Alcohol: Good for Language Skills?

[nikkuchan]

OK, hear me out on this one. For some reason I started recalling one of my favorite university classes. The whole class was about language learning and the study of individual learning methods. The teacher was fluent in 3 languages and was passable in 10 others (I decided to take his word for it).

We went through a lot of odd and unorthodox mnemonic devices and learning strategies. One day the teacher taught us about how a modest amount of alcohol will actually increase foreign language proficiency. He said that if you ever have a job interview in a foreign language or something else that may make you nervous, drink either one glass of beer, one shot of hard liquor, or a cocktail, and it will help. The reason for this is because for many people, the biggest hinderance to their 2nd/3rd/whatever language is their own self consciousness and self doubt; they are afraid of making mistakes or may not be sure if something is correct or not. A small amount of alcohol helps relieve this tension while still keeping you lucid and mentally active, ultimately making you a more efficient speaker.

While I agree with much of this, I don't think I'd have a beer before a job interview.

 

[dpm802]

No stretch of the imagination can make me believe that having some alcohol before a job interview will be beneficial.

If your 2nd language skills aren't strong enough to carry you through the interview when you're sober, you shouldn't be going for that particular job. And getting a buzz on is not going to help.

What will do you some good is to have a good night's sleep beforehand ... wake up early enough to consume a hearty breakfast, go for a brisk walk or do some excercizes to get the blood flowing to your brain, and be sure you have done thorough research on the company and rehearsed your answers to potential questions you may be asked.

Sounds like this professor was just looking for an excuse to have a drink.

 

[Kratos]

No joke. "You see officer, I have a job interview in another language, and thought pounding one down beforehand would help me out. What's that? Out of the vehicle?"
I've even heard people say a buzz is good for a gym workout.

 

[thunderball]

OK, hear me out on this one. For some reason I started recalling one of my favorite university classes. The whole class was about language learning and the study of individual learning methods. The teacher was fluent in 3 languages and was passable in 10 others (I decided to take his word for it).

We went through a lot of odd and unorthodox mnemonic devices and learning strategies. One day the teacher taught us about how a modest amount of alcohol will actually increase foreign language proficiency. He said that if you ever have a job interview in a foreign language or something else that may make you nervous, drink either one glass of beer, one shot of hard liquor, or a cocktail, and it will help. The reason for this is because for many people, the biggest hinderance to their 2nd/3rd/whatever language is their own self consciousness and self doubt; they are afraid of making mistakes or may not be sure if something is correct or not. A small amount of alcohol helps relieve this tension while still keeping you lucid and mentally active, ultimately making you a more efficient speaker.

While I agree with much of this, I don't think I'd have a beer before a job interview.

I wouldn't say that alcohol can actually improve your language skills but I would say that it can give someone the 'courage' to use what language they do have (and thus give the appearance of improved language ability). I have seen this countless times here in Japan where someone suddenly 'learns' English after a few beers. As you have already stated, all that's happening is that the person's inhibitions about making mistakes/looking silly have been slightly lowered, allowing them to use what language store they have. The suggestion of a beer before a job interview is of course ridiculous but in a more casual situation alcohol generally does make people more talkative and uninhibited regardless of the language used. I in no way condone alcohol as a language learning aid but I have one friend who spent an entire year drunk in clubs and bars here in Japan (he arrived speaking no Japanese at all) and by the end of it he was haggard, soulless, and pale....but pretty much fluent in Japanese. Heck of a trade off though.

 

[mdunn]

drinking before a job interview, eh!

 

[nikkuchan]

Oh and on a totally unrelated note (I hope), this professor also told the class about the time he went to Japan to give a speech at a university, only to realize during his second stop that he forgot his passport and had to fly all the way back home to get it, and ended up being a day late for his speech.

Great teacher, eh?

 

[Stubblefield]

A small amount of alcohol helps relieve this tension while still keeping you lucid and mentally active, ultimately making you a more efficient speaker.

Less nervous? I can agree with that. Lucid? No, even one glass of alcohol interferes with cognitive functioning.

 

[cricky101]

I don't think a couple of drinks would improve my language skills.

My dancing skills, though, that's a completely different story

 

[The Nid Hog]

Nikkuchan--I heard the same thing studying Japanese in school. Who was your teacher?

 

[Dustinl]

This thread makes me think of when my wife and I were dating. I had come down with a severe cold. I told her that I had heard that you could "drink" a cold away. So we go to the local B&M and i bought a bottle of Jaggermeister. We get back to her apartment and we split the bottle in half. After our first glass, my wife starts talking in a British accent! It was hilarious!!! She spoke in this accent the whole night! Needless to say, we both woke up in the morning with severe hangovers and I still had my cold. I have not heard her speak with the accent since.


DL

 

[RichGem]

I could agree that a small amount of alcohol could help relax you enough to have the courage to use the second language, or whatever. I'm not recommending this in any way other than sitting in a bar with friends in a foreign country where you won't be driving. Before a job interview? really not a good idea if you want the job. Your interviewer may well detect the alcohol on your breath and for that reason alone disqualify you from consideration.

All that said, my Polish abilities (so I've been told) improve significantly when I've had a few vodkas. (I have no formal training in Polish.)

 

[knlgskr]

Cannot do it without it, cannot do it with it either; wishful thinking with illusion(s).

 

[Tinuz]

Fairly certain it does, it helps my programming abilities, my math abilities, my second language, and so many other things, including my learning abilities. I guess the decreased cognitive abilities are more than offset by the increase in them as a result of relaxation.

Actually, we used to drink at Uni all the time (including professors), as long as it was post afternoon (before that it was coffee). And a lot of great things were done under the influence, including job acquisition. Hell, I know several people who's academic ability (especially the more creative part) went through the roof when high on pot, although I just get stupid (this was in the Netherlands, so it's legal, before you get any ideas).

 

[MCsommerreid]

This thread makes me think of when my wife and I were dating. I had come down with a severe cold. I told her that I had heard that you could "drink" a cold away. So we go to the local B&M and i bought a bottle of Jaggermeister. We get back to her apartment and we split the bottle in half. After our first glass, my wife starts talking in a British accent! It was hilarious!!! She spoke in this accent the whole night! Needless to say, we both woke up in the morning with severe hangovers and I still had my cold. I have not heard her speak with the accent since.

A buddy of mine does something similar when he approaches quite drunk, but, instead of being a one time thing, he lapses into a British accent every time. Hilarity abound.

 

[rabidpotatochip]

Fairly certain it does, it helps my programming abilities, my math abilities, my second language, and so many other things, including my learning abilities. I guess the decreased cognitive abilities are more than offset by the increase in them as a result of relaxation.

Actually, we used to drink at Uni all the time (including professors), as long as it was post afternoon (before that it was coffee). And a lot of great things were done under the influence, including job acquisition. Hell, I know several people who's academic ability (especially the more creative part) went through the roof when high on pot, although I just get stupid (this was in the Netherlands, so it's legal, before you get any ideas).

Ah yes, the Ballmer peak...

Anyhow, from personal experience, being a little drunk lowers your inhibitions and the people around you are usually drinking too, so their ability to pick up on your mistakes decreases. It's not that you get better per se, but you worry much less.

 

[Kratos]

Ah yes, the Ballmer peak...

Anyhow, from personal experience, being a little drunk lowers your inhibitions and the people around you are usually drinking too, so their ability to pick up on your mistakes decreases. It's not that you get better per se, but you worry much less.

This is true. Many a drunk swears to me they are fine. This drunk girl hit a parked Dodge Ram with her little econobox and drove it 50-60 ft down the street. She wasn't that drunk, she said. She just didn't see the other guy coming! Others swear they are ok, even though they can't stand.

 

[ogopogo]

I become quite the loquacious fellow with a drink or two.

 

[MaxJ]

You have to speak to get better at a language, so booze is indispensible to language learning in small, social amounts. Unless you are naturally fearless with speaking to others.

 

[Kratos]

You have to speak to get better at a language, so booze is indispensible to language learning in small, social amounts. Unless you are naturally fearless with speaking to others.

A drink or two to relax at a bar I can see. Going to a job interview, definitely not. If you are that timid about talking to you potential boss a re-evaluation may be in order.
Now indispensable? I don't know about that. I never drank to learn Spanish, and I used to be really shy. Then again, I have never needed alcohol as an excuse to be myself. Or hide behind it and say I was "just drunk."

 

[Obsessed]

"You see officer, I have a job interview in another language, and thought pounding one down beforehand would help me out. What's that? Out of the vehicle?"

OMG, that image is just too funny for words!