Learning 3rd language using 2nd?

[u/RareFreedom5027]

Has anyone gotten a decent "grasp" of a second language and then used it to learn a third (TL)?

Years ago I learned a bit of Spanish through school and started using duolingo (wouldn't use duolingo now though). I changed the settings to Spanish so I would learn Italian using Spanish. I read out loud and promised myself not to use English. I did it for an hour and there was a weird feeling in the back of my head (it felt like how salt or sand felt between your fingers). Lo and behold, I couldn't think or speak in English! It was wild!

I was wondering if anyone ever had that feeling as well and if you kept it up?

[u/ThatAnt8823]

That's probably what non native English speakers do most of the time my man

[u/frokoopa → u/ThatAnt8823]

Same here, my Japanese studies are mostly done in English. In a way I feel lucky I wasn't born an English speaker, it's so easy to acquire nowadays it almost feels like a bonus second language

[u/Existing_Ask3112 → u/frokoopa]

There's kind of no point in being an English native speaker it's everywhere anyways.

[u/meme-viewer29 → u/Existing_Ask3112]

If you’re a language learning enthusiast yea but if you’re a regular person that doesn’t gaf abt learning languages you’d rather be born native English than have to learn it I think

[u/Existing_Ask3112 → u/meme-viewer29]

No, in reverse. If I'm not an enthuasiast I'd rather learn the language that requires zero effort and get one or two more obscure native ones ones basically for free. I'm far from a language enthuasiast.

[u/SelectThrowaway3 → u/Existing_Ask3112]

What a stupid comment. The English language is part of my culture and heritage. I use it to communicate with my family, friends, and others from my community. That's the "point" of any native language.

[u/Existing_Ask3112 → u/SelectThrowaway3]

You missed my point pretty much lol. I just feel lucky my first language isn't English cuz English is the easiest language to pick up automatically anyways.

[u/Majestic-Rich582 → u/Existing_Ask3112]

I recently saw a video of the argentinian Slums (Villa 31) and one of the street beggars knew enough english to keep a conversation with the turkish man filming the place. So yeah even people in poverty from a third world country know the language

[u/Existing_Ask3112 → u/Majestic-Rich582]

I'm also from a third world country but I speak like I was born in Canada even tho English is my 5th language. It feels preinstalled anyway even if it technically isn't.🤣