Do you speak a foreign language?

2014-05-16T08:19:38-04:00

While I spent 13 years in Germany I was able to pick up on and learn to speak fluent German. Wondering how many other people here on rally point speak a foreign language? I took the test back in 2006 but German is not one of the paid languages so I have not re tested every year. Though I have no doubt that I would probably do better now than I did back in 2006.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2014 8:25 AM

2014-05-16T08:25:13-04:00

Que?

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made May 16 at 2014 8:50 AM

2014-05-16T08:50:45-04:00

Yiddish. However, it is a dying language. In fact, since my Momma passed awasy, 7 months ago, I've had no call to speak it.

Response by SFC Stephen Carden made May 16 at 2014 10:24 AM

2014-05-16T10:24:21-04:00

In high school, I took 2 years of French and 1 year of German. Turns out, both have helped me in the military. When I was stationed in Germany, I already had a good base of German. That allowed me to pick it up and become what I would call "semi-fluent". I have lost most of it since I left Germany though. When I came into Special Operations, my assigned language turned out to be French. I breezed through language school and tested out at 2+/2+. Unfortunately, after serving with our tactical battalion , deploying to AFG several times, and moving into more administrative duties, I have lost a lot of my French as well.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2014 10:49 AM

2014-05-16T10:49:04-04:00

Speak Spanish pretty fluently but my goal is to learn Hebrew. Always wanted to read the bible in Hebrew.

Response by Cpl Benjamin Long made May 16 at 2014 12:02 PM

2014-05-16T12:02:19-04:00

i speak several languages.... French, Geman, Norse, as well as some fictional languags. ie Quenya...

Response by SSG Matt Murphy made May 18 at 2014 9:07 PM

2014-05-18T21:07:27-04:00

Chinese (Mandarin)

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made May 18 at 2014 9:17 PM

2014-05-18T21:17:26-04:00

Ich Auch!

Response by MSgt Patrick Mower made May 19 at 2014 11:59 AM

2014-05-19T11:59:27-04:00

Yep, Russian linguist, but first a Farsi Linguist. I went through Russian Basic and Intermediate (SR9-5-68B and SR9-5-70I) at SU, but first at Monterey then DLI the 37 week Farsi course.

Spent 21 years in, went all over the world on the ground the first 10 years, then in the air flew out of just about every place we had.

Love every moment of it, and I think Matt Murphy and I were at the 6990th in Kadena together. Just attended the Fall of Saigon Party (reunion) in Vegas.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2014 6:55 AM

2014-05-28T06:55:56-04:00

I speak science - which unfortunately seems to be a foreign language to many around the world these days.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2014 8:16 AM

2014-05-28T08:16:58-04:00

DLI trained Russian linguist, though in my travels I have learned how to order French fries in France, how to say thank you in Norway, and the almighty tongue of sarcasm

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 28 at 2014 8:20 AM

2014-05-28T08:20:10-04:00

Just spanish, but I grew up in Miami, so that's just par for the course.

Response by John Russell made May 28 at 2014 8:35 AM

2014-05-28T08:35:06-04:00

I speak korean, though not fluent. 2/2 on DLPT. Having north korean as part of the exam is pretty difficult. It's like trying to listen to cajuns talk. I made a lot of good friends with KATUSA CSMs as well as the ROK SPECIAL FORCES group just by knowing my heritage language. It pays big dividends to know the language of the country you are stationed at. Good networking tool!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2014 9:10 AM

2014-05-28T09:10:21-04:00

I speak Spanish and I have 3/3 score in the Spanish DPLT. I also know some Portuguese.

Response by SSG Kevin McCulley made May 28 at 2014 10:49 AM

2014-05-28T10:49:36-04:00

Does southern count? Oh.. I totally speak hooah!

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2014 11:55 AM

2014-05-28T11:55:34-04:00

My best foreign languages are German and Spanish. I'm pretty fluent in both, and can argue politics, argue public policy, and curse in both.

I picked up French, and can get around fairly well if you drop me in France, except for Paris. In Paris, if your French isn't perfect, and they know you're an American, they'll turn their noses up at you. No consideration for making an effort.

I speak a bit of Czech, enough to get around as well if you drop me in Prague.

I know a few key phrases in Korean, and I'm trying to forget the Dari I learned as quickly as possible.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2014 12:10 PM

2014-05-28T12:10:01-04:00

I have spoken German my entire life. I used to visit my grandparents every summer.

FYI: All languages are paid languages if you hold a SOF or Linguist MOS.

Despite regularly testing and being quite fluent in German (2+/3 some years and 3/2+ others), I have NEVER been stationed in Germany.

I have however, been stationed in Korea 4x. I finally broke down and started trying to learn the language my last two tours there, but only picked up enough to ask for directions, give the cardinal directions (left, right, straight), and order food or drink.

I could read it well enough to figure out what town I was in or going toward, and work out some of the "Koreanized" English (such as "Computer" or "Disk Drive") and names.

Since coming back in 2008 though, I have forgotten all but a couple of phrases.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 28 at 2014 12:25 PM

2014-05-28T12:25:13-04:00

I am fluent in Army Acronym and have enough basic conversational training in the other ,"romance languages" of MC, NV, AF & CG Acronym to get 3 hots and a cot in a joint environment. :-)

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2014 9:59 PM

2014-05-31T21:59:00-04:00

My college major is a focus on Arabic. I have spent 3 years studying it so far and I studied abroad in Morocco for 2 months. I am not quite fluent yet, but hopefully in another year or two.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2014 11:20 PM

2014-06-04T23:20:35-04:00

I was born in Mexico and grew up in Norway so Norwegian is my native language my mother and my wife are both from Mexico that makes me trilingual

Response by PVT Geordon VanTassle made Jun 12 at 2014 12:00 PM

2014-06-12T12:00:47-04:00

I am expert in both snark and sarcasm. :D But I still have some minimal German from my high school daze.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2014 4:10 PM

2014-07-08T16:10:39-04:00

Yes, I am bilingual. While my primary language is English now, my first language was Spanish since that is all my mother knew when she immigrated to the United States after marrying my dad. Unfortunately, my fluency has dropped considerably since entering the service but I can hold my own.

Response by COL Randall C. made Jul 8 at 2014 4:14 PM

2014-07-08T16:14:10-04:00

I'm extremely multi-lingual as I speak languages that are foreign to the majority of people out there ... APL, COBOL, FORTRAN, LISP, C, Prolog, Ada, Modula-2, etc...

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jul 8 at 2014 4:24 PM

2014-07-08T16:24:15-04:00

I only speak English, but learned to read proper names in Hangul when I was stationed in Korea. Made getting around on public transportation MUCH easier.....

Response by SSG Daniel Rosploch made Jul 9 at 2014 9:31 AM

2014-07-09T09:31:54-04:00

I have always been trying to learn languages, ever since I could read. When I was a little geek in grade school, I used to have hundreds of books on military equipment and "translated" the writing on the sides of old Russian tanks (this was back in the late 80's right before the USSR crumbled) to figure out what all those symbols meant, without a book to use. Later on, I married a Russian and really wanted to know what the hell she was saying when she would talk to her family back home, so I bought a bunch of books and tapes and CDs and went to town while deployed. Sadly, I can't speak or write it very well, but I can understand the majority of what I hear or read.

I've always wanted to learn Spanish, since its our country's second language and I love the southwest, but I keep forgetting I bought $700 worth of Rosetta Stone a while back. Maybe I should actually start using it....

I find other languages interesting and hate that Americans have this mentality that English is the only authorized language. It may be the most commonly used for business and international politics, but I know Arabic and Chinese seem to be spreading just as fast. One day I want to be multilingual, I just have to sit down and actually do it!

Response by LtCol Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2014 1:35 PM

2014-07-09T13:35:13-04:00

中國普通話
近代日本
Some Persian, Korean, Malay, German, French, Russian, Polish, Indonesia....Marine

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2014 9:12 PM

2014-07-28T21:12:19-04:00

I am correctly learning Arabic. It is not easy. I will get a chance to use it soon. I always wanted to learn it. I figure it will come in handy.

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Sep 15 at 2014 6:24 AM

2014-09-15T06:24:23-04:00

English is my Foreign Language since I was born and raised in the Caribbean speaking Spanish. 3 years in Pisa, Italy help me get to the conversational level and I continue to study it, read books, and even practice with duolingo online, https://www.duolingo.com . Now learning Hungarian to keep up with the kids:)

Duolingo | Learn Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian and English for freeDuolingo

Learn languages completely free, without ads or hidden charges. It's fun, easy, and scientifically proven.

Response by LtCol Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2014 7:20 AM

2014-09-19T07:20:48-04:00

Working NOT FLUENT knowledge of Mandarin Chinese, Literary Chinese, Modern Japanese, Korean, Malay, Taiwanese, Indonesian, German, French, Persian....each has been used within the past 3 months...

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Sep 19 at 2014 8:31 AM

2014-09-19T08:31:58-04:00

Yes, in certain areas of the state its called English.

Response by SFC William "Bill" Moore made Sep 19 at 2014 8:39 AM

2014-09-19T08:39:00-04:00

I can order beer and tell a girl she looks good in 4, does that count?

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Sep 19 at 2014 10:12 AM

2014-09-19T10:12:01-04:00

TEXAN. Everyone should know it, you know where you speak a sentence and the entire thing is one word sounding if it is not garbled and slurred. I will say that the Army after so many years, has taken that foreign language skill out of me somewhat........I think!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2014 10:58 AM

2014-09-19T10:58:27-04:00

Russian and Czech fluently. A little of many others.

Response by CW3 Bill Golden made Sep 19 at 2014 2:15 PM

2014-09-19T14:15:27-04:00

Over the years have picked up Czech (DLI), French (grew up with it), German (school and lived there 7 years), and Russian (DLI).

Looking for a job using your language: http://icconx.com/jobs/linguists.htm

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2014 2:35 PM

2014-09-19T14:35:40-04:00

One of my favorite topics -- foreign languages. I attended DLi for Polish in 1979/1980 (47-week course). And I completed a Master's degree in German, followed by great language study at the Goethe Institute (in Mannheim, Germany).

I tested 3:3 (which was the highest score I could get as a non-native) in both Polish and German, back in the day. Now, though, I might get a 2:2 in Polish, and still 3:3 in German.

The Polish language training at DLI was rigorous and outstanding! At the end of our class, the Department Chair complimented our class by saying he felt like he was talking to folks on the streets of Warsaw when he conversed with us.

I worked hard at DLI, and in my German studies, but I also enjoyed every minute of it all.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2014 3:11 PM

2014-09-19T15:11:07-04:00

Yes, Spanish. It is my first language.

Response by SSG Toryn Green made Sep 19 at 2014 4:49 PM

2014-09-19T16:49:21-04:00

Yes, fluent in Dari and Italian.

Response by SPC David S. made Sep 20 at 2014 1:47 AM

2014-09-20T01:47:23-04:00

Going to start Chinese this fall.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2014 3:55 PM

2014-09-21T15:55:53-04:00

Arabic, DLI trained

have been told the DLI course makes collegiate Arabic look like a joke (all 4 years of it)

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2014 8:46 AM

2014-09-23T08:46:13-04:00

Ich sprache Deutsche 1SG Private RallyPoint Member.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2014 3:54 PM

2014-09-25T15:54:52-04:00

I speak a few, but I'm a 35P (linguist) so am I disqualified?

Response by SFC Istvan Nagy made Oct 1 at 2014 9:12 PM

2014-10-01T21:12:40-04:00

Yes; Hungarian, German, a little Russian...oh yes, and also a little English.

Response by PO3 Shaun Taylor made Oct 5 at 2014 8:08 PM

2014-10-05T20:08:41-04:00

Although I don't speak another language. I really would like to connect with anyone on here that speaks Spanish, French or Japanese fluently.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2014 8:24 AM

2014-10-10T08:24:28-04:00

Deutsch! Never tested though.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2014 8:34 AM

2014-10-10T08:34:05-04:00

As a Texan... speaking English is becoming foreign.

I am going to re-take the DLAB in the near future. My state is seeking to have more of the Intel community with a language. French was suggested (read North Africa), along with Farsi, Dari, and Pashtun.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2015 10:29 AM

2015-03-03T10:29:25-05:00

Just saying... :)

Response by SGT Rik Thibodeau made Mar 9 at 2015 9:49 AM

2015-03-09T09:49:19-04:00

After almost 14 years in Vicenza, Italy, my Italian is pretty decent considering I never took a course while I was there. Of course my oldest son was born there and is completely fluent so he corrects me all the time...

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2015 10:19 AM

2015-03-09T10:19:29-04:00

English, Spanish fluently. Enough Italian to arrange a few interesting encounters many years ago. Enough French to get to the embassy, hotel, restaurant and bathroom. I can puzzle out written German and Dutch but I don't speak it at all

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2015 10:41 AM

2015-03-09T10:41:59-04:00

I speak Arabic at an intermediate level and I am working on learning Italian.

Response by SPC Nicholas Cureton made Mar 9 at 2015 10:47 AM

2015-03-09T10:47:47-04:00

I have Pig Latin down! I have picked up bits and pieces of many different languages but nothing fluently.

Response by Capt John Cable made Mar 10 at 2015 8:17 AM

2015-03-10T08:17:08-04:00

Does Pig Latin count?...lol. Sadly no, never picked up a foreign language. I'd encourage everyone to do so if possible though.

Response by SFC Douglas Davis made Mar 10 at 2015 6:26 PM

2015-03-10T18:26:15-04:00

The back of my head is flat from my German wife making corrections to my speech.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2015 8:59 AM

2015-03-11T08:59:18-04:00

I am a Latin teacher. I read Latin very fluently. I can write and speak it fairly well. I've gone to spoken-Latin conferences where everything is in Latin and I have held my own so I guess that's good enough!

Latin is no longer spoken natively so it's kind of a fore into sophistry to speak it; however, it's fun to be surrounded by other like-minded people who have a passion for the Classics. It's also fun to hear it spoken. It truly comes alive.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2015 7:13 PM

2015-03-17T19:13:48-04:00

Arabic here. I test the DLPT in Modern Standard, Egyptian, Iraqi, and Levantine. I also do an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in Sudanese. Although, I only draw FLPB pay for the MSA and the Sudanese OPI, I take the rest for boards, résumé, and training purposes. I am a certified Command Language Program Manager (CLPM). Do you have a unit/local CLPM, 1SG Private RallyPoint Member?

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Mar 17 at 2015 9:57 PM

2015-03-17T21:57:43-04:00

SFC Richard Gilley, my kid bro returned from a tour in Korea. The Frau asked, Aren't you taking the kids to the Commissary with you? He said Hell no, they can't speak English!

Response by SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA made Mar 18 at 2015 12:43 AM

2015-03-18T00:43:54-04:00

Good question!

I am fortunate to speak German, Spanish, Italian and a bit of Portuguese.

I am taking Dari through JKO and Latin through Rosetta Stone.

Cant know enough languages!

Response by PVT Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 11:40 AM

2015-05-13T11:40:57-04:00

I, like MAJ Ian Dews, speak science, haha. Although I can also speak Russian.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made May 13 at 2015 1:00 PM

2015-05-13T13:00:40-04:00

JOPESenese (Jope-sen-ese). The ability to understand at the experienced user level the Joint Operation Planning and Execution System including being able to coach a basic user through forming an ad hoc data retrieval over the phone without seeing any of the screen faces.

Also, basic proficiency in GCCS-speak (geeks-speak), the son of JOPES.

Sometimes, American English.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made May 13 at 2015 2:08 PM

2015-05-13T14:08:54-04:00

Ja ein bissien, aber pudeo hablar mas en espanol. Si prefiere puedo escribir todamente en espanol.

Dari and pashto is pretty much limited to "As Salla Alliayikum, cheetur astee, khoob astee?" , 'mushkel' 'dushman' and 'mine' and 'turjiman'.

Response by PFC Tuan Trang made May 13 at 2015 2:12 PM

2015-05-13T14:12:27-04:00

Vietnamese.

Response by CH (MAJ) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2015 7:06 AM

2015-06-09T07:06:48-04:00

Ukrainian and Russian. I tested Ukrainian back in 2005. Never tested Russian.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2015 12:36 PM

2015-10-19T12:36:34-04:00

I only knew a little mandarin, but ya'll know how people up north look at southerners when we talk sometimes, main,

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Oct 21 at 2015 8:20 PM

2015-10-21T20:20:18-04:00

Hebrew...

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2015 11:01 AM

2015-10-22T11:01:48-04:00

I speak a basic level of Bahasa Indonesia - thanks to SOLT on Ft. Bragg; and know a few words in French due to a deployment to West Africa.

Response by SFC Istvan Nagy made Oct 22 at 2015 1:23 PM

2015-10-22T13:23:21-04:00

As a kid growing up in Hungary I've learned Hungarian. I learned Russian in the school for four years and I got pretty proficient in it too. Later, I had a chance to work in Germany (3years in East Germany as a trade worker in the Mid 70's where I learned German) than, after I snuck out from the East Block I immigrated to the US in 1977. I Joined the US Army in 1980 and spent two long tours in (on the West side this time) Germany from 1985-1988 and again from 1988-1992, where I did a lot of liaison work between the US Engineers and the German Army Engineer Units during NATO Engineer exercises. I always loved being able to read, speak and understand other languages. I only wish that I would/could've stayed with it. Because if you don't use a language, eventually you'll slowly lose it.

Response by PO2 Gerry Roberson Sr. made Oct 22 at 2015 4:12 PM

2015-10-22T16:12:10-04:00

Given that I'm in a very jocular mood, I'll say I speak two languages--English and Profane! LOL

Response by Sule Lyons made Jul 10 at 2016 10:29 AM

2016-07-10T10:29:12-04:00

Yes. Turkish. I am interested in working as an Intelligence Linguist in the Military.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2016 11:43 AM

2016-08-01T11:43:14-04:00

I speak Russian and a little bit of Ukrainian.

Response by MAJ David Brand made Feb 3 at 2017 7:12 PM

2017-02-03T19:12:33-05:00

I speak German. It comes in handy when speaking to my boss's secretary!

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2017 6:50 AM

2017-02-04T06:50:36-05:00

Do not, wish I could.