Boozeio
Jun 19th 2017, 10:41 am
#31
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Boozeio
I get that but - to play devil's advocate for a moment - why should they? English may be a global language but we do rather expect Johnny Foreigner to learn English rather than learning anything ourselves. The Brits are generally rubbish at languages.
Cue posters claiming proficiency in multiple languages but the point stands. We are lucky that we can mostly get away with not bothering but it's a bit Daily Mail to expect others to be the only ones to make an effort, don't you think?
(Yes, I am bored too, but busy bored!)
Cue posters claiming proficiency in multiple languages but the point stands. We are lucky that we can mostly get away with not bothering but it's a bit Daily Mail to expect others to be the only ones to make an effort, don't you think?
(Yes, I am bored too, but busy bored!)
Examples: French, my accent is actually, too much fabulous....I'm gifted. I end up being spoken to like a Frenchman and I understand so little nowadays. I would limit attempts and revert to point and shout to avoid having to explain that I'm a roast beef not a garlic and onion.
Greek - I love giving it a go when I (rarely, sadly) get to visit nowadays. It's pleasant, except I'll never accept that yes/no sound the wrong way round.
Japanese - when we go we will try, but rather than hash through things too often I might limit to please, thanks and hello type basics.
Jun 19th 2017, 10:57 am
#32
Bored liberal
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Over there ----->
Posts: 13,713
Re: Boozeio
I go for the minimal and then try to use it as much or as little as possible, depending on how difficult it is. It's the easiest way, especially if not a total language learning buff, which I won't profess to be.
Examples: French, my accent is actually, too much fabulous....I'm gifted. I end up being spoken to like a Frenchman and I understand so little nowadays. I would limit attempts and revert to point and shout to avoid having to explain that I'm a roast beef not a garlic and onion.
Greek - I love giving it a go when I (rarely, sadly) get to visit nowadays. It's pleasant, except I'll never accept that yes/no sound the wrong way round.
Japanese - when we go we will try, but rather than hash through things too often I might limit to please, thanks and hello type basics.
Examples: French, my accent is actually, too much fabulous....I'm gifted. I end up being spoken to like a Frenchman and I understand so little nowadays. I would limit attempts and revert to point and shout to avoid having to explain that I'm a roast beef not a garlic and onion.
Greek - I love giving it a go when I (rarely, sadly) get to visit nowadays. It's pleasant, except I'll never accept that yes/no sound the wrong way round.
Japanese - when we go we will try, but rather than hash through things too often I might limit to please, thanks and hello type basics.
I am not suggesting we should take intensive classes before going anywhere but hello, please and thank you and not shouting are a good start. I believe you can get great phone apps for languages like Japanese. I only know a few words/phrases and learned most of that whilst watching Shogun many years ago!
I wish I had more time to learn more language properly but sadly it gets harder as you get older too. I wish I'd had to learn more as a small child as we are like sponges then.
Jun 19th 2017, 11:04 am
#33
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,467
Re: Boozeio
I get that but - to play devil's advocate for a moment - why should they? English may be a global language but we do rather expect Johnny Foreigner to learn English rather than learning anything ourselves. The Brits are generally rubbish at languages.
Cue posters claiming proficiency in multiple languages but the point stands. We are lucky that we can mostly get away with not bothering but it's a bit Daily Mail to expect others to be the only ones to make an effort, don't you think?
(Yes, I am bored too, but busy bored!)
Cue posters claiming proficiency in multiple languages but the point stands. We are lucky that we can mostly get away with not bothering but it's a bit Daily Mail to expect others to be the only ones to make an effort, don't you think?
(Yes, I am bored too, but busy bored!)
Personally I am pretty average at languages.... Welsh (16yrs - forgotten it), French (5yrs - schoolboy at best), German (2yrs - schoolboy at best).... after that there's bits of Spanish, Indo and Hindi.... actually my Hindi when in India is OK.
I do still find though that wherever you are if you make a basic effort it goes a long way, and then if hand gestures are needed then no one cares and you'll get there in the end. This is with exception of France, and I know many will claim otherwise but after visiting various areas and trying out my very blatantly sh*tey French they still reply at 3,000,000 mph with the sole intention of being dicks! I was there last week and gave it a shot several times but..... non merci!
Jun 20th 2017, 4:07 am
#34
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Boozeio
I am not suggesting we should take intensive classes before going anywhere but hello, please and thank you and not shouting are a good start. I believe you can get great phone apps for languages like Japanese. I only know a few words/phrases and learned most of that whilst watching Shogun many years ago!
I wish I had more time to learn more language properly but sadly it gets harder as you get older too. I wish I'd had to learn more as a small child as we are like sponges then.
I wish I had more time to learn more language properly but sadly it gets harder as you get older too. I wish I'd had to learn more as a small child as we are like sponges then.
Jun 20th 2017, 4:42 am
#35
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Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Abu Dhabi by body and Sydney by soul
Posts: 1,841
Re: Boozeio
We go to Italy for a month every summer. My husband decided after year 4 to get some professional help at his language acquisition (as it is shite) and started Italian language school in AD twice a week for 6 months. He was still so shite that i said that he had better have had a mistress as, if he had actually tried to learn Italian, his lack of progress was an embarrassment to both of us.
Apparently, she didn't believe he had been to Italy for the month either as he came back worse than when he left. (so he tells me)
Apparently, she didn't believe he had been to Italy for the month either as he came back worse than when he left. (so he tells me)
Last edited by al dente; Jun 20th 2017 at 4:43 am. Reason: comma
Jun 20th 2017, 5:00 am
#36
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Boozeio
We go to Italy for a month every summer. My husband decided after year 4 to get some professional help at his language acquisition (as it is shite) and started Italian language school in AD twice a week for 6 months. He was still so shite that i said that he had better have had a mistress as, if he had actually tried to learn Italian, his lack of progress was an embarrassment to both of us.
Apparently, she didn't believe he had been to Italy for the month either as he came back worse than when he left. (so he tells me)
Apparently, she didn't believe he had been to Italy for the month either as he came back worse than when he left. (so he tells me)
Bit in bold properly made me chuckle.
Jun 20th 2017, 6:51 am
#37
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Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Dubai
Posts: 2,843
Re: Boozeio
I get that but - to play devil's advocate for a moment - why should they? English may be a global language but we do rather expect Johnny Foreigner to learn English rather than learning anything ourselves. The Brits are generally rubbish at languages.
Cue posters claiming proficiency in multiple languages but the point stands. We are lucky that we can mostly get away with not bothering but it's a bit Daily Mail to expect others to be the only ones to make an effort, don't you think?
(Yes, I am bored too, but busy bored!)
Cue posters claiming proficiency in multiple languages but the point stands. We are lucky that we can mostly get away with not bothering but it's a bit Daily Mail to expect others to be the only ones to make an effort, don't you think?
(Yes, I am bored too, but busy bored!)
