Post: #1

In preparation for a long trip starting in brazil and across europe I wanted some advice on how to optimize my time learning languages.

I have a base in French (AP in HS) and Spanish (Pimsleur + extra studies) which allows me to have conversations with 5 year olds but no one older.

Portuguese is obviously essential in Brazil and I intend to spend a decent amount of time in France.

So the question is: given 2 years of preparation how should the time be broken up? Focus on perfecting french then transition to portuguese? Shore up spanish then french and hope to get by on spanish in brazil?

Obviously I'm worried that if I mix this all up at the end I'll just be speaking some made up bastard-child language of all three.

Post: #2

Learn 1 langauge at a time. Dedicate yourself to only learning that language and it will all come much easier. That way, even if you're learning simmilar languages, they'll occupy distinct spaces in your mind and you won't have much of a problem mixing them up.

Check out this forum for some great resources on learning languages: http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/default.asp

Post: #3

I'm studying 9 languages right now apart from the 4 i already know. I spend a few days with slavic languages, move to middle eastern and then to asian. I all depends on what I feel like studying that day. Similar languages like Russian, Bulgarian and even Polish help me reinforce my knowledge in the the other because I can cross-reference the info I learn.

for ex:

Monday

russian - panidyelnik
bulgarian-panedelnik
polish- poniedziałek

Don't limit yourself, go above and beyond