If you live in an other country should you learn the language?
By alottodo
@alottodo (3056)
Australia
September 24, 2012 7:42am CST
I just watched a show that have this question 2 people disagreed and 1 agreed. To me if you go and live in another country you should be willing to learn the language of that country right? I came to live in Australia almost 30 years ago my English then was very basic but in order to get a good job and help my children with school work I took English lessons it was very important to me to do so besides I did not felt isolated any more I could talk to my neighbours and to other parents at school and fit into the community and of course I Am a person who like to have a say in society I Am not one to keep my mouth shut! so yes I learnt the language and even did a course in college and got my degree in Catering Assistant...I can read English as well as Spanish and can write as good in both languages and if I move to another country I'm sure to learn what ever language is spoken there!up to you my lotters what do you think?
1 person likes this
12 responses
@biztech101 (78)
• Malaysia
24 Sep 12
Hello..
I have almost the same experience like the one you had..
I have been staying in China for almost 4 months..
and one thing I can say about it that, it is a MUST to learn Mandarin to survive in China.
I'm speaking from my experience as English is not widely used there..
Even if you want to travel..at least you need to know the places in Mandarin and you need to speak it correctly as they would understand you..
and the most important place when you are travelling is toilet..
it is kinda funny but..they wouldn't understand if you say toilet..
after making some funny and ridiculous gestures..maybe they will get idea what you trying to say..
:)
@skyandgrassplot (1497)
• China
25 Sep 12
Hi dear biztech101,now there are so many chinese can speak English due to English is our first language,but of course if you can speak Mandarin that will be perfect.
Since you have been staying in China for almost 4 months I think that is a good chance for you to learn Mandarin,so why not to join some community in China and learn?If you can come to Guangzhou may be I can help you,by the way,are you work in China or just have a visit to China?
@biztech101 (78)
• Malaysia
26 Sep 12
Hello skyandgrassplot.. and alottodo..:)
I stayed in Shanghai..thats too bad..
but if they can speak English..why wouldn't they respond to it..this make me wonder..I did attend a Mandarin learning class..I just learn the basics..but I survived..I just visited China for my holiday..It is quite fascinating on seeing the great China with your own eyes..this is because before I arrived there..I didn't have a clear vision on how China looks..It is a great experience..
and about making the signs thing..yes..it is funny when you think back about it..
before I know that WC is toilet..I made signs by putting my index finger on my below..while making the "sHuuuu" sound..:D
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
24 Sep 12
I think it is advisable to learn the language of your adopted country otherwise it is difficult to fit in to the local society. Many of the migrants in my country speak our language very well and have even discarded their mother's tongue for our language in their homes. I would also learn the language of the country I live.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
26 Sep 12
Hi there allotodo
I went missing for long time but at the end of the day I will always come knocking on mylot's door. I moved to my new townhouse and. I have to start all over to shop for furnishings and did some landscaping for my garden. I didn't realize that I was MIA for so long as I was so engrossed in my little garden.
I will start posting discussions when am comfortable using this Samsung galaxy. Without a proper computer I am lost. 
@alottodo (3056)
• Australia
26 Sep 12
I'm glad you are back!I also moved to my new place 6 month ago and I Am busy planting my new garden as well here is spring time and I have tomatoes,sweet corn,parsley, coriander, lettuce and some other herbs all growing nicely and also working in my front garden[with my neighbours help] every thing is looking good and I Am very happy here I hope you are happy in your new place as well.
1 person likes this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
25 Sep 12
If Life or your career takes you to another country,it stands to reason that you'll need to be able to make yourself understood there to improve your chances of integrating properly,especially if your native language is not one that would be widely spoken at your destination...If learning the language in your new home wouldn't be an option,One has to wonder why would you would choose to leave your own country in the first place?
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
26 Sep 12
You are right..you can hold on to your cultural traditions in a new country,but understanding and being understood when living there doesn't take anything away from your beliefs.. it's simply communication.
@alottodo (3056)
• Australia
26 Sep 12
I had a problem with my niece a few years back[ she is a nurse]she wanted to come and live here...and I said you need to learn English if you want a job in your field here...her response was she did not want to leave traditions behind...I said tradition has nothing to do with it you only have to learn another language but she did not see it that way...and I agree with you they should stay in their own country if they are not willing to make some changes. Thank you for responding.
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
24 Sep 12
Oh, absolutely, without a doubt. If someone is moving to a foreign land, the very least they should be required to do is learn that land's basic language.
I get tired of it when people can not communicate with me, whether in an every day setting or on their job.
Has that happened to you? You're in a check out line and can barely understand the clerk who speaks a different language and doesn't know how to communicate with you.
I believe it boils down to being just plain lazy. There are plenty of ways to learn a different language and these ways are opened up to everyone.
My mother learned English as a second language because her family moved to an English speaking country. She made it work.
Too many people come up with too many lame excuses for not doing what I feel is right.
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
30 Sep 12
It's interesting that you mentioned struggles at a restaurant. About a day after I responded to this post there was a news headline where a restaurant employee was murdered. The deputies that were assigned to the case believe that she was murdered because she didn't speak English and did not understand what the suspects were requesting.
Apparently leaning the native language in the land where you live may actually save your life.
@alottodo (3056)
• Australia
26 Sep 12
I know what you mean! I have friends who came here at the same time as I did and they still struggle with the language they only read their own newspaper still only read books in their own language and when they go to a restaurant struggle with the menu? I can't help but think that some people find very hard to accept they are in a foreign country and if they speak another language the my lose who they are. Thank you for responding.
@murkie (1103)
• Philippines
24 Sep 12
learning the local language is vital, if not the most important, ifever you are in a foreign community.
communication between you and the locals would be great. and of course, you could avoid being the target of discrimination and trickery.
ifever you establish a good communication with the locals, then you could enjoy your stay more.
@murkie (1103)
• Philippines
26 Sep 12
even if i was still in my native land, i always wanted to learn a different language, or even a dialect. this is especially for those places i plan to visit someday.
but alas! for so many years i couldn't master a single one, but only few phrases for each.
@roshigo58 (4859)
• Pune, India
5 Oct 12
Hi,
you are right. We should learn the language of the country where we have to go for the job. I don't have experience of going for a job in foreign country.
@pahak627 (4558)
• Philippines
24 Sep 12
Yes, that's the first thing that one should do when living in another country with different language specially if people in the country where you're planning to reside do not know how to speak english so one can resort to sign language. In my country, there are several dialects here. However, we can understand each other because we have a national language the filipino language and I'm good in speaking it as well as english. I speak a different dialect.
@gadrian (66)
• Romania
24 Sep 12
If you move to another country permanently, I think learning the official language is a must. There could be an exception though, but I don't really agree with this: if you have a very strong community talking your native language and you don't interact much outside your community, you probably can do without learning the official language on the long term.
The second situation is if you intend to move to a country for a period of time (shorter or longer). Of course, it's a good thing to know a so called international language when you move, regarding of the situation. In this particular case, learning the official language of the resident country is your option, depending on how long you're staying, what's your business there, etc.
@Raine38 (12250)
• United States
24 Sep 12
For me, I think it's important. Like, when you go to another country, you dress according to that country's weather so you will survive, you will live comfortably and you can advance on in life and your career if you so wish. Besides, learning a second or another language is always a very good skill.
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
25 Sep 12
i think some people don't because they stick to their own kind and move in those circles so they don't feel the need to learn it. same with food. but i strongly suspect they can understand the language, but just pretend not to, so the people they interact with just give in to what they want to get things over with. it's self-centered because you want to have your cake and eat it, too.
@winniemariposa (255)
• China
25 Sep 12
Yes, of course. It is an excellent opportunity to master a language if we can talk with local speakers, and because we need to communicate in a foreign language, it must be much easier to practice and improve. However, we should not always stay with our fellows to avoid talking with local people, it won't help us to be more independent and master new knowledge.
