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eliminate1337 t1_j4gi8vk wrote

Reply to comment by 5slipsandagully in What it means to “know” a language by thenousman

> it's almost impossible to learn a second langauge with native-like proficiency later in life

The gap between an advanced learner and native speaker is more in accent, idioms, and other cultural specificities than in functional proficiency. Past the critical period, you won’t be mistaken for a native speaker.

There are plenty of people on /r/languagelearning who pass the C2 exams (basically native proficiency). Look up the C2 English exam, it’s effortful even for a native English speaker.

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IHeartCannabis t1_j4ibhz3 wrote

I'm bilingual but I see myself as more of a francophone and I can still ace the English C2 tests 9/10. Education is a prime factor, speaking and writing are essentially two different skills.

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