Kashrut / Languages (ot)

[Kimberly]

No: HPFGUIDX 6716


> Joywitch wrote: Why are we Americans so pathetic when it comes to
> learning other languages?
> 
> I've heard that the British are almost equally pathetic about 
learning
> languages. Perhaps there is something about the English language 
such
> that learning English as a first language does permanent damage to 
the
> language learning areas of the brain?

I don't know about the British, but I'd say for most of us (U.S.) 
Americans, learning English as a first language seems to do more 
damage to the humility areas of the brain than the language-learning 
areas.

I was a grad instructor in Begining French in the midwest for a couple 
of years, and I can't tell you how many of my students grumbled that 
it was rediculous to have a foreign language requirement, and I'm 
ashamed to mention some of the reasons they gave, but the gist was 
either everyone already speaks English, they will if they want to make 
any money, or they simply should, since it's the 'most important 
language in the world'.

I was 14 before I got the opportunity in school to begin learning 
another language.  I think English speakers are just as capable of 
learning languages - it's just not emphasized as important.  At least 
that's what I've observed here in the midwest.

I hope I didn't offend anyone - it's just my take on things.

~kimberly