Transcript Why learn languages?

Why learn languages?
Why bother?
In a multilingual
world, a modern
language has
enormous benefit to
offer all students …
which arises from
their being able to
interact with real
people who speak
and use other
languages.
It won’t help me get a job…
Career opportunities
in leisure and
tourism exist for
well-qualified people
…the addition of
foreign language
skills can only
enhance European
and international
opportunities.
But can’t you just speak
louder?
British nationals
cannot initiate
communication on
equal terms…they
are less powerful
than those who
have greater
linguistic skills.
I’ll never go abroad…
Learning a new
language
improves the
use of English.
We’re all part of Europe now…
The European
citizen with good
language skills is
better able to take
advantage of the
freedom to work or
study in another
member state.
I could still be a travel rep…
Monolingual
speakers of any
variety of English
will experience
increasing difficulty
in finding
employment.
EVERYONE speaks English
One of the cultural
shocks of September
11 is,
overwhelmingly, that
English is simply not
enough… We need
to be aware as
never before of
foreign languages.
I don’t want to be a teacher…
Language students
have above average
IT skills in
comparison with the
rest of the
population.
And I don’t want to go to
France…
Learning a modern
language will help
students develop
strategies for leaning
and using language that
will assist them not only
with their current
modern language but
with others that they
may also learn.
I thought I’d study law…
Students of
languages typically
explore culture,
literature, media and
film, history,
geography, politics,
sociology,
economics, business
studies and the law.
I can already talk a bit of
French
In the society of the
21st century,
multilingualism is
better….Only
through
multilingualism can
we really
understand and
appreciate the
stranger.
I do fancy that year’s holiday…
Students who had
already undertaken
their year abroad
did overwhelmingly
speak of the
experience as ‘one
of the best things I
have ever done.’
You don’t need a
language…I’ve got Google
While computer-aided
translation systems will
speed up the process of
working between
languages, it is people
with the experience of
learning and using
languages who are
most likely to be able to
exploit new
technologies to the full.
Don’t just take my word for
it….
Prince William
He is studying Swahili
and Welsh
Charlize Theron
She learned many of
the 28 languages
she speaks from the
staff on her parents'
farm.
Jay-Jay Okocha
• Captain of Nigeria and Bolton
Wanderers, Jay Jay
Okocha:'The fact that I
speak several languages will
give me an advantage in
talking to all the players at
the club'
• His club manager, Sam
Allardyce, adds: 'He can
converse in three or four
languages which is very
important in our multi-language
team, both off the field and on it'
Diane Modahl
'I know lots of people
speak English, but
being prepared to say
something in someone
else's language is a way
of showing them that
you care, that you're
prepared to make the
effort and you don't just
expect them to speak
your language. That's
quite arrogant actually,
isn't it?'
Ellen MacArthur
• 'It’s always fantastic to
be able to communicate
with people, whether
it’s when you are
signing an autograph or
when you are doing a
full on interview, or
during a tough moment
at sea with a crew'
Lucy Liu
• 'I would love to do a
French movie or a
Spanish movie, in the
language. When you
speak a different
language, whether or
not you're fluent in it,
you immerse yourself
into a completely
different person'
Kevin Keegan
• 'I think the least you
can do when you
live in their country
is learn the
language'
David James
'We are in the 21st
century and if you can't
learn another language
by now then something
must be seriously
wrong. I improved [my
Spanish] on the recent
England trip because I
managed to have a lot
of "half" conversations
with McManaman'
Eddie Izzard
'There are so many
languages I'd like to
learn to perform in –
Russian, Italian. And
I'd love to be able to
perform in the
country where I was
born – Yemen'
Colin Firth
'Well, it's wonderful to
have an excuse to learn
a language. [My wife's]
English is better than
my Italian will ever be.
But, if you're going to
live your life with
someone you should, as
a mark of respect, try to
learn their way of
conceptualising things'
Huw Edwards
'During my career I have interviewed
people of many nationalities and know
that being able to address them in their
own language is a great help. It puts
the interviewee at ease and makes the
conversation that follows (even if that
is conducted in English) much more
relaxed. We all need to develop extra
language skills because they are
essential in our multicultural society. As
a Welshman I also feel strongly that we
should celebrate and respect the
world’s minority languages'
John Cleese
'Learning a language
makes our minds
stronger and more
flexible. Actually
using it gives us an
entirely new
experience of the
world'
David Beckham
'I haven't conquered Spanish
yet. I'm learning and
understand what's said during
training. I'm progressing little
by little,. Spanish is very
difficult for me, although I am
getting used to it. I am making
an effort. It's complicated. But
if I can conquer Spanish, it will
have been a great
achievement'