Does anyone else have problems switching between languages during conversation?
I have recently noticed a deterioration in my spelling and speaking abilities in my native language (English). The problem has become more pronounced on the days I study Spanish for longer periods of time.
I'm at the point now that I can speak some Spanish conversationally, but when I turn around to speak with other people in English, I can't put words together again.
I attend a Bible class in Spanish on Wednesdays. It takes me about 10 minutes to get into the flow, then a little less time than that to swap back to English. People at church who do not attend the Spanish class probably do not understand why I can not immediately greet them in English after the class is dismissed.
Has anyone else had a similar problem? Is this a normal development?
I know some of you are language teachers. Have you or your students experienced problems like this? Could this be age relatated?
6 Answers
You´re not the only ship adrift in this ocean.
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Language transfer (also known as L1 interference, linguistic interference, and crossmeaning) refers to speakers or writers applying knowledge from their native language to a second language. It is most commonly discussed in the context of English language learning and teaching, but it can occur in any situation when someone does not have a native-level command of a language, as when translating into a second language.
As Lazarus pointed out, sooner or later you will find out those interferences are less recurrent.
When I go back to Spain, sometimes it can take me even hours to get used to speaking Spanish, my mother tongue. I find myself talking to my parents in English. But after that it is not a problem. The longer you keep switching, the faster and easier you do it, I think.
I teach English, my mother tongue is Serbian. And I switch well between those two.
The problem arose when I started learning Spanish and German last year.
On Wednesdays, I have my Spanish class, then I teach English and wrap it up with German in the evening. Four languages in a day! I had a big problem switching but I've noticed a great advancement recently.
The more you switch the faster you switch! That's the way it goes with me! Persistence pays off! 
I am not surprised since the flow of the language, ie: the rhythmic patterns are very different and you have to think in very different ways which would not even cross the minds of those who have never even attempted to learn another language
I am certain that the advice of both Lazarus and Mediterraneo are based on good solid experience as they are both bilingual. I have known brief times while on holiday in Spain when I have encountered a similar problem usually due to having to think quickly in Spanish while at the same time being asked a pressing question in English by a somewhat ignorant and insensitive English person .. who was unaware of the complexities involved in switching quickly between two or more languages.
Like them I am convinced that the problem will lessen over time.
Incidentally, last time I was on holiday in Spain, about two years ago, and was spending the day in Barcelona with a friend who had also come to Spain with the same organisation, I met with and started speaking to a young Brazilian man who was a lawyer on holiday in the area and we chatted in Spanish, Portuguese and then English I did not find it a problem but then Spanish and Portuguese are more similar to each other than to English. and the Brazilian like myself was more accustomed to switching between languages than many people are.
Funnily enough,when I was trying to write the word organsation in the last paragraph the Spanish word and spelling came to me before the English lol Infact I got a brief mental block with the Englih word Is that wierd weird...o what?
Not really. I frequently have conversations that are a mixture of Spanish and English--complete sentences in each language, not Spanglish--as well as switching between talking to people who speak no English and people who speak no Spanish. My French, on the other hand, has almost completely disappeared--I guess I can only handle English and not English.
And I'm 51, if that matters.
I speak Spanish and English every day, living both in Bogotá and with an Australian. I'm a native English speaker and speak Spanish fluidly though I'd say I'm far from fluent.
I have no issue switching back and forth between the two languages but although that on average I probably speak more English that Spanish, my English is suffering. At times I cannot remember the English words for things e.g. I had to ask my (Colombian) girlfiend the English word for commitment the other day (not in a relationshipinial context) and it's not infrequently that I find myself speaking English with Spanish construction - all very Hemingway!
I find this odd and it is distinct to what Lazarus finds as I am not 'out of practise' on the English front. It also sounds different to what Medi is talking about as it is my native tongue that is affected.
Dogwood, I'm 36 and so hope it's not age-related...
