“Americans who travel abroad for the first time are often shocked to discover that, despite all the progress that has been made in the last 30 years, many foreign people still speak in foreign languages” (Dave Barry).
Ha! Isn't that the truth?? My cousin will be spending 4 years in Germany starting tomorrow (military) and when I asked him if he'd try to learn any German while there, he responded "nope. they wanna talk to me, they gotta learn English". sad, but true... What do you call someone who speaks 3 languages? tri-lingual. What do you call someone who speaks 2 languages? bi-lingual. What do you call someone who speaks 1 language? an american. :)
It does sting a bit! It's unfortunate that it's true, also. We're not taught a second language until high school, usually. I wish we were taught at a much earlier age. It's a shame. I guess we can only hope to change that in our children.
Candice, I am RIGHT there with you!! I remember learning a few songs in French in preschool, but that doesn't really count. And, I so want to raise my children bilingual if not multilingual.
Oh, me too! "They" say that a child's brain is far more equipped to learn a new language than an adult's, so it's easier for them. I really want my kids to learn as much as possible.
Ha! Isn't that the truth?? My cousin will be spending 4 years in Germany starting tomorrow (military) and when I asked him if he'd try to learn any German while there, he responded "nope. they wanna talk to me, they gotta learn English". sad, but true...
ReplyDeleteWhat do you call someone who speaks 3 languages? tri-lingual.
What do you call someone who speaks 2 languages? bi-lingual.
What do you call someone who speaks 1 language? an american. :)
my Chinese teacher used to tell us this joke.
ReplyDeletei think it is so true and stings just a little huh?
It does sting a bit! It's unfortunate that it's true, also. We're not taught a second language until high school, usually. I wish we were taught at a much earlier age. It's a shame. I guess we can only hope to change that in our children.
ReplyDeleteCandice, I am RIGHT there with you!!
ReplyDeleteI remember learning a few songs in French in preschool, but that doesn't really count.
And, I so want to raise my children bilingual if not multilingual.
Oh, me too! "They" say that a child's brain is far more equipped to learn a new language than an adult's, so it's easier for them. I really want my kids to learn as much as possible.
ReplyDelete