Quote:
Originally Posted by KyleGoetz
But there you introduce subjectivity into the analysis. I would say level 1 or 2 is "conversant." So again, we're at the same impasse.
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Sure. But now you can at least say "I think Speaking 2 is conversant". And I can say "OK. I think Speaking 2 is fluent. but that's my personal opinion I guess". We have some common ground.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KyleGoetz
I'll just drop the argument. We won't get anywhere. Regardless, you will not ever reach level 3 in Japanese within four years of residing in the US unless you move to Little Tokyo somewhere and speak practically only Japanese all day.
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By the same people who developed the IRL scale, it is said that it takes 4000 hours, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 2+ years, of dedicated study with professional instructors to get to the level 3 in all 4 skills, Speaking, Listening, Writing and Reading. So yes, it is REALLY hard. But I wouldn't say it's impossible. Just unbelievably hard. By the way, Spanish takes 1/4 of the time so your (or was it yours?) assumption is correct. It's a LOT easier to learn Spanish or any Indo-European language than Japanese.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KyleGoetz
I spent about ten hours a week speaking Japanese in the US for three years, and also lived in Japan speaking only Japanese for a year. I still wouldn't have called myself fluent after all that. Conversant, yes. Fluent, no way, Jose.
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I spent half my life, 17 years, in the US and the UK and I'm still sometimes hesitant to say I'm fluent in English. so, you're not alone
