Thread: Learning the local language

How important is it to expats to learn the local language? Do you try? If not, why not? If so, how's it going?!

Hi Squarko
Welcome to the forum. It's not a problem I've had to face, as we went from one English speaking country to another (with some minor colloquial differences) I'd imagine it's very important though if you want to feel accepted somewhere and not live your life on the periphery.

The more you learn a countries language the more you will get out of it. Its also good to know what the natives are saying about you.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/811...ative-language

I agree with learning the native's language. The Brits have a deserved reputation of being lazy where languages are concerned. A lot of Brits when abroad expect the natives to speak English which is unfair - why should they? Am a great believer 'when in Rome etc.......'

Having said that, I'm living in an Arabic country and allegedly Arabic is the hardest language in the world to learn and a close second comes Mandarin or Cantonese, can't remember which order but I am attempting to speak a few phrases. However, almost everyone speaks English here which I guess is a shame because one doesn't really try if that's the case. So guess you can categorise me as one of the 'lazy' ones, although I do have an avid interest in foreign languages, in particular Spanish.

Hi YummyBrummy, it's interesting you say Brits are lazy with languages. Whereas I think that is right to a point, I believe it is more complicated than just laziness!!

I remember listening to a radio program about languages awhile ago and a German linguistic professor said the following:

'Part of the problem with the British learning new languages is due to schooling - languages aren't taught early enough or long enough, and kids don't grow up trying to learn new languages. But another big reason is it is hard to choose the natural second language to teach when you are British. English is the universal language, even if people aren't happy about it. So English is the natural second language to teach in schools in non English speaking countries. But what do they pick to teach in schools in Britain? French?, German?, Spanish? It is difficult to decide on the best one.'

It was an interesting point of view from a non British person and I think he was right about schooling in UK. I had very few choices when I was at school, and certainly not early enough, and I'm not sure if it is different now. But I would hope that if I went to live in a foreign speaking country I would try my hardest to learn some of the language. Although languages such as Arabic, Chinese etc sound really scary - if I wasn't going to live in USA, given a chioce I would go live in a country with an easier language. As if we had a choice I hear you all cry!!

Becky x

Hiya Becky and welcome to the forum.

I do agree with what's been said above and yes it does make sense. I was really going from experience overhearing and likewise to Brits who scorn at the fact when in a shop/supermarket etc. overseas that the assistants don't speak English. It's these sort of comments that irk me.

It's food for thought that languages are not taught at an earlier age in UK and I suspect that's a huge part of the problem.

Good luck with your move to USA. When is it all happening and what will you be doing.

Tell us all about it Becky - they're a good crowd on here and we all want to give you whatever support you may need

YB XX

I don't think the are any more lazy than other nationalities at learning languages. Here i see Germans, Swedes and many others that can hardly string a sentence together in Spanish. Most nationalities will chose to learn English because it will benefit them in one way or an other. You get some language snobs (mostly Brits)here that look down their noses at me when they find i've lived here over 10 years and i'm not fluent, they don't know if i have learning difficulties or the reasons why, they just label you as ignorant. I'm happy with my "spanglish" and have got along fine working with Spanish for years. The key is to make an effort if its all gibberish then so be it, the fact that you try gets a lot of respect and to the language snobs? sod them!
I sometimes laugh at the anoraks that come here and act all cocky with their "evening class Spanish" and look bemused when the natives speak back with the Andalucian dialect which is a world away from what they learnt.
There is one language i am fluent in though, and that is the language of luuuurve so if anyone need any lessons i'm ya man.:Randy-git:

ps "gibberish" is what Gibraltarians speak.

Originally Posted by Aldo

ps "gibberish" is what Gibraltarians speak.

Interesting responses!

So did you guys learn the language before you moved? Or try and pick it up once you got there?