maybe You should be learning a second language!
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1. i live in central scotland and there are a lot of polish people here
2. no, but my mum (a teacher) has had to learn very basic polish to talk to polish parents.
3. none yet, but ive thought about learning french (if i move to Montreal for university)
2. no, but my mum (a teacher) has had to learn very basic polish to talk to polish parents.
3. none yet, but ive thought about learning french (if i move to Montreal for university)
I only speak English. I've studied Spanish for my GCSE's and got an A* but can't remember any of it, and don't particularly want to.
I live in England, so it's all English here. Up until I was about 6, I was fluent in English and Welsh. I'm told that I'd still be fluent in both now but I left Wales at too early an age for it to stick permanantly.
I live in England, so it's all English here. Up until I was about 6, I was fluent in English and Welsh. I'm told that I'd still be fluent in both now but I left Wales at too early an age for it to stick permanantly.
I'm currently living in China teaching English. I'm learning Mandarin (just got enough to get by), it is kinda humbling to be improving kids English when my foreign language at that age (German) was rubbish. They come into the office for help and stuff while I'm getting my Chinese lessons, I'm almost embarrassed.
And yeah, I'm teaching some scary well learned kids who could well take over the world. We have pretty complex jokes and words games in my classes, they are all headed to foreign universities. These guys could take over the world and they know the only way to do well is by learning English.
And yeah, I'm teaching some scary well learned kids who could well take over the world. We have pretty complex jokes and words games in my classes, they are all headed to foreign universities. These guys could take over the world and they know the only way to do well is by learning English.
I'm fairly certain that it's "play it by ear" in regards that you should wait to hear for more information before making a decision. I always thought that was a really common expression, I mean it has been everywhere I've lived. Granted that's all in the States, but my old man was Army, so I did a lot of moving, it seemed to me that that was a fairly universal saying.Boba Frag said:
I know English and German. English being my native tongue and German being my grandparents only tongue.
I can also read and write Hiragana and Katakana but I never had the opportunity to actually learn to speak Japanese. I have also memorized the more common Kanji names, pronunciations, and meanings used in Japan. The characters are about the only thing I could get from books while I was in school, and a few basic greetings. It's kind of fun reading a book aloud and being complimented on annunciation by native speakers when I have no idea what I just said.
I can also read and write Hiragana and Katakana but I never had the opportunity to actually learn to speak Japanese. I have also memorized the more common Kanji names, pronunciations, and meanings used in Japan. The characters are about the only thing I could get from books while I was in school, and a few basic greetings. It's kind of fun reading a book aloud and being complimented on annunciation by native speakers when I have no idea what I just said.
You're a gent for not puking all over my rushed and awful spelling of the versionsFayathon said:
I've got about ten things to do all at once, in my defence... But that's neither here nor there.
I had no idea it was in the States, and I've actually had an American girlfriend so I'm surprised I hadn't heard it from her.
Glad to know that,though! I think I'll adopt your spelling of it on a trial basis and see how it pans out!
Maybe so, but as a south-eastern Texas resident, I refuse to learn Spanish/Mexican in order to be able to speak it. (I've already taken classes for it.)opeth1989 said:
The only reason that's even on the table down here is because of us catering to folks who are here illegally, 99% of whom speak mostly Spanish/Mexican, and in my opinion, if they won't learn much English in order to live and work here, I don't extend the same courtesy to them.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do" after all. If I go to Germany, and I likely will at some point, I will gladly do everything I can to speak Deutsch as best I can. That's their language after all.
1. - South-East Texas, near Houston.
2. - No, but my first choice is German, followed by possibly Korean.
1. Nyeee... kinda. German is kind of important, but it's not... you know... required.
2. ...Well, duh.
3. First language is Italian, second English. I... kinda understand French. And if I speak very slowly and the guy speaks very slowly, I can communicate with a Spanish person.
2. ...Well, duh.
3. First language is Italian, second English. I... kinda understand French. And if I speak very slowly and the guy speaks very slowly, I can communicate with a Spanish person.
1.No here everyone speaks the same language.
2.Yes I know romanian(native),english(quite good working on getting my certificate) and german(not that well but I'm working on it).As for other languages that I would like to learn definitely japanese and after that I'm not sure maybe some of the northern languages;in any case as many as humanly possible.
2.Yes I know romanian(native),english(quite good working on getting my certificate) and german(not that well but I'm working on it).As for other languages that I would like to learn definitely japanese and after that I'm not sure maybe some of the northern languages;in any case as many as humanly possible.
1) No, everyone just speaks English here
2) Sort of
3) I studied French and German for 5 years, and got two A's at GCSE in them, so I know a bit. I was going to take French into A-level, but I decided to switch Physics instead, which I did much better at in GCSE. After all, why learn the language of the French when you can learn the language of the universe?
2) Sort of
3) I studied French and German for 5 years, and got two A's at GCSE in them, so I know a bit. I was going to take French into A-level, but I decided to switch Physics instead, which I did much better at in GCSE. After all, why learn the language of the French when you can learn the language of the universe?
1. Do you live in an area where more th'A'n one language is commonly used?
No. I live in the Faroe Islands, and Faroese is the only language commonly used here.
2. Do you know more th'A'n one language?
Yes.
3. If yes, what other language do you speak?
In the order of which I learnt them:
Faroese
Danish
Norwegian
Swedish
English
German
Currently trying to learn:
French (Pronounce=Fine. Read=Pretty swell. Talk off the top of my head=DON'T LOOK AT ME.)
Spanish (Pronounce=Not too good. Read=Pretty swell. Talk off the top of my head=Better than French.)
No. I live in the Faroe Islands, and Faroese is the only language commonly used here.
2. Do you know more th'A'n one language?
Yes.
3. If yes, what other language do you speak?
In the order of which I learnt them:
Faroese
Danish
Norwegian
Swedish
English
German
Currently trying to learn:
French (Pronounce=Fine. Read=Pretty swell. Talk off the top of my head=DON'T LOOK AT ME.)
Spanish (Pronounce=Not too good. Read=Pretty swell. Talk off the top of my head=Better than French.)
1. Just English speakers around here (with an accent so thick that subtitles are added for other English speakers).
2. Nope. I did well with French in Highscool but I remember very little of it. Even on the day of my French exam I don't think I had been taught enough to have a casual conversation with a friend. It was very tourist focused, (e.g. giving directions, asking for things) or self focused (e.g. explaining what my hobbies are, what I look like etc). Something that also annoyed me was that to practice speaking we pretty much had to rely on the other, also shit at speaking French members of our class.
I'm not great with English either to be honest. I'm better at written communication rather than verbal because I often mishear people. If I ever did want to properly learn a foreign language and have it stick I think I'd have to actually move to that area for a while.
2. Nope. I did well with French in Highscool but I remember very little of it. Even on the day of my French exam I don't think I had been taught enough to have a casual conversation with a friend. It was very tourist focused, (e.g. giving directions, asking for things) or self focused (e.g. explaining what my hobbies are, what I look like etc). Something that also annoyed me was that to practice speaking we pretty much had to rely on the other, also shit at speaking French members of our class.
I'm not great with English either to be honest. I'm better at written communication rather than verbal because I often mishear people. If I ever did want to properly learn a foreign language and have it stick I think I'd have to actually move to that area for a while.
1) English, but there is a lot of Spanish in the area.
2) I have tried many times over the years to learn it (high school, college two times), but for some reason I'm just terrible at it. I'm a numbers person (accountant) so maybe words aren't my thing.
3) I do know a little Spanish, if someone talked slow to me I could get by, and I can read a little bit of it. Really wish I were better though.
IMO this is another area where the American educational system is failing. It should be required at a very early age to learn another language, and in the States, Spanish would make the most sense. A lot of people will say, "If they are moving here they should learn the language." But that is just ignorant. From what I gather most European countries teach their native tongue and English, it's a huge advantage in life.
2) I have tried many times over the years to learn it (high school, college two times), but for some reason I'm just terrible at it. I'm a numbers person (accountant) so maybe words aren't my thing.
3) I do know a little Spanish, if someone talked slow to me I could get by, and I can read a little bit of it. Really wish I were better though.
IMO this is another area where the American educational system is failing. It should be required at a very early age to learn another language, and in the States, Spanish would make the most sense. A lot of people will say, "If they are moving here they should learn the language." But that is just ignorant. From what I gather most European countries teach their native tongue and English, it's a huge advantage in life.
1. Do you live in an area where more then one language is commonly used?
Yep, Belgium. And in the Flemish part so next to dutch, french is taught at schools by law.
2. Do you know more then one language?
As said above. Yes.
3. If yes, what other language do you speak
Dutch, French, English. I can understand German if I listen hard enough but it's not really because I've learned it but because dutch and German have many similar words and expressions.
Yep, Belgium. And in the Flemish part so next to dutch, french is taught at schools by law.
2. Do you know more then one language?
As said above. Yes.
3. If yes, what other language do you speak
Dutch, French, English. I can understand German if I listen hard enough but it's not really because I've learned it but because dutch and German have many similar words and expressions.
1. No, because 50 years ago you'd practically be lynched for doing that; there are a few Urdu speakers (who work at the local Indian) and a few Chinese speakers (who run the Chinese restaurants incidentally), but they are treated with MASSIVE distrust by the hick populace. To clarify, I live in a rural part of Scotland which is anti-monarchy, anti-Unionist, yet anti-Independence, anti-religious, anti-homosexuality and apparently pro-drugs (some of the highest instances of alcohol and drug abuse in the UK and maybe Europe) to name a few stances a lot of people around here hold.
2. Yes
3. I'm supposed to be able to speak French (was taught it for nearly 3 years), but can't because the teachers were less than inspiring (they all sounded like they couldn't wait another five years for retirement) and the way they taught it just felt... wrong; seriously, I can't describe it as anything else. Consequently I can understand next to nothing, which doesn't help as this year, there are 10 French students on the course, who understand English, but a bit of French would work wonders at breaking the barriers.
2. Yes
3. I'm supposed to be able to speak French (was taught it for nearly 3 years), but can't because the teachers were less than inspiring (they all sounded like they couldn't wait another five years for retirement) and the way they taught it just felt... wrong; seriously, I can't describe it as anything else. Consequently I can understand next to nothing, which doesn't help as this year, there are 10 French students on the course, who understand English, but a bit of French would work wonders at breaking the barriers.
1.) Not really.
2.) Took three years of German in high school, and two semesters of German in college.
3.) I've forgotten a vast majority of the German. The only reason I took a foreign language in high school is because I was basically forced to because of the advice that told me that it would be easier to be accepted to college if I had something like that on my record. The only reason I took it in college for a bit is because my adviser mistakenly told me that I was required to take a foreign language for my degree, he was wrong. If I had known all of it would have done nothing for me, I would never have taken it. Learning a foreign language is of no use to me. I'm never going to go to Germany, not that I want to, the only places I actually want to go to outside of the US if I ever get to, are places that the main language is English.
2.) Took three years of German in high school, and two semesters of German in college.
3.) I've forgotten a vast majority of the German. The only reason I took a foreign language in high school is because I was basically forced to because of the advice that told me that it would be easier to be accepted to college if I had something like that on my record. The only reason I took it in college for a bit is because my adviser mistakenly told me that I was required to take a foreign language for my degree, he was wrong. If I had known all of it would have done nothing for me, I would never have taken it. Learning a foreign language is of no use to me. I'm never going to go to Germany, not that I want to, the only places I actually want to go to outside of the US if I ever get to, are places that the main language is English.
I am a strongly against foreign languages as requirements in school, especially college degree programs. I would understand it if the degree was a linguistic degree or a degree in the study of a certain language, but other than that, it should be required. I didn't pursue getting the creative writing degree I wanted to get because all B.A. programs have a four semester foreign language requirement. I couldn't see the use in taking up 4 classes worth of time and paying for them when what I learned in them I would forget with in half a year. Learning a foreign language has nothing to do with learning to write creatively. Because of that stupidity, I had the money and resources, I would start a campaign that would suggest, force if I could, that they create B.S. versions of all B.A. degrees, so people can avoid taking a foreign language if they want to. The problem is, I'm willing to bet that colleges wouldn't go for it, because their precious foreign language professors would have far less work, because a majority of people would avoid taking the foreign language.
It is a big issue. I took a couple creative writing classes as electives, and the professor after he asked what everybody's majors were, he was baffled that half the class weren't going for creative writing degrees. The unanimous response he got, from all seven of us, was that we didn't want to take the foreign language class requirements. Then he spouted off the snooty remark, "Why not take the foreign language classes? It will make you more cultured people." Everyone of us stated the same, waist of time and money for something we would never use. We wanted to learn to write creatively in our own language, not fill our minds with stuff that won't matter in what we want to do.
Foreign languages, are part of my cutting and streamlining idea for colleges and universities. The curriculum that students are required to go through, has become too over flowed by generalization of classes. Instead of requiring students to take two or more of the major class types, English(writing and literature), Science, Math, and Social Sciences(History, Psychology, Sociology), they should cut the requirement to only one class if they have to require them at all. Also, cut life choice classes that aren't really needed and really should only be determined by the student if they want to take them. Examples of those are foreign languages and physical education and health classes.
That is a lot of class time cut, plus I recommend not placing it with anything, so that we can cut down the national average of how long it takes people to get a four year degree(right now it is 6 years). I believe that the 6 years is caused by all the extra required classes that have been added over time. I remember that education sector of the university I was going to was thinking in the right direction, by requiring far less education classes, cutting the normal 12 classes down to around 6, because many of the classes were just redundant, just like the double, sometimes triple, requirement of the core field classes. The reason that the cuts are so needed is that colleges for the most part aren't churning out professionals any more, and the reason behind that is because half the college learning process is now generalized learning that produces people that may be well rounded, but their minds are filled with so much random information they can forget the important things that matter in their career path.
If they have to replace the cut required classes with something, fill them up with required internships in the fields in which the students are going into, so that they have real experience to show employers so they can get hired. Because today, most college degrees get graduates nowhere, because employers these days don't see college as experience. College degrees now are only side points to add on top of experience to make the employer's decision easier on who to hire over who.
It is a big issue. I took a couple creative writing classes as electives, and the professor after he asked what everybody's majors were, he was baffled that half the class weren't going for creative writing degrees. The unanimous response he got, from all seven of us, was that we didn't want to take the foreign language class requirements. Then he spouted off the snooty remark, "Why not take the foreign language classes? It will make you more cultured people." Everyone of us stated the same, waist of time and money for something we would never use. We wanted to learn to write creatively in our own language, not fill our minds with stuff that won't matter in what we want to do.
Foreign languages, are part of my cutting and streamlining idea for colleges and universities. The curriculum that students are required to go through, has become too over flowed by generalization of classes. Instead of requiring students to take two or more of the major class types, English(writing and literature), Science, Math, and Social Sciences(History, Psychology, Sociology), they should cut the requirement to only one class if they have to require them at all. Also, cut life choice classes that aren't really needed and really should only be determined by the student if they want to take them. Examples of those are foreign languages and physical education and health classes.
That is a lot of class time cut, plus I recommend not placing it with anything, so that we can cut down the national average of how long it takes people to get a four year degree(right now it is 6 years). I believe that the 6 years is caused by all the extra required classes that have been added over time. I remember that education sector of the university I was going to was thinking in the right direction, by requiring far less education classes, cutting the normal 12 classes down to around 6, because many of the classes were just redundant, just like the double, sometimes triple, requirement of the core field classes. The reason that the cuts are so needed is that colleges for the most part aren't churning out professionals any more, and the reason behind that is because half the college learning process is now generalized learning that produces people that may be well rounded, but their minds are filled with so much random information they can forget the important things that matter in their career path.
If they have to replace the cut required classes with something, fill them up with required internships in the fields in which the students are going into, so that they have real experience to show employers so they can get hired. Because today, most college degrees get graduates nowhere, because employers these days don't see college as experience. College degrees now are only side points to add on top of experience to make the employer's decision easier on who to hire over who.
1. Nope, here in Illinois it is predominantly English.
2,3. I can get by in german if need be and thanks to my chinese aunt I can at least pick up the vocal inflections of the chinese language even if I cant understand or speak it. She also helped me get a firmer grasp on understanding broken english, a godsend now that I am at college and half the teachers are Chinese and Indian.
2,3. I can get by in german if need be and thanks to my chinese aunt I can at least pick up the vocal inflections of the chinese language even if I cant understand or speak it. She also helped me get a firmer grasp on understanding broken english, a godsend now that I am at college and half the teachers are Chinese and Indian.