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

[blouen]

Originally Posted by LwyrFirat

Nowadays, English and occasionally some languages are must, the others are generally hobby, I think.I do know that more people in China speak english than in the USA. I don't think so, they learnt this language as a hobby.There is no such a hobby both that much common and difficult.Plus, in the job advertisements you would probably see in the necesarry requirements section that "fluency in English is a must".Have you ever seen in an advertisement that "having ....... hobby is a must"

The must could be a hobby, I think.

[LwyrFirat]

The reasons of the commonness of English are, all we know that politic and economic reasons. In this generation, Anglo-American countries dominate the business, politics, NGOs, even the best TV programmes. Therefore, an individual who wants to play a role in global environment, who wants to be part of the globalisation “must speak English”.
But, we never know “world changes rapidly” may be our grandchildren will need to learn Chinese or stg.

[blouen]

You´ve got a point and I somewhat agree to it. In the Philippines years ago, we have had a president who cannot speak English well. Sad thing is h didn´t last long, and his image wasn´t that respected by everybody.

[sgtbreitner]

Well, in Brazil the english is important to get a nice job, it´s a differential when you speak english... I can´t undestand how can the people, for example Canada, speaks two language... french and english... it´s strange... here the the people badly know portuguese... imagine english rsrs

[blouen]

I believe Canadians don´t speak English and French simultaneously. I learned that there are parts where people speak only French and vice versa.

In the Philippines, if a person is fluent in English, others look up to him but sadly those who admire just admire and that´s all. They don´t dare to be proficient in the language themselves. English has been a part of our life. The first words we learn as toddlers are English. But we tend to forget to develop our knowledge in English for in school, classmates envy those who are proficient and mark them as braggarts. But in truth, they would like to be one themselves. But what they do is pull down the person ahead to be a mediocre as they are. Lucky are those who realized that sticking out their neck searching for excellence doesn´t hurt as much as staying in mediocrity.

English is such a wonderful language and has been a part of a man´s life. Learn it. Learn it well. Learn it well with fun.

[Harry Smith]

English is a wonderful language, I agree. There are a lot of wonderful languages too. Learning different languages can be a hobby, I agree. But learning English is mostly a must.

[blouen]

Right!

[almlta3a]

I live in Bahrain and English is the most important language here because every job required English so if you don't know English that means that you are inadmissible..

[blouen]

Originally Posted by almlta3a

I live in Bahrain and English is the most important language here because every job required English so if you don't know English that means that you are inadmissible..

Hmm, but I still think that Arabic is the most important language in your neck of the woods. You use it daily.
But true, English has conquered every working establishment these days that almost every company requires employees to be fluent, at least conversant.

[nyggus]

Originally Posted by blouen

I believe Canadians don´t speak English and French simultaneously. I learned that there are parts where people speak only French and vice versa.

It's true. There are Canadians who don't know French at all; the same applies to English. I remember in Vancouver I heard quite often Polish, Spanish, not to mention Chinese, but French - just two times (during five months).