So, how many languages can you speak?

[FnG]magnolia;17327398 said:
Impressive stuff :) What's the difference between elementary and pre-intermediate?
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I was going to use the European Framework levels but I thought those would be easier.
(pre)int, upper-int, etc is all rather vague.

But I'd say if you go from zero, you've got:
Beginner, Elementary, Pre-Int, Int, Upper-Int, Advanced...

A1 - C2 is the best way, and those can be easily split into 3 further levels.
eg. A1.1 - A1.3, etc.

People tend to over-estimate their language abilities, and I'm no exception. Before I understood these levels properly I thought I was much better than I am ;)
I suspect that some people who claim to be fluent are anything but. Fluent really means that you have absolutely no problem in understanding anything said in said language, be it on TV, films, etc. and have absolutely no problems expressing themselves, complete with nuances, idioms...
 
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One if I'm lucky. I studied French and Italian at school for a time, I suspect with a bit of effort I could get at least French up to a passable level but at the moment I've got rather more pressing studies unfortunately. I know a few words of Finnish but I'm not even elementary standard with that however I can order drinks and say thank you so that serves the main purpose there.
 
Just English and some basic French for me - GF speaks near native French and Spanish, good Portuguese, some Swedish (she's learning at the moment) and a bit of Russian.
 
English
Enough French to get by on holiday without resorting to the international language of shouting and hand-gestures.
Enough Züridüütsch (Swiss German [Zurich] dialect) to be able to work in Switzerland (Zurich).
 
EdwardTeach said:
Pedant alert

But perhaps not English?

I can speak fluently....
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Not necessarily.

I can speak (language) fluently. is much more natural English word order.

I can speak fluently French. is wrong.
I can speak fluently in English. has a slightly different meaning.

It means that you can speak without pauses, not that you speak English to a near-native level. (Which fluent implies)
 
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