The English people used to be infamous for not speaking other languages. That's very strange, because many of the rulers, even the unpopular ones, spoke or read and wrote lots of languages. A wit said that the English spoke only two languages, English and louder English.
When my late father went to school in London in the nineteen twenties, he learned German. This was easy for him, because his grandmother spoke only Yiddish, which has many German words. However, after WWI and WW2 German was not favoured by my parents, who were keen for me to learn French. My mother wanted me to go the Lycee Francaise in London, a bilingual school. But I was not admitted because I did not have a French speaking parent.
Embarrassment In Switzerland
I learned French and we took holidays in France. When I went to Belgium I discovered that the Belgians had two languages, French and Dutch, with signs in both languages, and people who could speak both languages. Switzerland had more languages. Three well-known languages, French, German and Italian, plus another. I felt embarrassed that people of all professions and none, from waiters and receptionists to passers-by in the street, could speak two or three languages, when I struggled with a second.
If you don't live in these countries, why bother?
Russian Abandonment
The first time I was completely stranded because of my lack of languages was in Russia. At the age of 21 as a student I entered a contest for a trip to Japan (via Russia). I duly wrote the essay saying why I wanted to go, paid my fare, as part of a group of student. We were given free homestays in Japan with families, or in hostels, with most breakfasts and dinners free, sponsored by the local chambers of commerce whose members wanted to showcase Japan and practise their English with visitors.
So far, so good. Unfortunately, on a Russian railway station, I lagged behind. I turned the corner and the others has vanished. A train hooted past. My friends had all got on a train and left me. the group leader had the group railway ticket. I knew not one word of Russian. I burst into tears.
A passing railway official tried to help. I said, group, group, English group. He did not understand. But eventually he led me round the corner to a cafe where I could sit. there was my group, having snacks whilst waiting for the train. No idea that I was left behind or lost. I knew then that I needed to learn languages.
Our entire trip was escorted, with one or two of our students speaking Russian or Japanese, and the hosts or an interpreter.
After that I travelled to the USA.
Over on the American continent, I could use my French in Montreal, Canada. In their capital, Ottawa, government employees must be bilingual.
Nowadays in the UK, government publications are translated into several languages. The EU and trade mean that many products have instructions in several languages.
It is now easier than ever to learn languages. When you look at signposts, photos on the internet, or goods in the supermarket, you are surrounded by free language lessons.
When have my languages saved the day? I was an Euston railway station in London when there was a bomb scare March of the year 2000. I remember it well, because I declined to see my mother who phoned to invite me to lunch and instead I went on a trip to London for a travel writers' meeting. (My mother died the following week without seeing me again.) Because of the bomb scare I was delayed and missed my meeting.
At the station I was on the platform when we were told over the loudspeaker to leave the station. Everybody took the up escalators.
The down escalators were deserted except for a small group of girls who were speaking Spanish. I stopped them and said in English, "You must go back. They are evacuating the station."
The girls did not understand. They asked if I spoke Spanish. No. I asked, 'Parlez vous Francais? Sprechen sie Deutsch?'
I tried again. A girl at the back caught up, smiled, and said she spoke a little French. I explained.
They turned and took the up escalator. So could I.
I also read about a woman who survived WWII in a concentration camp because she knew languages and was kept as an interpreter.
But my main reason for learning languages is that it puts me in more control of my environment, of the world, my world. I get a sense of achievement. So many puzzles solved. So much fun.
How to be a polyglot?
You can start by reading signs, symbols and instruction booklets and labels and packaging. Pick up leaflets.
Then learn from a free website. Use Wikipedia. Use Duolingo which has a free basic course in several languages which starts with grammar tips.
Watch films with subtitles. Listen to nursery rhymes and songs.
Join the polyglot page on Facebook to find strangers who will answer language questions and are often looking to pair up with someone who wants to learn their language in exchange.
Can it be done? Bella, a little Russian girl has learned to speak seven languages by the age of 4. If you learned one language a year, at the end of four years you would be speaking four languages, five if you count your own. Who would that impress? Your grandparents, parents, siblings, spouse or date, children, grandchildren, potential employers. Or just yourself. Would you get a sense of achievement?
Just five minutes a day for a year. Learn one word a day and that's 365. Ten would be 3,650 words. Just six would get you to the minimum needed to hold a regular conversation.
Useful Websites
About the Author
Angela Lansbury is a travel writer and photographer, and teacher of advanced English, business English and basic French. Do you want to learn another language? I can get you started.
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