|
|
Post by vlk on Nov 15, 2022 21:59:41 GMT
The Portuguese make fun of Spanish saying that Spanish sounds like how little Portuguese children speak before they learn to speak properly.
|
|
|
|
Post by Red Rackham on Nov 16, 2022 21:16:56 GMT
For the benefit of posters who think kids should be taught a foreign language at school, here's a thought you should consider;
20% of kids leave school 'functionally illiterate', in other words, they are able to read and write but below a level of competence needed for everyday living. And you think they should be taught a foreign language?
Schools should concentrate on 'English' literacy and numeracy skills that prepare kids for life after school. This trendy notion that leaving school with the ability to order a cup of coffee in French is a necessary life skill, when they don't even understand basic English is absolute nonsense.
|
|
|
|
Post by Red Rackham on Nov 16, 2022 21:22:27 GMT
Something I just heard on the radio, the question asked was: should a foreign language be compulsory in UK schools? My take is, no. Of course not. I remember I was forced to take French at school, I didn't want to I could see no purpose in it but it didn't matter. For two years (Cant remember how many lessons a week) I sat in what was called a language lab that was very high tech for the day, this would be 1973/4, while someone tried to teach me French. It was a complete waste of two years. English is an international language, it is not only the language of Chaucer, Shakespeare and Dickens, but it's the language of international business, commerce, science, medicine, and many other key areas, including diplomacy. English is dominant in most regions of the world. Even pilots must speak English. At this point I expect some outraged commie will gleefully point out that Chinese Mandarin is the most spoken language in the world. Yes indeed it is. But it is not an internationally recognised language spoken around the world. I understand why people who don't speak English would want to learn English, but why on earth should an English kid be forced to learn a foreign language. Btw, at the tender age of 19 I discovered it was easy to learn a foreign language. Within 6 months I could speak passable German, OK it may not have been grammatically correct but young fraulines weren't bothered about dotting the i's and crossing the t's. But they did seem very keen on showing me what the big wide world was all about, I was a lamb to the slaughter. Happy days. I have to say that I am inclined to agree with Red.
French was compulsory at my school, but after five years I still could not order a cup of coffee in Calais. Then I went fruit picking in the Languedoc and really started to learn the language. Unfortunately it was Australian because most of the other pickers were Strines. Still, it was fun  Precisely, my point entirely. I wasted two years at school being taught a 'text book' foreign language. A few years later in the real world it took me six months to learn passable German. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2022 21:32:06 GMT
I actually got out of French lessons by skipping them. When I got pulled into the headmasters office I just told them I had absolutely no interest, so they moved me to music lessons. I learned how to read music and play a few instruments.
|
|
|
|
Post by Red Rackham on Nov 16, 2022 21:38:36 GMT
I actually got out of French lessons by skipping them. When I got pulled into the headmasters office I just told them I had absolutely no interest, so they moved me to music lessons. I learned how to read music and play a few instruments. I remember telling my teacher I wasn't even slightly interested in learning French. I was told I ' would' lean French! lol. |
|
|
|
Post by vlk on Nov 17, 2022 10:56:37 GMT
If the French realise you're not British or American they suddenly learn to speak very good English.
|
|
|
|
Post by Steve on Nov 17, 2022 12:18:08 GMT
If the French realise you're not British or American they suddenly learn to speak very good English. In my experience if you make your opening sentence polite and in some form of French then the French are very polite and helpful and often can speak good English. Far more hospitable than we are to those who don't speak our language. A good tip is to learn how to spell out your name in French as they use different sounds for letters. Saves a lot of confusion checking in at hotels. |
|
|
|
Post by jaydee on Nov 17, 2022 13:06:38 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Red Rackham on Nov 17, 2022 13:08:05 GMT
If the French realise you're not British or American they suddenly learn to speak very good English. The English language has nothing to do with England. It is Germanic in origin. And the reason English is the international language of communication also has nothing to do with England. It is because of the power of the Americans. www.english-study-online.com/blog/english-vs-german-germanic-rootsAre you annoyed you speak English JD? LOL. |
|
|
|
Post by Toreador on Nov 17, 2022 13:18:01 GMT
Are you annoyed you speak English JD? LOL. Och aye. |
|
|
|
Post by jaydee on Nov 17, 2022 13:21:00 GMT
Are you annoyed you speak English JD? LOL. Och aye. Are you annoyed it has nothing to do with England. Your delusion shattered. Och Aye the noo Jimmy. And oh. I have 3 kilts. TeHe. There was me thinking you would be cheering. It is the native language of the ancestors of Farage. Seig Heil. I thought I was posting good news. |
|
|
|
Post by Handyman on Nov 17, 2022 13:30:28 GMT
According to the scholars the first settlers here back in the 5th and 6th century spoke Celtic, which was spoken right across what is now classed as Europe as far as Turkey, and the Baltic.
The Origins of Welsh and Cornish Language come from that time,
|
|
|
|
Post by Red Rackham on Nov 17, 2022 13:32:01 GMT
Och aye. Are you annoyed it has nothing to do with England. Your delusion shattered. Och Aye the noo Jimmy. Te He. FFS Nonsense. You speak English because the English are superior to the Scottish. It's no mystery. We are better than you, but we are also compassionate and feel sorry for British people in the cold wet and windy northern reaches of Great Britain, which is why we give you lots of money every year, most of which is pissed up the wall by your clan leader, wee Jimmy Sturgeon. |
|
|
|
Post by Montegriffo on Nov 17, 2022 14:25:40 GMT
According to the scholars the first settlers here spoke Celtic, which was spoken right across what is now classed as Europe as far as Turkey, and the Baltic. The Origins of Welsh and Cornish Language come from that time, The Celtic language didn't arrive until some time between 1000-600 BC. There have obviously been people on these islands a lot longer than that. Nothing is known about the languages spoken before that time but it is not true to say the first settlers here spoke Celtic. Celtic is an Indo-European language which went into sharp decline as the Roman Empire spread across the continent and now only survives in those places not fully subjugated by the Romans ie Scotland, Wales. Cornwall and Brittany. The most likely Bronze age language spoken here is probably some form of Basque. |
|
|
|
Post by Montegriffo on Nov 17, 2022 14:27:38 GMT
For the benefit of posters who think kids should be taught a foreign language at school, here's a thought you should consider; 20% of kids leave school 'functionally illiterate', in other words, they are able to read and write but below a level of competence needed for everyday living. And you think they should be taught a foreign language? Schools should concentrate on 'English' literacy and numeracy skills that prepare kids for life after school. This trendy notion that leaving school with the ability to order a cup of coffee in French is a necessary life skill, when they don't even understand basic English is absolute nonsense. But without the functionally illiterate who will we find to fill the ranks of the British Army?  |
|
