Learning Foreign Languages: Is it a hobby or a must?

[blouen]

Originally Posted by Harry Smith

Thanks for your votes, guys! I myself think that learning English can be both a hobby and a must: 50/50.

Yes! I think it's one of the best ways to learn it. That is to realize it's importance in your life and learning it with fun.
I read a book that says (in my own words) : Incorporating the opposites is the mind of genius.

[Harry Smith]

Incorporating the opposites is the mind of genius.

Hi, Blouen!
Can you explain this sentence of yours in other words?

[blouen]

Originally Posted by Harry Smith

Incorporating the opposites is the mind of genius.

Hi, Blouen!
Can you explain this sentence of yours in other words?

I think it's like trying to collaborate the opposites to make one good result. Like in learning English. Some learn it as a must and others as a hobby. But what if you learn it as both, a must and a hobby. This way, I think one's progress is much faster compared to doing it separately.

"Sorry, I forgot the exact words of the writer, I'll check for it in my book again, but I think that this is what it means."

[Harry Smith]

Originally Posted by blouen

I think it's like trying to collaborate the opposites to make one good result. Like in learning English. Some learn it as a must and others as a hobby. But what if you learn it as both, a must and a hobby. This way, I think one's progress is much faster compared to doing it separately.

"Sorry, I forgot the exact words of the writer, I'll check for it in my book again, but I think that this is what it means."

Now I see what you meant. Frankly speaking if you come up to the learning English from both sides you'll have a better result , I think. Cheers,Blouen!

[blouen]

That's my style. But I think I need to work more this time.

[Mad-ox]

Originally Posted by Harry Smith

I just want to pay attention to how people of different nationalities learn foreign languages. My friends living in English Speaking Countries often say: Why we should try to learn other languages when the whole world is full of English. They mean English is spoken all over the world and I agree with them. But one thing isn't clear to me. Do they ever learn German, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese etc. as hard as we do? Or maybe they don't even think about other languages. Any ideas?

hi,

There are many reasons for learning foreign languages. Learning a foreign language also involves learning about the culture, the country of the language you are learning. So if we learn English language, we will also find out information about England's culture, customs, habits etc. The more languages you learn, the more you know about other peoples(plural).

[bianca]

Language learning is a great opportunity for one to unleash their inner genius - to emerge as a broad-minded individual. A different language is a different vision of life - or a pair of (mind)glasses that makes you see things in a different way. Look at all those idioms or puns or even sentence structures in different languages - their particular ambiguity or wisdom reflects a way of thinking about the world, maybe unlike yours.

[nyggus]

Originally Posted by Mad-ox

There are many reasons for learning foreign languages. Learning a foreign language also involves learning about the culture, the country of the language you are learning. So if we learn English language, we will also find out information about England's culture, customs, habits etc.

Mad-ox, I totally agree with you. That's why translation between languages is so difficult: it's not just translating the words and sentences; one has to render the meaning also to the culture the translation is aiming at. I know many works in Polish that are practically untranslatable into English though it is possible to "translate" it via translation of the words and sentences. But the meaning: this is what is impossible to understand if one does not understand the Polish culture.

Cheers,
Nyggus

[Mad-ox]

Originally Posted by nyggus

Mad-ox, I totally agree with you. That's why translation between languages is so difficult: it's not just translating the words and sentences; one has to render the meaning also to the culture the translation is aiming at. I know many works in Polish that are practically untranslatable into English though it is possible to "translate" it via translation of the words and sentences. But the meaning: this is what is impossible to understand if one does not understand the Polish culture.

Cheers,
Nyggus

hi,

In conclusion, in order to develope our language skills, it is not enough to learn the grammatical rules of a foreign language but to learn about the customs, habits, culture, schedules, holidays, arts of the country whose language we are studing. In other words we have to read books, newspapers regarding the country whose language we are learning. Fortunately, we have the Internet where we can find a lot of information about most of the countries of the world. One of my teacher always said that we can find even God on the internet.( refering to the many information on it ) Obviously, it would be better to visit and to spend some time in the country whose language we are learning. ( This is more difficult as it involves spending a lot of money, but those who can afford it I guess it worth.)

Madox

[nyggus]

Originally Posted by Mad-ox

hi,

In conclusion, in order to develope our language skills, it is not enough to learn the grammatical rules of a foreign language but to learn about the customs, habits, culture, schedules, holidays, arts of the country whose language we are studing. In other words we have to read books, newspapers regarding the country whose language we are learning. Fortunately, we have the Internet where we can find a lot of information about most of the countries of the world. One of my teacher always said that we can find even God on the internet.( refering to the many information on it ) Obviously, it would be better to visit and to spend some time in the country whose language we are learning. ( This is more difficult as it involves spending a lot of money, but those who can afford it I guess it worth.)

Madox

Yes, exactly, you got to the crux of the matter.

Nyggus