is it possible to speak a foreign language like a native if you learnt it as an adult?

[tpo123]

Originally Posted by Threestep

I did it and I basically talk for a living now. No interpretations.

i don't think the original poster was asking if one can become fluent. the way the Q was phrased meant you had the correct accent to go with the language.

[Moth]

Originally Posted by tpo123

i don't think the original poster was asking if one can become fluent. the way the Q was phrased meant you had the correct accent to go with the language.

I think it implies an even deeper level. One that is essentially unattainable. That's not to say someone cannot become an excellent speaker of a given language. Just not in the way the question is phrased.

[Tama]

It is my understanding that the magic age is 15. Become fluent in a foreign language prior and no accent. After 15 no matter how well and how fluent the native language will always creep in accent wise. That being said there are CIA and other clandestine schools that can train an agent to be undetectable and I imagine that requires specific training. It wouldn't happen naturally, I would assume.

[Travelling fella]

Originally Posted by Moth

I think it implies an even deeper level. One that is essentially unattainable. That's not to say someone cannot become an excellent speaker of a given language. Just not in the way the question is phrased.

Dear Moth, this what you said was very interesting, about a deeper level, you would have to connect in a deeper level to do it huh? like getting 100% tuned in to that country's frequency, but impossible is nothing imho

[Coffee Mate]

Hi.
I lived in Russia for several years as an adult and found that immersion along with some study was the best way to learn that rather difficult language.
Because I worked with a wide variety of people from Russia, The Ukraine and the Baltic states, I picked up their accent, slang, pronunciation and perhaps most importantly of all their common usage errors of their own language.
Few Russians speak PERFECT Russian. Usually highly educated foreigners and Russian college prof's speak the language well. Many times people would mistake me for a local and ask me what part of the Ukraine I was from, only to be shocked when I told them I was from California....

[tpo123]

Originally Posted by Tama

It is my understanding that the magic age is 15. Become fluent in a foreign language prior and no accent. After 15 no matter how well and how fluent the native language will always creep in accent wise. That being said there are CIA and other clandestine schools that can train an agent to be undetectable and I imagine that requires specific training. It wouldn't happen naturally, I would assume.

too many movies. is it NOT possible that these agencies pick up applicants who have the language from other means (i.e. my parents taught me chinese- i speak english and chinese from a young age, and have the proper accents for both).

[cm070685]

But he would never speak it like a native as its not his language.

Totally untrue. It IS possible, and not as rare as people think. Of course it's easier as a child/teen, but with a) lots of exposure b) lots and lots of speaking (these basically involve living in the country for some time) c) an ear for accents, many people manage to pass as natives when they were not brought up speaking that language.

[Moth]

Originally Posted by cm070685

Totally untrue. It IS possible, and not as rare as people think. Of course it's easier as a child/teen, but with a) lots of exposure b) lots and lots of speaking (these basically involve living in the country for some time) c) an ear for accents, many people manage to pass as natives when they were not brought up speaking that language.

In situations of limited exposure. My German was quite good while I resided there and there were indeed some times when I was mistake for actually being German. But given a bit more time, the other person would eventually realize the truth.

Again, that is not to say you cannot get pretty close under the conditions you mentioned.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by cm070685

Totally untrue. It IS possible, and not as rare as people think. Of course it's easier as a child/teen, but with a) lots of exposure b) lots and lots of speaking (these basically involve living in the country for some time) c) an ear for accents, many people manage to pass as natives when they were not brought up speaking that language.

I remember hearing an interview with the late French poet Andre Breton, who'd spent WW2 in Mexico City, on Mexican radio, and he spoke Mexican Spanish so perfectly that one would've thought he was Mexican from hearing the interview.