Learning a second language before school

[ZorkDork1]

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Hello!

So, I have about six months before med school starts, and I was thinking of taking this time to finish up learning a second language. It's more like re-learning: I immigrated when I was young, and in the rush to learn English as a second language, I forgot a huge portion of my native language.

This is something I've always regretted, and now I finally feel like I have a huge chunk of time I can dedicate to such an ambitious project. But I'm realistic; I know six months isn't enough to become fluent. So even when medical school starts, I'd have to keep learning/maintaining. This seems to be a daunting task: learning a second language is extremely difficult even in its own right, not even considering medical school.

At the same time, if I don't do this now, I will never do it (I know, never say never, but realistically speaking, past school, residency, maybe family and kids, just not gonna happen).


So what I'm asking is, do you think juggling a second language while attending medical school is a feasible task? It'll be a gut-punch if I spend my gap year learning another language, just to lose it all again. Or I could just let it go completely, and just enjoy myself, learn some economics and politics or something before school starts.

Thanks for the responses!

 

[BurghMed]

seems more like you're learning it than "re-learning." Enjoy yourself and don't waste your time, imo

 

[ZorkDork1]

Well, I would say right now I'm at a 20% efficiency. I think I could get to 60% before school starts.

 

[Nerdeka]

If you spend your gap year learning why would you lose it again? The key is using it, so if your parents speak it make them speak it to you and correct you.

I plan to brush up on my native language as well during my gap year (I'm at around 60%).

 

[ZorkDork1]

If you spend your gap year learning why would you lose it again? The key is using it, so if your parents speak it make them speak it to you and correct you.

I plan to brush up on my native language as well during my gap year (I'm at around 60%).

Well, my hypothesis is that unless it's at like 80-90%, and you use it frequently (no guarantee that you'll have the opportunity to speak your native language while in medical school), it'll inevitably be lost.

I could speak to my family, but it's nowhere near consistent enough to maintain a language that is still in learning phase IMO

 

[Nerdeka]

Well, my hypothesis is that unless it's at like 80-90%, and you use it frequently (no guarantee that you'll have the opportunity to speak your native language while in medical school), it'll inevitably be lost.

I could speak to my family, but it's nowhere near consistent enough to maintain a language that is still in learning phase IMO

Idk then, I wouldn't suggest learning a language while you're in med school unless you're watching TV in that language or reading books in that language (which are very useful). Visiting said country also helps a lot.. You'll probably learn way more quicker that way.

 

[JustAPhD]

I'm at a 20% efficiency. I think I could get to 60% before school starts.

(I'm at around 60%).

unless it's at like 80-90%, and you use it frequently...

Where are these arbitrary percentages coming from??


OP, you may find you pick it back up fairly quickly once you start devoting time to it again. The brain's cool like that, but it may depend on how young you were when you started to not speak it. Out of curiosity what language is it?

 

[Nerdeka]

Where are these arbitrary percentages coming from??


OP, you may find you pick it back up fairly quickly once you start devoting time to it again. The brain's cool like that, but it may depend on how young you were when you started to not speak it. Out of curiosity what language is it?

lol no clue. I just know I'm "fluent" with terrible grammar and not knowing most big words.

 

[MerYangBey]

What language is it? If you don't mind me asking. Some languages are a lot easier to learn in my opinion.