Sectorgame

What can you speak? Fairly simple question. It occurs to me much of the English speaking population are lazy buggers when it comes to speaking another language. Consider this, that most school leavers in countrys such as Germany and Denmark leave with a good understanding of English. This applies to just about ANYWHERE I've been... What does this mean, really? I've noticed that England is probably the LAZIEST bunch out of English speaking places. Ok, so maybe English is a trade language like Chinese, but that's no excuse!

I have to admit, I hated French at school with a passion, and still do. I have learned some German and Danish of my own accord, and can say basic phrases in others such as Finnish, Thai, Japanese, etc... I'm also currently learning Korean, and aim to speak it fluent in a year or two. Kind of an odd language to learn I know, but I'm a firm believer in that you do what you want, not what others tell you (most particulary so when it comes to Education). Even my parents mock me for what I chose to learn or take an interest in... Don't you hate that?

I guess there is always the throwback "Well, why should I have to learn another language?" - Good point! And if you've got no willpower then fine. But it's great to understand another language. You can get a real kick out of it, a sense of satisifaction. And most of all, it's stimulating for the mind. I'd recommend learning a language to anyone with time to burn. Stop watching trash like Pop Idol and do something productive (not directing that at any of you... I'm pretty sure everyone under this roof has got their head screwed on, and if not, at least it's going the right way.. And if not, well thats fine too.)

Mind you... I don't exactly have time to burn, I have five assignments to do, and two or three more on the way.. But I still put in the time, cause I love it.

Oh... and this isn't a rant, just an extended question...

Latin. It kicks ass.

French, and babble like an aidot after injury

Spanish. Going to take French classes next year.

French, a bit, and I can tell anyone who is German that I have no sisters, I've no idea why that particular phrase stuck in my mind though

I can speak portuguese cause I'm part Angolan so I was taught to speak that as a kid. My dad was lazy so I never learnt either Urdu or Arabic from him (which still annoys me now cause now I'd have to work at it to learn the language).

I learnt French in school and Spanish in uni although I'd have trouble with anything other than simple concepts in either.

I've told my gf that one day she's going to have to teach me either mandarin or cantonese just so that I can go into a chinese restaurant and order in their language She annoys me by being fluent in about 5 different languages.

I intend on taking an intro to sign language course my senior year, just to show that i had 4 years of languages, and i'm getting sick of learning french... (though i like speaking it)...

No thank you, I took a little Spanish and hated it, I will never take another one again.

I can understaqnd basic French, Spanish and German. Having taken all of those classes offered in school. I am fluent in none, however.

Just enough to get me around if I ever end up in south america, haiti, or europe.

I know a variety of individual words and phrases, most of which I use with varying degrees in my daily speaking. But as to actually be conversive in some other language besides English, no I'm not.

karajorma wrote:I can speak portuguese cause I'm part Angolan so I was taught to speak that as a kid. My dad was lazy so I never learnt either Urdu or Arabic from him (which still annoys me now cause now I'd have to work at it to learn the language).

I learnt French in school and Spanish in uni although I'd have trouble with anything other than simple concepts in either.

I've told my gf that one day she's going to have to teach me either mandarin or cantonese just so that I can go into a chinese restaurant and order in their language She annoys me by being fluent in about 5 different languages.

You... you... you polyglot!!

*runs*

I know a little French from school, but I never put enough effort to be fluent (And I suspect I'd be sodding useless now, becuase I've never used it).

I've been meaning to learn Catalan for a while now, maybe take advantage of my forthcoming unemployment to do so.....

little bit of hindi....shamefully though,I am but a mere English speaker, even though my native language should be punjabi....

I know some French but at a very basic level and my ability to understand the spoken form of the language is somewhat depressing.

English, little bit of Nyoongar, and learning Esperanto.