WHAT DOES IT ACTUALLY MEAN TO BE 'FLUENT'?

We all talk about it, all sort of, kind of know what it means...until it actually comes to defining it.

How do we define fluency? Are we talking about speaking, reading or writing? All of the above? Is it when I speak like a native?

In this video we discuss ALL of the above and the answer is MY own on how we should view the idea of fluency.

Share your thoughts below!

If you are looking to get FLUENT in a language, check out the ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LANGUAGE LEARNING - my method and story of how I learned 7 languages and continue learning more!

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[prestokrs]

There are a lot of native speakers who don't understand economics, politics, or science. Lol

[napachanoksmittisopon]

I do agree with you. I met many people who are so crazy about language level and believe C1/C2 level is only the fluency level. I think it is not always true. Some of C1 level people can not even hold normal conversation and do not unterstand the basic sense of the language. However, I know some people who do not even reach C1 level but they speak and respond quickly and correctly. Maybe we need to relax about it. Btw I followed you since the early videos, you get more beautiful! Take care 🙂

[MissyLaMotte]

For me personally, fluency is the point when I do not have to translate in my head anymore, so I am able to "think" in the target language directly. That does not mean I know all the words or I don't make any mistakes anymore, but instead of going "Was war nochmal das Wort für ..." (I'm a native German speaker), instead the whole word searching process is going to be in the target language as well ("damn, what was that word again?"). It has a lot to do with how the synapses in the brain are connected and that there is a direct link between a concept in the real world and the word in the target language instead of going real word - word in native language - word in target language - mouth. And I associate fluency mostly with spoken language. Not everyone knows how to write ... and they are still fluent in their native language.

[taratravels]

I agree with you! Because of dialect/colloquialisms, no one can speak a language perfectly, so we need to lower the standard. If you pass for a native speaker in everyday interactions, I would think that’s a good indicator of fluency, though I suppose the most important thing is to be able to express yourself and be understood in common scenarios. I have been studying polish a little and when I went to Poland I could say simple phrases, but even if I was “fluent” I probably couldn’t have known what to say when we got in a car accident. It’s such a hard term to define but I think you did a great job 👍

[Abletr]

The shortest answer to this question would be - "just sit down and chill" 😅
I totally agree with you, I did similar video about it several weeks ago in Polish, as long as you feel comfortable with you're language abilities and you feel like being able to talk about most of topics that interest YOU, you're fluent. I have no need to talk about f.e. mechanics and I would probably die trying to learn topic-related vocabulary in Polish not mentioning foreign languages xD

[devotedhyperpoliglot]

Your definition is so accurate good job 👍👍👍

[SPEAKLANGUAGESTRAVELTHEWORLD]

I totally agree with you - I happened to make a video a couple of weeks ago with exactly the same question & a similar conclusion. Discovered your video today & am glad we have the same take on the subject.

[nelsondavid]

I think, you are fluent when you do not have to think what you are going to say!!!

[uitgeverijvoet]

Du hast recht, diese Frage kann eigentlich nicht beantwortet werden. Aber deine Antwort scheint mir das Beste zu sein.

[MayContainJoe]

When someone starts making fun of your mistakes without realizing you're actually a foreign language speaker. Then you are not fluent ... yet.

It's impolite to make fun of people trying to speak a foreign language. So when we hear a stark accent or read obviously broken grammar, we usually refrain from teasing them. But somewhere beyond the "good enough" point out of the blue one confuses some homonym turning your carefully crafted statement into complete nonsense. Then we make fun of it.

What if someone online thinks you're just a stupid native speaker with a limited vocabulary or questions your age, instead of going with the obvious assessment "non-native speaker"?

[AxeManAnthony]

Good points, I enjoyed watching. This is a much needed and nuanced take on the subject of fluency.

[alessandrodomenicoangelill]

Yes, you make me think about my native language, Italian!!. It's true that if I thought about how many aspects of grammar I've been forgotten all over the last few years I'd be really ashamed!!. So if I am not capable of speaking my native at a proficient level, why should I be scared of when I make mistakes in a second or third ones?. Fluency to me means being able to feel comfortable while I'm having a conversation about once or more topics which are popular or well-known at that time or in a peculiar situation. Thanks a lot for all your advice and for sharing your own experieces. Un caro saluto, Alessandro.

[shutterchick]

That man, I think his name is Benny, from the "fluent in 3 months" website suggests that fluency in a language means to be able to do the things you usually do in your life, all of them, in the non-native language. I myself majored in American Sign Language in university, and I'm currently working on spanish. And I don't want to stop there!

[brietoujours]

I agree with this definition of fluency.

[es]

I think people mistake fluency for bilingualism. They expect you to know the language as if its your mother tongue.

[Alexander-dhuk]

I am from Brazil and I undestand 80%~90% about this video so I guess I am fluent ahahaha
Sua fofa, beijos e abraços do Brasil 🇧🇷

[sabrina]

I believe fluency has to do with the spoken language, that is, of course the most practical part. It, to me, doesn't have to do with the range of topics you know, because even native speakers can lack in this, but it is the fact you can talk comfortably and understand without translating a thing, even if you don't understand a word.

[jahipalmer]

as a beginner/intermediate speaker, I spend so much freaking time using circumlocution to get to what I am trying to say. So, um, I'm not fluent yet, but I am pretty great if I am talking about the process of learning Spanish (my target language.)

[missgibbonsx]

For *me* fluent means, being able to understand enough and talk enough to understand the language. This means I might not be able to understand everything and speak everything but be able to keep/have a conversation with someone.

[HR-cpek]

This topic has no borders, I think. We can discuss it endlessly without finding answers to the question you asked. But you are right, you have to emphasize the skills you have, not the skills you don't have. If you feel comfortable speaking a language and you trust yourself, yes, that's enough to be fluent in that language! And you know for sure you will solve most of the problems that could arise... No need to make it more complicated. This question has been settled!