What Does Being Fluent Really Mean?

[davidcattin]

Have studied for over 30 years, starting in 7th grade. Lived, worked, studied, and travelled in Mexico, Spain, and Puerto Rico. My greatest compliment from a Spanish man who said he hopes that his English is one day as good as my Spanish. Very proud of that!

[jacksonbaker]

IMO fluency is when you can communicate and learn the language without using another language to translate. For example I’m fluent in English because when I hear an English word or phrase that I don’t know, It can be explained to me in English and then I will understand the word. So IMO when your knowledge of the language is at the point where you can use it to fill gaps that you have in the same language, you are fluent.

[callous]

I work as a pharmacy tech. I had to explain why a patients medicine was more expensive than last time. I didn't know the word for deductible so I said a veces al principio del año hay que pagar más y más tarde el precio baja. I think part of fluency is being able to explain words and concept when youdon't know the translation. I have to say though that the American Healthcare system is hard to explain even in english. 😅

[Venik]

I'm not a native english speaker so I let this debate for others, but in my opinion fluency is more about the fluidity of your speech rate rather than your level ; for example, I, write pretty damn well spanish in my opinion because I read it and write it everyday since months but I speak it only once in a while, so my fluidity isn't that good and that's why I don't consider myself as fluent in spanish although I "speak it" relatively well