Comments on: Boost Your Personal Growth by Learning a New Language http://www.improvedlives.com/2008/07/02/boost-your-personal-growth-by-learning-a-new-language/ Find out how psychology can be practical, useful, and beneficial to you Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:03:16 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jaun Millalonco http://www.improvedlives.com/2008/07/02/boost-your-personal-growth-by-learning-a-new-language/comment-page-1/#comment-460 Jaun Millalonco Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:30:10 +0000 http://www.improvedlives.com/?p=64#comment-460 My first visit here, found the blog accidentally really, and I just wanted to say I've enjoyed my visit and had some good reads while here :) Juan My first visit here, found the blog accidentally really, and I just wanted to say I’ve enjoyed my visit and had some good reads while here :)
Juan

]]> By: Bob http://www.improvedlives.com/2008/07/02/boost-your-personal-growth-by-learning-a-new-language/comment-page-1/#comment-213 Bob Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:52:34 +0000 http://www.improvedlives.com/?p=64#comment-213 This and the article from New Scientist explained a phenomenon that I've experienced with my French girlfriend. I have noticed over the past four years that she is a strikingly different person in French and English. In English, she seems insecure and shy, but in French she is happy, confident, outgoing, witty, and even a little flirty. She was raised by her French mother, but has an American father, went to college in the U.S., and has lived here for 18 years, so it's not about her fluency. There's just something different that happens when she speaks French... This and the article from New Scientist explained a phenomenon that I’ve experienced with my French girlfriend. I have noticed over the past four years that she is a strikingly different person in French and English. In English, she seems insecure and shy, but in French she is happy, confident, outgoing, witty, and even a little flirty. She was raised by her French mother, but has an American father, went to college in the U.S., and has lived here for 18 years, so it’s not about her fluency. There’s just something different that happens when she speaks French…

]]> By: Stu http://www.improvedlives.com/2008/07/02/boost-your-personal-growth-by-learning-a-new-language/comment-page-1/#comment-173 Stu Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:22:09 +0000 http://www.improvedlives.com/?p=64#comment-173 That's an excellent point about the culture behind the language Zoey. I didn't think about that but culture certainly has a big influence on how language develops and how we use language. I wouldn't be surprised if there were even subtle differences in the language use of people who speak the same language but are from different countries, like the UK and Australia for instance. That’s an excellent point about the culture behind the language Zoey.

I didn’t think about that but culture certainly has a big influence on how language develops and how we use language. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were even subtle differences in the language use of people who speak the same language but are from different countries, like the UK and Australia for instance.

]]> By: Zoey http://www.improvedlives.com/2008/07/02/boost-your-personal-growth-by-learning-a-new-language/comment-page-1/#comment-172 Zoey Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:07:45 +0000 http://www.improvedlives.com/?p=64#comment-172 Wow. Fascinating stuff... although I similarly have to say that I'm not that surprised. As an English, French and Spanish speaker I do notice that I find it easier to be direct, even blunt with people in Spanish where in the same situation in English I might sugar-coat or shy away from expressing what I mean. Although, I might add that I wonder whether environmental factors are also at work with this. It is more acceptable to behave in a certain way in Spanish society and not in English. For example, tactile greetings and asking direct, slightly personal questions about one's family is acceptable in Spain, where it may appear too forward or nosy in the UK. Similarly, a British greeting may seem cold and dismissive to a Spaniard where it would be a polite convention in the UK. It all makes for an interesting study - I look forward to reading more about it. Wow. Fascinating stuff… although I similarly have to say that I’m not that surprised. As an English, French and Spanish speaker I do notice that I find it easier to be direct, even blunt with people in Spanish where in the same situation in English I might sugar-coat or shy away from expressing what I mean. Although, I might add that I wonder whether environmental factors are also at work with this. It is more acceptable to behave in a certain way in Spanish society and not in English. For example, tactile greetings and asking direct, slightly personal questions about one’s family is acceptable in Spain, where it may appear too forward or nosy in the UK. Similarly, a British greeting may seem cold and dismissive to a Spaniard where it would be a polite convention in the UK. It all makes for an interesting study – I look forward to reading more about it.

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