11–20 of 54 posts
Aside from that, I'm really sad to read about what to study in terms of what's it worth economically, instead of culturally. Then again, when it comes to studying, I'm too much of an idealist.
Totally makes sense, but Spanish is still one of the easiest languages for learn for English speakers. So if you are planning to learn a new language, do give Spanish a try. One of the best books for learning Spanish is - Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish. French is a little more difficult, and German is way more difficult. Probably that's another reason for the difference in the returns over time?
By the way, I found that learning German was far easier than English. I wish I had time to keep doing it.
I realize the article is pro-multilingual, but I disagree with the notion that time spent learning a foreign language is time not spent learning another subject. My son was in Spanish immersion preschool from age 2 until 3 years 4 months. He can speak and understand Spanish and understands that he speaks a language that my wife and I don't. Then we moved and put him in Mandarin/English bilingual school. He's 2.5 mont…
My son is right now in the transition phase in a new language, and it's mildly sad to see him struggling with very basic concepts ("can I have these pencils? What is the teacher telling me? why is everyone moving their arms ?") when he otherwise would be learning what's the conductor's role is in an ensemble.
Learning a second language lays the base for learning other things, as learning any of the above would also have oppened doors to to better understand other things. Time is finite and choices have to be made, not everyone might prioritize learning languages as much as other things.
I speak Spanish/French/German and to be completely honest, the majority of their usage to me is chatting up girls from those countries I happen to meet. I've never met a programmer who didn't speak English better than I spoke their language. That being said, the ability to chat up girls, and the fact that I just love languages, makes the endeavor entirely worth it to me...
I'm currently single. You just sold me on it, man.
I know a lot of professional people here in the US who are fluent in two, three, even four languages. Only one of them actually uses a second language as a part of their job. I mean, how many jobs require significant international communication with people who don't speak English? Not many.
(Being from a non-English speaking country, and learning English, is a whole different thing though.)
Too bad it's anglocentric, I expected something a little more generic. As a non-English native speaker, a can assure you that the ROI of learning English is much higher than two percent. Aside from that, I'm really sad to read about what to study in terms of what's it worth economically, instead of culturally. Then again, when it comes to studying, I'm too much of an idealist.
For example, I had more luck with German in Eastern Europe than English.
As a non-English speaker, I enjoy being able to speak 7 languages, although not fully fluent in all of them.
You won't find many people even bothering to learn English, if you go outside big cities in most countries.
Totally makes sense, but Spanish is still one of the easiest languages for learn for English speakers. So if you are planning to learn a new language, do give Spanish a try. One of the best books for learning Spanish is - Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish. French is a little more difficult, and German is way more difficult. Probably that's another reason for the difference in the returns over time?
Turns out that it's dang hard to design anything easier or more accessible to speakers of any European language than Spanish already is. The spelling and pronunciation are already completely regular and predictable. The grammar is straightforward and common to almost all European tongues. The vocabulary is mostly based on Latin with some Arabic variety thrown in, but it's been standardized over the centuries so that a lot of it has a simpler and more natural morphology.
It's a great second language: it's fairly easy, the world's second most widespread tongue, and spoken in warm countries with very friendly natives. Unfortunately, it's not likely to provide you with many lucrative opportunities. Remember, money isn't everything.
Totally makes sense, but Spanish is still one of the easiest languages for learn for English speakers. So if you are planning to learn a new language, do give Spanish a try. One of the best books for learning Spanish is - Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish. French is a little more difficult, and German is way more difficult. Probably that's another reason for the difference in the returns over time?
I'm Spanish and I'm curious about what you said. I feel that English has much easier grammar than Spanish (just think of the verb conjugation in both languages!), but much more difficult phonetics (just how many vowels do you have? Is there really a difference between "backwards e" and "upside down v"? Half-kidding only); so I can write in English far better than I can speak. I expected that a native English speaker…
Twenty to twenty-eight. Depends on the accent and dialect. Of course, it can be a different set of twenty-eight in different contexts, depending on accent and dialect.
"Is there really a difference between "backwards e" and "upside down v"?"
Not in Utah.
"English has much easier grammar than Spanish"
I don't really agree. English uses phrasal verbs instead of reflexives and circumlocution in place of most subjunctives, but they're just as complicated.
Totally makes sense, but Spanish is still one of the easiest languages for learn for English speakers. So if you are planning to learn a new language, do give Spanish a try. One of the best books for learning Spanish is - Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish. French is a little more difficult, and German is way more difficult. Probably that's another reason for the difference in the returns over time?
Yeah, Spanish is pretty easy for Anglophones. Afrikaans is super easy for Anglophones to learn also. The syntax and pragmatics of Afrikaans are nearly the same as English. There are some new words, sounds, and orthography to pick up, but honestly the orthography is the hardest part. There aren't nearly as many resources to learn Afrikaans as Spanish, though. Edited to add: Most Afrikaans speakers will tell you that A…