandarin, spanish, and english FLUENTLY i have wanted to learn madarin (yeah, she's asian).

anyways, i have been thinking. Since i want to learn both while studying spanish this next semester at ASU, on all my flash cards put one side english other side spanish & Mandarin too? anyone think that will work?

Also, i was thinking it would be easier then just learning spanish - if i try to TRANSLATE one language into another as i make up sentences i cant not help but to learn them both..... right? i mean the language center cant help but to wire the all three languages to one nerve path - ie have three translations connected to one thought in my head.

I was just thinking about all this as i was trying to study up on my old highschool spanish today. Anyone have any ideas on all this, comments, suggestions, tips???

(btw, whoever was the genius on here who posted use ear plugs as study aids THANKYOU! - i only study now with mine in, it works great!!)

I would also like to know what the best language learning stategies are for someone with ADD. I spent two years trying to learn Japanese with hardly anything to show for it. Now I am learning Russian (and eventually Estonian, I hope) and I want to be able to have atleast some profieciantcy... :cool:

I have personally found that taking my adderall right before i start studying helps so much. get the strongest dose when it is needed the most.

Also, I have been going on line (and hyperfocusing on this instead of spanish) and dling the programs, warez-download and WinMX. And, pretty much downled all of the pimsleur spanish mp3s on there. They have helped me SO MUCH!! I think i am an audio learner when i can sit there long enough to listen to them. I try to do as much as i can for as LONG as i can. Length of time helps my brain convert it from a bunch of memorized words to a language.

So far that is what i have found works, that and discussing just about the class with a native speaker. They end up throwing out a bunch of interesting points and helpful tips.

personally, i love languages. I'm currently (mostly) fluent in english, french, and american sign language. i want to learn japanese, russian, and german. it's taken me 1.5 months to learn as much asl as i learned in 4.5 years of french classes. how? immersion. the last month and a half i've been living with 3 deaf people. it forces you to learn.
as for strategies, i've got nothing, except going over it all the time in your head. i've gotten to the point in both asl and french that i dream in it(more french than asl). One of my favorite things when learning a language is to use it in everyday language. My parents (or whoever i'm living with) ends up learning some of that language too, because i'm constantly responding in french or asl instead of english (they seem to like it when you translate what you just said).

mistaben,
Sounds like a cool idea and Fencer is correct about immersion. I know this because I'm good at languages but haven't learned any and never immersed myself in them. I'm sure it'd be a piece of cake if I did after the initial stress.

Two languages at once sounds even better: if you don't know a word in one language, ask in the other... LOL!!!

Just got to find a way to get the GF to refuse english to you (no exceptions) and it'll all fall in place.

that's a great idea, paul
ask the gf to speak to you in nothing but mandarin. it's great practice for everyday conversation.
the only problem i can see is in mixing the languages. i've been warned about the same thing, because people tend to forget which word goes with which language, and you end up speaking a mix of the two. granted that's more for similar languages, such as french and spanish, but you get my point.

"Mandish"

he he...

Definitely an overload situation! There was a brief mention of this here recently whether multitasking is a detriment to ADD or a benefit. This was sparked by an article saying multitasking causes temporary ADD in normal people, I argued it's just a given for certain ADD folks and helps keep us in an adequate level of stimulation. I've been known to be over-optimistic and in denial though! No doubt it's a frazzling experience, so...