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

[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?

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by Harry Smith

Do they ever learn German, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese etc. as hard as we do?

First, I need a bit of clarification. Are you required to learn all those languages in your country?

[Harry Smith]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

First, I need a bit of clarification. Are you required to learn all those languages in your country?

Two foreign languages are compulsary in my country.The first is Russian and the second we can choose:either English, French or German. The other languages we can learn if we wish.

[Casiopea]

Is that in elementary school?

[Harry Smith]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

Is that in elementary school?

We call it a secondary school. But we have to learn foreign languages at high school and university too. We have to learn at least one.

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by Harry Smith

We call it a secondary school. But we have to learn foreign languages at high school and university too. We have to learn at least one.

It's the same in Quebec, which is where I am from. Unlike you though, we had to learn French and English in elementary school.

[Harry Smith]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

It's the same in Quebec, which is where I am from. Unlike you though, we had to learn French and English in elementary school.

As far as I know there are two state languages in Canada and the citizens of the country have to know them, don't they?

[Casiopea]

There are two official languages, yes, but you can get by with just English or just French. You don't have to know both.

[Noego]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

There are two official languages, yes, but you can get by with just English or just French. You don't have to know both.

Well I depends where you're going.

I think the whole: "There are two official languages in Canada" is a myth.

French is fine as long as you remain nearby Quebec, but once you go deeper west, people won't understand you.

[Harry Smith]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

There are two official languages, yes, but you can get by with just English or just French. You don't have to know both.

Do you think one language is enough for living in Canada? I was thinking so until I visited Germany two years ago. I thought I could communicate in English. But they don't like to speak English in Germany. So I had to brush up what I had learnt at the university. My second foreign language is German. Armenian and Russian are my native languages. Guess what! I hadn't forgotten it though I hadn't used it for 20 years.