Why learn languages?

1
Why learn languages?
2
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.

3
It wont 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.

4
But cant you just speak louder?

• British nationals cannot initiate communication
  on equal termsthey are less powerful than those
  who have greater linguistic skills.

5
Ill never go abroad

• Learning a new language improves the use of
  English.

6
Were 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.

7
I could still be a travel rep

• Monolingual speakers of any variety of English
  will experience increasing difficulty in finding
  employment.

8
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.

9
I dont want to be a teacher

• Language students have above average IT skills
  in comparison with the rest of the population.

10
And I dont 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.

11
I thought Id study law

• Students of languages typically explore culture,
  literature, media and film, history, geography,
  politics, sociology, economics, business studies
  and the law.

12
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.

13
I do fancy that years 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.

14
You dont need a languageIve 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.

15
Dont just take my word for it.
16
Prince William

• He is studying Swahili and Welsh

17
Charlize Theron

• She learned many of the 28 languages she speaks
  from the staff on her parents' farm.

18
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'

19
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?'

20
Ellen MacArthur

• 'Its always fantastic to be able to communicate
  with people, whether its 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'

21
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'

22
Kevin Keegan

• 'I think the least you can do when you live in
  their country is learn the language'

23
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'

24
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'

25
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'

26
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 worlds minority
  languages'

27
John Cleese

• 'Learning a language makes our minds stronger
  and more flexible. Actually using it gives us an
  entirely new experience of the world'

28
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'