Thread: "Why do I got to learn Spanish? Why can't they learn English?" America Heated Discussion

We are the dumbest country in the world as far as language is concerned. It bugs me when people complain about having to learn another language or piss and moan about just having to learn a few phrases when they go to another country. The majority of the people in the rest of the world know 2 or 3 languages at least. If you grew up in China, you'd probably know 3 or 4. If you grew up in South Africa, you'd probably know anywhere between 4 and 8. I am ashamed to be a stupid American who only knows one language and I wish I had been required to seriously learn one when I was in school.

As it is, the required language programs in this country are a joke. I took spanish for 2 years in highschool and I didn't learn anything. Except, "como se dice" which means "how do you say".

Originally Posted by Xaqaria

As it is, the required language programs in this country are a joke. I took spanish for 2 years in highschool and I didn't learn anything. Except, "como se dice" which means "how do you say".

When I was in America for a year I took Spanish 1&2 also and it was just
utterly pointless. They wanted to teach the language through games and
shit like that and besides from the class being very slow paced, there were
no grammatical structures or basics whatsoever involved.

For laughs and giggles, I took German IV and I must say that none of the
students in this class could really speak the language at all. They could
translate simple texts, could say some more or less learned phrases and
some of their variations, but it was in know way possible to hold a
conversation with any of them. Not a single one could even really
understand the teacher and I, when we talked in german.

But what I have found to be a major factor in learning a language is that
you need to have spent some time in a country, where it is actively spoken.
Spanish is my fourth language (school-wise), but I only understand some
and speak none. So my plan is to move to a Spanish-speaking country for
a while and pick up the language as I go. Easiest way, in my opinion.

Originally Posted by Aquanina

lmao dannon...exactly

I usually find it easy to pick up new languages though. When I lived in Bangkok I absolutely loved learning Thai, it's a great language...and they are great people who are so very happy if you can even say Hello in Thai. Most of them speak english btw.

Yea, when I was in Cambodia I also started to pick up some Khmer and
it just makes things so much easier and nicer, too. Unfortunately, I wasn't
forced to speak a lot of it.. but I'll be going back this summer and then I
will put more effort into it.