Have you bothered to learn?
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Sharukin
Apr 4, 2008
0
#21
Apparently this has been a problem with English speakers for a very long time. There is a record of English bishops visiting Rome in the seventh century who thought they could make themselves understood simply by speaking English very slowly and very loudly. Of course that doesn't happen now does it...
SU DU EE
When I listen to George Bush speak I shudder. Its really sad that I hear many foreign leaders speaking better English than the US president even when their first language is not English. I have known town drunks that speak better English.
Being from Sweden and living in London I speak those languages fluently. I'm sort of working on German since I'll probably move there next year. Just came home from a trip to Berlin and did okey so hopefully it'll be even better.
Apr 5, 2008
0
#25
sad to say but i only speak English. i would to learn another lanugage but not your usual French or German, no somthing like Thai maybe!
Apr 5, 2008
0
#26
I speak English obviously, a decent amount of French and basic Spanish. I am also studying Latin and ancient Greek.
petershaby wrote: I speeke an rite flewintly in allmowst evry languidge
Ha, Ha, lol,
I know we would lose something by all speaking the same language, but don't we miss out on each other by not all speaking the same. Puzzle eh? I really admire those people who do learn other language's. I think a second language should be taught as soon children start school at the age of 5 yrs, then by the time the children were 6 or 7 years old they would be ready to learn another. and so and so on. By the time they leave they could have four or five language's learnt.
Apr 6, 2008
0
#29
I tried to learn, but my mind isn't wired for it. I just can't seem to get the whole "habla, hablamos" thing down. I don't even know what changing the word to suit the tense is called anymore! I'm a poor, poor student!
I do admire those who can spout other languages without even trying, though.
my english is very weak untill there are some member here miss understanding my meaning.so i not brother to learn english.hope all of u help me improve,thanks
mrsoccerchessman wrote:
Yeah, I speak American-English which is pretty cool cause you ain't got to gots the bestest type of grammer when ya speak. LOL, it's pretty fun
I also like how people from other countries speak English better than those raised with the English language. The reason being is because they take it more serious and it doesn't help when an American grows up around people speaking slang English and incorrect grammar in their words.
I love you all who are not American.
I also am taking Latin. So that makes it easier for me to comprehend words from other countries. Latin is the root of all languages. And it's not dead, a new word has been made recently.
u to? im studying latin! anyway my other languages are slovenian(1st) then english,german,french,japanese,heck i understand even a bit of chinese...
English and Spanish fluently
Some French and Italian
Italian, English and French
English and Spanish (not fluent)
Dutch and English (fluent)
German (close to fluent)
French (well enough to order my food to keep me alive 
)
i know arabic english and french and currently i am learning german and i can understand written spanish a bit
Apr 23, 2008
0
#38
English, Irish, American (!), French. Can read a fair bit of Spanish and did Latin at school.
P.s. sorry to be pedantic but there's no apostrophe in "languages" 
English is my second language, but I speak it fluently. I'd be perfectly content knowing only English - as it is the lingua franca of today's world.
I don't blame the native English speakers for not bothering to learn a foreign language. English is all you need. I'd much rather spend my time learning something useful, like playing an instrument.
It has already been mentioned on this thread that learning multiple languages in America is a generation issue. It is important to understand that for a country as large as America where everyone spoke the same language freely from state to state, there was really no need to learn other languages. Not until the world finally appeared smaller or closer has it become more important to learn other languages.
For me growing up in the 70's my elders did not see a need to teach other lanuages so today I struggle to learn just one other and that is Spanish. However, those of us from that generation on see the mistake of our parents and are teaching future generations to speak other languages. It will take a generation or two but it will happen.
Linguist experts say that if you do not learn a second language by the age of 7 it is then generally difficult, but not impossible, to learn another language as you get older. There are multiple reasons for this but one obvious point is time (adults need to work) and the need to practice/immerse yourself in the language of choice with others. Not exactly easy to come by when those around you and of the same age are in the same boat.
More and more American adults are making the time though as many top selling books and learning CD'S/DVD's are growing in the market place, and as mentioned second languages are being introduced to our young...finally.