Part 2 of This Series - The Second Language Tapes

How True are Fernado's Remarks?

This clip has started a debate as to the validity of Fernando's opinion. As you will see in this clip, he maintains that it is not possible to learn a second or foreign language unless you live in the country where the language is spoken. In other words, complete, total immersion is an absolute necessity for learning a new language.

I thought I was very lucky to find someone who expressed this opinion as clearly as Fernando did. He's from Brazil, studied English in Brazil, and learned next to nothing at the practical level, while in Brazil. However, after moving to the USA, he began learning English well, and now, as you can see in the video, he speaks fluently.

I thought I was lucky to have found this opinion for a Real English® interview because my experience has been exactly the same as his. I studied French in school for 6 years in the USA, and when I arrived in France, I was nearly speechless for several months. It took me a couple of years to become relatively fluent in French. My studies of French in US high schools and colleges were however very useful, as I found it relatively easy to read and write correctly as soon as I had arrived in France. My big problems were in understanding and speaking.

Since that time I have met and discussed with many learners who have better ears than Fernando and myself. Of course it's not that simple. In fact it now seems quite complex, half in the genes and half in the culture. Buit it is obvious that some people really can learn a second language without living in the target country.