I started EFL in 1972. It was in fact my seventh language as I already spoke Dutch, German, French, Flemish, Afrikaans and a local dialect (a mixture of Dutch, French, German. It's not a pitch-tone language but a tone language) Dialects really are a breed apart (going off-topic but necessary) as they are the true mother tongue and are the most important factor that differentiate region and population. Your next-door neighbor, e.g., will stick to his own dialect if he lives in a different village than yours. If you're talking about "ants" you might refer to them as "zeikwurms" and he as "amzeiksels". Or "de put" (u as in uh) and "chabornage" if talking about coalmines. (In French: mine de charbon). You would have no trouble using my dialect in Bavaria and be understood as it is closer to Bavarian dialects then Hochdeutsch.

I practiced English by thinking in the language, reading and rereading novels (first novel: Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck). Dictionaries were used only as a last resort. Personally, I find an idiomatic dictionary to be more useful.
EFL was also the most important factor in me having penpals on every continent. I had nearly 100 penpals so I spent several hours a day on writing letters. I had the pleasure of visiting a great number of them and even now we still remain friends. Oral practice is very important but I find reading even more so. What you pick up through reading will greatly enhance your vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, plus countless cultural facts. To be truly fluent one has to be culturally literate.

My first step, when learning a new language, is to get to know the phonetics. I teach Phonics and it takes approximately two to three months to turn non-readers (6-year olds) into fluent readers of English. I've been told by native English speakers that my students read better than most junior high school students of English speaking countries. Once students can read the learning factor is so much easier as they can actually study their lessons at home while those that can't have to rely purely on memory. Rote learning also hampers one's learning as it doesn't focus on expressing oneself and the latter is what language is all about.

I picked up Italian during high school as I had more Italian classmates than local ones. Actually I did it to impress Italian girls (worked like a charm). Later on I studied Spanish and Maltese (lived in Malta). While in the Armed Forces I had a course in Swahili which I used in Shaba and Kolwezi during the uprisings in Zaire (Congo).

It is only fair to say that when I moved to Taiwan learning Chinese (Mandarin) would be on top of my list. In Taiwan I picked up conversational Japanese (put to use on my trips to Japan) and Taolog (I have lots of Pinoy friends plus useful when I was in the Philippines) and now I am still busy with Lao and Thai (closely related so killing two birds with one stone). Oh, and I speak enough Taiwanese, Indonesian, Malay and Vietnamese to get by. Enough to ask for directions, order food and have simple conversations.

Mandarin Chinese is now my first language while English is the second. No wonder since I've been in the Far East since 1980. My aim is to make Lao my first language but that will take some time. My son understands Lao, Thai, English, Chinese, French, German and Dutch as I use all these languages to communicate with him. And no, it doesn't confuse him one bit. Nothing is forced upon him. I may ask him in German and he may reply in Chinese. I think it's cool.

Culture is defined as �the way of life of a group of people including that group�s language, music, foods, holidays, and beliefs�. English is the international language but that shouldn't deter people from learning another language. Learning another language will gain you respect among the locals while complaining that the locals don't speak English only leads to you being seen as arrogant. I've never been to a country where I didn't involve myself in picking up the rudimentaries of the local tongue. This alone has opened many doors and lasting friendships. One earns respect by giving respect. This is so true when it comes to learning a foreign language.

[This message has been edited by Taike (edited 08-11-2009).]

[This message has been edited by Taike (edited 08-11-2009).]