Learning more than one language at the same time?
Do you think it is a good idea to learn two languages at the same time?

I am learning English and thinking about restarting German that I left off for a fairly long time.
I can speak in upper-intermediate English but for German, I forgot most of what I learned. So I am back to the beginner's level.
I am a bit worried if it is more effective to focus on one language at a time.

If anyone has the experience of improving skills in multiple languages at the same time,
Could you give me some advices? (on how you split your time between two languages.. or anything!)

Thank you.

Question

Learning more than one language at the same time?
Do you think it is a good idea to learn two languages at the same time?

I am learning English and thinking about restarting German that I left off for a fairly long time.
I can speak in upper-intermediate English but for German, I forgot most of what I learned. So I am back to the beginner's level.
I am a bit worried if it is more effective to focus on one language at a time.

If anyone has the experience of improving skills in multiple languages at the same time,
Could you give me some advices? (on how you split your time between two languages.. or anything!)

Thank you.

Answer

Depends on your purpose.

If you are learning for fun, sure.
If you are seriously trying to master a language, I would only study one at a time.  (My opinion)

Answer

You will quickly find that you are not really at a beginner's level in German.  You feel that way now but, really, the information that you learned previously is just at the back of your brain, waiting to be 'switched on,' again.

If you were to have lessons with one of the German tutors on this site, I bet that you would quickly start to recover your previous level.

I see no problem with studying English and German at the same time.  You are very unlikely to get confused between the two languages.  I am learning Portuguese and I would not study Spanish at the same time, because it would be too confusing, but I would have no problem with studying French or Russian at the same time.

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