LindsayDoesLanguages
What is Fluency?

Hey!
So today, I uploaded a video to YouTube called 'What Is Fluency?': http://youtu.be/eWfJrXQnpvA

 

Do you think we need to review our interpretation of the word 'fluent'?

Have you ever been in a situation where you have avoided saying you're fluent because your interpretation of the definition has meant that people would expect too much from you if you say you're fluent?

 

I'd love to know your thoughts on this!

22 Thg 03 2014 20:08
Bình luận · 15
2

By the way, my perception of 'fluent' would be, not to have any hesitation and make no grammatical mistakes. Hence being almost perfect. You would only know I am not a native speaker by a slight accent I would have. So, according to me, hardly anyone is really fluent in a foreign language. But I am really critical. Also towards myself ;0)

 

 

25 tháng 3 năm 2014
1

You see Chris - that video said that your definition of fluent is the common one. One that I am not going to achieve in Spanish - but HIS more technical definition used by speech pathologists - I have a CHANCE of achieving THAT. 

 

You to me seem like you probably are already fluent (according to his definition) in English based upon your writing. I could never write in Spanish the way you write in English. 

 

I needed to see that video in order to help change my definition of fluent. I don't like your definition because then I'm not even fluent in my native language! HA!

 

I would love the idea of being able to say that I'm fluent at the intermediate level. That's just BRILLIANT! It's like saying your fluent and taking a little back at the same time so people aren't going to be too harsh with you. It's like saying - I can kinda flow at this level. I love it!  

25 tháng 3 năm 2014
1

Love it. Love it. Love it.

 

23 tháng 3 năm 2014
1

I think these levels A1 to C2 are very well described and we should use these terms. I really like these standarized European levels. They are hard, fixed and exact. Fluency, good, bad, reasonable, what ever, are just too vague.

 

But why should not becomming fluent in a language be demotivating? Not everybody has to be a translator or something. My level of English is more than good enough to do my job as an engineer. I could improve my German, so I am studying that. But if my German becomes say C1, it would, for my job at least, be a waste of energy to try to improve it even more. Even at the very moment I am avoiding studying English, since, although it is my best foreign language, improving it has no use. Hence I do not even want to be fluent in English. Well, not if it would cost me time and effort I need for other subjects that is.

23 tháng 3 năm 2014
1

I agree. Terms such as beginner, intermediate, and advanced are very vague. I really think it's based on the perspective of the person who is judging the level of language fluency, whether it is the language learner or someone else like a teacher or friend. There could potentially be a disagreement or an agreement on the level of the language learner. Even native speakers can lose their "train of thought" or not be able to find the right words to say.

 

I'm not very fond of technical terms when it comes to assessing someone's language ability because a test is only a test. Tests aren't completely useless, but they cannot completely assess the abilities of language learners. However, I do know that such technical terms are necessary in the world of employment and education.

 

I've found that a language is easier to learn if you have a true desire to learn it. Growing up in the United States, foreign languages were offered at my high school and college, but I never felt pressured to learn them. From the perspective of language learners, if there is no point in learning another language, no pressure from family, school, or work, or it's just simply too difficult to learn, then they will feel unmotivated. I think lack of time, or the "idea" of lack of time, may be the one of the biggest reasons why people feel they cannot attain language fluency. Lack of self-confidence can attribute to this too.

23 tháng 3 năm 2014
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LindsayDoesLanguages
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Tiếng Ả Rập, Tiếng Ả Rập (Ai Cập), Tiếng Trung Quốc (Quan thoại), Tiếng Anh, Tiếng Phi-líp-pin (Tagalog), Tiếng Pháp, Tiếng Georgia, Tiếng Đức, Tiếng Guarani, Tiếng Hindi, Tiếng In-đô-nê-xi-a, Tiếng Ý, Tiếng Litva, Tiếng Malayalam, Tiếng Bồ Đào Nha, Tiếng Nga, Tiếng Tây Ban Nha
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Tiếng Ả Rập, Tiếng Ả Rập (Ai Cập), Tiếng Trung Quốc (Quan thoại), Tiếng Phi-líp-pin (Tagalog), Tiếng Georgia, Tiếng Hindi, Tiếng In-đô-nê-xi-a, Tiếng Litva, Tiếng Malayalam, Tiếng Nga