Travel

[qualitygal]

how many different languags do you speak?  Forgive me if it's been asked before, but it finally got me to wondering?  Do you travel to places and not speak their language, and if so, how do you get by while there?

[jlkz]

Have a Masters degree in French Literature; took 5 years of Latin; minored in Spanish; took one year of German; spoke limited Italian at home.  Thought I would teach Comparative Literature but fell into a fast track management trainee program and progressed up the organization ranks and onto the parent company.

Used the French on our ski trips to Switzerland, Germany and Austria.....the menus were translated into French.  My ski group kept me busy translating !!!

Being able to read and even speak a foreign language helps to clarify your writing and thinking.

It also gives you more confidence when speaking English.

One caveat:  do not use language learning material while driving because it will take too much attention from driving and lead to an accident.

[muttmom]

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@qualitygal wrote:

how many different languags do you speak?  Forgive me if it's been asked before, but it finally got me to wondering?  Do you travel to places and not speak their language, and if so, how do you get by while there?

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@qualitygal

We've traveled extensively in Europe and the Far East.  I do not speak any language other than American English.  We do not travel off the beaten path so have found English speakers wherever we've visited.

[FrostyBabe1]

At one time, I spoke fluent Spanish. Now, not nearly that well, but I can make myself understood and get around with both Spanish and French. I've also learned how to say "I'm so sorry, I don't speak ______. Do you speak English?" in a few other languages. 

[chi5925]

I speak an Eastern European language.  Then I got married to a South American and both of my children speak my Eastern European language and Spanish -- in addition to English, of course.

I spoke to them in my language and my husband spoke to them in Spanish.  When we were all together, we spoke English.

I'm divorced now but when kids (they're adults now) travel to South America to see their father, they're able to communicate in Spanish with anyone there.

I also speak rudimentary Spanish since I did take it in school.

 edited for spelling

[Vivian]

I speak French. Studying French, and visiting French-speaking countries, is my hobby. I Have been to France of course as well as Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Québec. I respectfully disagree with the warning not to study in the car. I’ve been listening to French CDs in my car for 25 years, without problems. I call my Subaru my language lab.

[CHIP62]

@jlkz,

Love tha classics however do not know how to speak them only how to translate.

My son does speak Latin and its is amzing how things have changed, now it is so interactive and fun🌻one Roman language leads to the other, German is a different story.