What means “to learn a language”

In some videos, sites, forums and other places I faced some explanations what is “language learning”. I am a little bit confused because some of them stated that I can learn only to speak a language, or for traveling. I know that learning a language is linked to some goals, expectations and needs. Many learners have a purpose to learn a language. But even that I think it is impossible to learn only to speak a languagein 21 century.

My personal explanations

For me to “learn a language” means to become fluent not only in language (in all of its forms - speaking, listening, reading and writing) but also in the culture of the people who speak it. And even not only in culture but also in history, everyday life, habits, arts, etc. And for me to become fluent means to achieve C1 and to learn and maintain this language whole life.

Strategy In recent years In the future
1. Grammar/Lessons C1 C2
2. Reading C1 C2
3. Listening C1 C2
4. Writing C1 C2
5. Speaking C1 C2
6. Vocabulary C1 C2
7. Phonetic drills C1 C2
  1. Grammar

For me the grammar is most important part of language learning and for speaking, listening, reading and writing. If you want to understand deeply language structure and to understand not only speaking but written literature you have to familiarize with the grammar. I want to have a knowledge of the grammar so deep that I could make comparison between Romance languages now and in historical aspect.

  1. Reading

Reading is the second most important part of the language for me amongst writing. It is cricial for rapid building of language structure and vocabulary. My goals are:

  • first - to be able to read scientific texts in my desired topics
  • second - to be able to read non-fiction literature - basically classics and contemporary novels like crime novels, thriller, etc without extensive use of dictionary. I have no intention to read fantasy books.
  • third - to read articles in internet and magazines about wide range of non specialized topics - such as recipes, touristic brochures, menus, instructions, etc.
  1. Writing

I want to be able to write without big number of errors.I have to form good spelling so to be able to write a little bit fast but fluent. I want to be able to take notes without difficulties. Also I want to write fast in a computer - to be familiar with keyboard layouts and specific letters and diacritics. In addition I want to be able to write some basic letters, e-mails, commercial correspondence, some basic articles like this one. Also I want to be able to search information on internet.

  1. Listening

My primary goal is to be able to understand speech with slow to normal speed. My second goal is after some time to be able to understand high speed speech and additionally to be able to understand strong accents and dialect speech. Other my goal is to understand phone conversations and recorded speech which is crucial for exam preparations. My final goal is to understand news on tv and to understand tv series and movies.

  1. Speaking

My primary goal is to be able to speak with moderate speed in everyday conversations on non specific topic like weather, shopping, what I am doing, etc. Then I want to upgrade myself - to speak fluently without interruption on specific familiar to me topics with moderate speed and to be able to moderate a conversation or dialogue on these topics. A confortable speaking without blocking is my true goals. In addition - to be able to think in the targeted language and to dream in it.

  1. Vocabulary

The main goal here is to enrich my vocabulary with words from my main topics - linguistics, language learning, geography, crafts,art, etc. Also to know the first 10 000 most frequently used words in oral and non-fiction corpora.

  1. Phonetics

My goals are clear speech without strong accent. I target official (or academic) pronunciation, not dialectal one. I want to be able to pass easily exam for C1 level with this type of pronunciation.

The global goals by languages

  1. English
eng Strategy In recent years In the future
1. Grammar/Lessons C1 C2
2. Reading C1 C2
3. Listening C1 C2
4. Writing C1 C2
5. Speaking C1 C2
6. Vocabulary C1 C2
7. Phonetic drills C1 C2

Exam - to pass CAE.

70%

  1. Spanish
eng Strategy In recent years In the future
1. Grammar/Lessons C1 C2
2. Reading C1 C2
3. Listening C1 C2
4. Writing C1 C2
5. Speaking C1 C2
6. Vocabulary C1 C2
7. Phonetic drills C1 C2

Exam - to pass DELE C1, then C2

60%

  1. Italian
eng Strategy In recent years In the future
1. Grammar/Lessons C1 C2
2. Reading C1 C2
3. Listening C1 C2
4. Writing C1 C2
5. Speaking C1 C2
6. Vocabulary C1 C2
7. Phonetic drills C1 C2

Exam - to pass CILS C1

50%

  1. Portuguese
eng Strategy In recent years In the future
1. Grammar/Lessons C1 C2
2. Reading C1 C2
3. Listening C1 C2
4. Writing C1 C2
5. Speaking C1 C2
6. Vocabulary C1 C2
7. Phonetic drills C1 C2

Exam - to pass CALPE-Bras C1 or DAPLE

20%

  1. Latin
eng Strategy In recent years In the future
1. Grammar/Lessons C1 C2
2. Reading C1 C2
3. Listening C1 C2
4. Writing C1 C2
5. Speaking C1 C2
6. Vocabulary C1 C2
7. Phonetic drills C1 C2

Exam - are any exams?

10%

  1. Galician
eng Strategy In recent years In the future
1. Grammar/Lessons C1 C2
2. Reading C1 C2
3. Listening C1 C2
4. Writing C1 C2
5. Speaking C1 C2
6. Vocabulary C1 C2
7. Phonetic drills C1 C2

Exam - CELGA C1

10%

Time limits

  1. Some facts about needed times

If I want to make a strategy I have to plan some time in my studies. I already have some level in every of studied languages and my goal is to become fluebt in these languages. So I have to calculate how much time I needed and to subtract some time I already spent in learning this language. But also I have add some additional time to my “focused languages” because I will study so many languages together. There is a good explanation of needed time in HTLAL site.

http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/e/languages/index.html

I will use some of this information for starting point. For Latin and Galician I searched in the internet and calculate some average time. So, for a learner (like me) who is not native speaker of one of the Romance languages but already have some level in English I made these calculations:

Language Time needed for beginner Already spent hours Additional hours Time needed for me
1. English 250h 505h 0 0
2. Spanish 400h 190h 100h 310h
3. Italian 550h 224h 100h 426h
4. Portuguese 350h 69h 100h 381h
5. Latin 750h 3h 0 750h
6. Galician 200h 7h 0 200h
Total: 2 500h 998h 300h 2 067h
  1. My time limits

I decided not to add time to English because I have doubled needed time and mu focus is on Romance languages. Also I decided not to add additional time for Galician becase of its great similarity with Spanish and Portuguese and because I want to focus on it and on Latin later. For Latin the reasons to not add additional time are biggest time to learn, similarities with all Romance languages and because I want to focus on it later with Galician. So I have to learn approximately 2 070 hours which is 5.7 years if I learn 1 hour per day, or 3 years if I learn 2 hours per day. This is pretty good time budget for me because my target is to learn between 2 and 3 hours per day. I already spend in listening and learning minimum 2 hours per day (my spreadsheed told me 2.2h per day average mostly listening - I am not add writing and study yet).

Conclusion

In conclusion my strategy is for 3 years, 2-3 hours per day learning. So the next step is to make a plan for learning and to define goals (focuses, emphasis). Also I have to remember myself that my focus is on Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. At the end I have to become fluent at equal level in each of them.