Considerably less than yours, John. Spanish - reading, writing, speaking at high intermediate, early advanced skill: can read most newspaper articles, understand most cinema (but have to listen with care) and TV (although I don't really like spanish tv). Also am aware of differences in the various kinds of Spanish, have attempted to translate simple English poems to Spanish, badly. Have read Spanish stories for 12 year olds, a graphic novel (simple, yet quite complex in theme) and short stories by Unamuno and know a few songs. I would like to read Marquez in Spanish soon.
Greek - 5th grade level - read detective fiction, can understand a fair amount of cinema but not TV (tends to be faster), making sense of poetry is very hard. Newspaper is still hard. Telegu: speak ok, very basic reading. In my childhood didn't really enjoy the conservative south indian brahmin culture of my family and associated the language with that experience. Of course now I wish I hadn't withdrawn from the language! Hindi: associated Hindi with the Army/Air Force childhood which seemed more progressive then. Then I became an adult and learnt better. Despite this, my Hindi skills are leagues ahead of my Teleguskills. My lifetime goals: perfect Greek and Spanish for reading, writing and singing. Would love to add Urdu and Farsi to this cannon;-) Radhika
