Are there advantages or disadvantages to learning multiple, unrealted
foreign languages concurrently. I am planning to study German, Spanish
and possibly other languages. Should I do it one at a time or
concurrently?

I studied Spanish and French at the same time. Often words and
grammatical forms from one language would creep into my usage of the
other language. It was as if my brain had concocted a hybrid,
"Sprench" or "Fanish."

I think it would be easier if the languages you're studying are rather
dissimilar. Your example, German and Spanish, probably wouldn't have
the "crossover" problem that I experienced.

Dear, languages are more than words. Behind expressions of every
language there is always a cultural background that must be sensed as
deeply as possible. The more you know about the people who speak a
language, their environment, history and so, the more you will be able
to interpret their expressions properly.
I would advise you take one language at a time and try to taste it
just like you were sipping cups of warm tea, feeling it. If you do so,
you will be surprised with how more interesting learning a foreign
language can be. And don't forget to have a software like MSN, Skype,
or other, to contact native speakers of the target language, specially
the ones who are reciprocally interested in learning your native
language. This way, you both will probrably be more motivated to help
each other, and the mutual interest may boost and feed your motivation
to go on with your learning process. In other words, don't be a
language collector, be a universal person. And enjoy living! Gerdson
(Brazil) http://www.tradutor.us

It's true that languages are more than just words and that we should
take one language at a time in order to "taste it" but it's also true
that we only live once and if you want to learn more than one foreign
language this lifetime won't be enough. So, if you just want to be
able to understand and make yourself understood in more than one
language, I think you could study French, German and any other
language you want at the same time. I studied English, French,
Spanish, German and even a little Italian at the same time and the
only problems I had were Spanish-Italian because I found these 2 very
similar when it comes to vocabulary. When it comes to grammar,
however, things are different.
I wish you Good luck, Bonne chance, Gutes Glück, Buona fortuna and Buena suerte!

Alina Radu
www.akela.ro

Hi Elisternh,
this may be one of those questions to which there is no answer.
You can in theory learn to speak ,write and read as many languages as
you would like to . Obviously better one at a time ,but many secondary
schools and colleges seem to think differently and have their students
lerning two or three foreign languages at the same time. Four
languages to be lernt at the same time is rare.
You should tech yourself some linguistics ( using the search engine )
and in particular comparitive linguistics and phonetics (use these
keywords).
Interesting discussions are going on on other parts of the web on
learning languages , I´d reccomend Usenet discussions and Forums ,as
sson as you have decided which language you really want to learn.
Usenet can be accessed and seached in th http://groups.google.com
cache of this site.
If you would just like to have a brainstorming session on how to get
off the starting block with learning languages  and have not got an
answer here by April 7th then why not set the spark to a brainstorming
fire at the Brainstormings Group in the Google Groups?
Peter

Elisternh --

It's generally considered that immersion is the best way to learn a
language, as it results in thinking and automatic response in the
language, rather than translating words.  That would argue for
learning one language at a time:
University of Hawaii
http://www.uatuahine.hawaii.edu/hana/si98/jar/vocab.html

And Pinkfreud's correct about the confusion that happens with two
languages.  When I was trying to learn Spanish I'd even toss in
Swahili words.  There is some connection (both have words taken from
Arabic) but THAT was a surprising outcome.

Google search strategy:
languages immersion benefits

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA