What sports or Hobbies did you do, or are still doing?

[Taunton Blue Genie]

I am currently spending my 30th year in the same evening class group and with the same lecturer!
It's Advanced German, he is a fantastic linguist and he retired many years ago apart from his two-hour stint on a Tuesday evening.

[Tuerto]

I am currently spending my 30th year in the same evening class group and with the same lecturer!
It's Advanced German, he is a fantastic linguist and he retired many years ago apart from his two-hour stint on a Tuesday evening.

Wow, that's impressive! Are you fluent?

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Wow, that's impressive! Are you fluent?

The definition 'fluent' is a bit of a moving feast but I would say 'No'. I can go over there and talk for hours on end and over several days in social gatherings and even simultaneously interpret at times. However, I consider myself to be a good amateur rather than a professional as I have problems keeping up with very technical discussions. I could work in a job that requires lower level language skills over there (and have done) but I couldn't do over there what I did over here, linguistically speaking. I think that British people often declare themselves as 'fluent' in other languages when they really aren't.
I'm still improving but I'm no spring chicken

I am now, at this moment, partaking of another hobby: drinking specialised Belgian beers.

[Tuerto]

The definition 'fluent' is a bit of a moving feast but I would say 'No'. I can go over there and talk for hours on end and over several days in social gatherings and even simultaneously interpret at times. However, I consider myself to be a good amateur rather than a professional as I have problems keeping up with very technical discussions. I could work in a job that requires lower level language skills over there (and have done) but I couldn't do over there what I did over here, linguistically speaking. I think that British people often declare themselves as 'fluent' in other languages when they really aren't.
I'm still improving but I'm no spring chicken

Do you find learning more difficult as you get older-Processing information, remembering stuff etc?

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Do you find learning more difficult as you get older-Processing information, remembering stuff etc?

No, not at all. This morning I crammed a number of words and phrases in Kurdish in order to amuse my barber and his Kurdish employees. It's was great fun.

I have never gone a year in my life without attending evening classes, often two different subjects a week.

[North Cardiff Blue]

Do you find learning more difficult as you get older-Processing information, remembering stuff etc?

You are supposed to try and learn new things, like languages as you get older to keep the brain going and it helps reduce your chances of getting dementia.

[North Cardiff Blue]

Football in school, Judo, and skateboarding from 11 to about 16.
Football again Saturday and Sunday till 27, first child, so gave up.
Golf, squash and cricket 20's
Just swimming and gym till 50.
Walking, and mountain biking now, will get an electric mountain bike this year, and just about to play golf again!
Not much reading, watching Netflix, plenty of holidays, and going to the pub, and of course Cardiff City, and spending far too long now on here.

[Rock_Flock_of_Five]

The definition 'fluent' is a bit of a moving feast but I would say 'No'. I can go over there and talk for hours on end and over several days in social gatherings and even simultaneously interpret at times. However, I consider myself to be a good amateur rather than a professional as I have problems keeping up with very technical discussions. I could work in a job that requires lower level language skills over there (and have done) but I couldn't do over there what I did over here, linguistically speaking. I think that British people often declare themselves as 'fluent' in other languages when they really aren't.
I'm still improving but I'm no spring chicken

I am now, at this moment, partaking of another hobby: drinking specialised Belgian beers.

I totally agree!

There are a few Brits living in the same city as me in China, who like to think of themselves as fluent - they are nowhere near fluent in fact. They have basic Chinese foundation skills but nothing more. They will often strike up a conversation with locals in Chinese but then they have to resort to switching back to English.